WILD BILL HICKOK

Gunslinger, sharpshooter, lawman, army scout, wilderness guide, wartime spy. In the late 19th century, all of these terms were used to describe James Butler Hickok, better known to history as Wild Bill. A legend in his own time, Wild Bill Hickok became nationally famous because of exaggerated published accounts of his adventures on the Western frontier. But behind Hickok the legend was Hickok the man, who, in some ways, lived up to the myths about him. He was handsome, courageous, and certainly skilled with a gun. Throughout his life, he was a little too fond of drinking and gambling and a little too fast on the trigger when he found himself in a tough situation. The story of Hickok is, therefore, the story of two Wild Bills the real person who struggled to eke out a living while dealing with his personal demons and the legendary figure who lives on in America's fantasies about the Wild West. This new biography examines both the man and his legend.