Life of Tom Horn, Government Scout and Interpreter

Rating:
Summary: An intriguing insight
Review: As with all autobiographies this book provides us with a fascinating picture of the adventurous life of Tom Horn. Yet it is the death of Tom Horn that has been the subject of great controversy to the present day; hanged for the murder of a fourteen year old boy, on evidence that was highly questionable.

This book is refered to as a vindication, and though many have disputed this, in some subtle ways it is. Whilst reading this narrative of Tom Horn's years as a scout and interpreter, at no point could I envisage him being the kind of man to kill a boy from ambush. He portrays himself in his autobiography as hard working, fearless, trustworthy, and as a man who served his country well. Though with any autobiography the reader has to accept an elemant of bias, it appears at times as if Tom Horn tries to minimize his own heroics and exploits. To this end the book serves its purpose.

What is most astounding about the book is where it finishes. Tom Horn makes no attempt to explain the events leading upto his conviction and execution. This is both surprising and baffling. Surly most men in his position would have taken the opportunity to plead their innocence. Not so with Tom Horn. He seems content to let the readers make their own decision, by things reported in the newspapers at that time. Maybe he was just confident that people would believe him to be innocent despite much of what was being written.

This edition of the book was supplemented with letters written to and from Tom Horn whilst he was imprisoned. These are valuable as they offer an insight into Tom's state of mind during this period. In a couple of these letters he does choose to explain a little of the events leading up to his arrest, to certain associates

Tom Horn's personal narrative is just as fascinating for what it excludes, as for what it includes. It also provides an excellent look at other celebrated and infamous characters such as Al Seiber, Geronimo and the Apache Kid. For those interested in the life of Tom Horn, or the role of government scouts/interpreters, the book will hold much interest. It is also recommended that readers have some basic knowledge of Tom Horn - particularly his latter life - for a greater understanding.

Rating:
Summary: Tom Horn-scout,interpreter,cowboy-and writer,too
Review: One somehow hesitates to buy and read biographies about great people of the past nowadays,as the general rule among those who write them seem to be that they haven`t got any book unless they are able to dig up all the dirt they can find about their subject matter.Somehow biographers seem to think that that`s what the reading public wants.Autobiographies can be dubious reading as well,as they are often equipped with additional material(that is,more gossip and scandal)by an additional "author".

Luckily,the publisher of "Tom Horn,Government Scout..." has
allowed Horn to speak for himself,without altering a single word.The result is a wonderful reading experience,a book which is both educating and entertaining,full of stories that will make you laugh as well as cry.Horn really had an amazing way with words as well.This was what surprised me most when I started reading this book. For those who want Horn to tell whether he killed little Willie Nickell or not-sorry,he doesn`t.Horn says he thinks that "journalists" have already taken care of THAT part of the story well enough,and instead chooses to consentrate on his early years and his experiences in the Wild West while it was still to be found-the parts of the story that remained in obscurity for far too long,but,thanks to Horn and this book,became the most important thing after all.

Rating:
Summary: ..in Tom's own words...
Review: This book was written by Tom Horn while waiting in a Cheyenne, Wyoming Jail to be hanged. It is a very colorful account of the Government Scout, Arizona Territory Lawman, and "foster son" of Geronimo himself. While it is a very one sided story that almost pleads with you to believe that Tom was blameless, it gives a VERY unique look into the solitary life of a scout and hired gun in the real old west. "A Must Read"

Rating:
Summary: ..in Tom's own words...
Review: This book was written by Tom Horn while waiting in a Cheyenne, Wyoming Jail to be hanged. It is a very colorful account of the Government Scout, Arizona Territory Lawman, and "foster son" of Geronimo himself. While it is a very one sided story that almost pleads with you to believe that Tom was blameless, it gives a VERY unique look into the solitary life of a scout and hired gun in the real old west. "A Must Read"