Jesse James: A Captivating Guide to a Wild West Outlaw Who Robbed Trains, Banks, and Stagecoaches across the Midwestern United States

by Captivating History

In the minds of many Americans, the name of Jesse James and the Wild West are practically synonymous. The bank robberies, with bullets flying from one side to the other of a dusty little town of the American frontier; the daring train robberies, with locomotives being chased by horses and forced to make a halt only to be boarded by gentlemanly bandits; the spectacular escapes of horse riders camouflaged by long coats, firing two revolvers, one in each hand. All of these are episodes that correspond to the life of Jesse James, that notable son of Missouri. In this sense, he is a vital and representative part of American history and life.

Jesse James was a robber, a murderer, and a notorious outlaw, who carried as many weapons as he could. He could shoot with both hands while he held the reins of his horse in his teeth. He was an extremely popular man in his day, a phenomenon that he readily accepted because he was a person who craved attention. He supposedly gave part of his booty to the poor, although no evidence of this can be found except in folklore.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2020

Reviews

[Fred Barnes]

What a difference from the movies and TV shows. History is always retold though the eyes for those who have lived through it to tell the tell. The press has their tweaks to the story to sale their tell and pay their rent. It's really nice to read a good fictional story and then follow up with a book that states the facts weather of they back the rumors or exaggerated untruths. This book relays the facts weather or not they support or counters the popular view to legend or the folklore of Jesse James and Frank James that is portrayed on the screen or written on the page. This book is well written and as a piece history shows that what we see on the screen or what is somewhat written as "close to historic facts or based on facts" which generally should tell you it's most likely mostly fiction.

[Armand Rosamilia]

No new information here for those who have studied the life and times of Jesse James, although it puts it all in one location as a short book. The research is great, as are some of the questions his life brings up.

[Apollo Hesiod]

Jesse James

This was very Enjoyable, never really knew alot about Jesse James so this was very insightful. A must read for anyone.

[Jerry Jares]

This explanation of Jesse James (and his brother, Frank's) lives seemed very balanced. Captivating History shows the elements of the James boys' lives that affected their later years. The reader is also introduced to a journalist, John Newman Edwards, who was a biographer (and literally a PR agent for Jesse James) and made him a media star of his day.

From this description, it seems that Jesse (who was younger than Frank), was only about 16 when a violent group of Union men almost killed Jesse's step-father and beat Jesse severely. Jesse then joined Quantrill's men, specifically "Bloody Bill" Anderson. This man was probably the most notorious 'mutilator of opponents' known at the time. Anderson, and his behaviors, had to have had a tremendous effect on the impressionable youngster. Anderson was part of a quasi-militia group of guerilla leaders in the Civil War that targeted citizens who were Union loyalists plus Union troops in Kansas and Missouri. Anderson's butchery was, and is, legendary.

I think the association with such committed killers and mutilators had to have affected Jesse. He still did wrong, but such a steady diet of violence and mayhem must have been a significant factor in his life. Also, Missouri did not settle down after the Civil War; passions were high for years after the culmination of the conflict. Missouri politics and law did not handle amnesty the same as the federal government.

Missouri would not offer amnesty to such violent men. Frank lived and worked in Kentucky for years after the war; he couldn't go home to Missouri. When they looked at the ease of other soldier's return to normal life and the fact that the fatcats of banks and the railroads were profiting off the misery of the defeated, the James men didn't seem to be able to return to a normal life.

This is such an interesting study of Jesse James; his life and the times were tumultuous. It prompted me to read further because this book was so intriguing.

[Carrie L. Allen]

Interesting History of Jesse James

I was mostly looking for information on Jesse James' family and acquaintances for my personal genealogical research but found this whole short story very interesting.

[George Polansky]

A short biography of Jesse James.