The Family Story of Bonnie and Clyde

by Phillip W. Steele, Marie Scoma

Perhaps the most infamous couple in the history of the United States, Bonnie and Clyde have become a part of American folklore, yet their true story-their family story-has remained elusive . . . until now.

In the 1930s, the Great Depression cast a dark cloud on America's economy and created an atmosphere of poverty and despair, which transformed many everyday people into criminals. Arising from such circumstances, Bonnie and Clyde, along with fellow outlaws Raymond Hamilton and Ralph Fultz, formed the Barrow Gang that robbed and ran throughout the state of Texas.

Marie Barrow Scoma, Clyde Barrow's youngest sister, felt that no book, film, article, or video told the Barrow Gang story completely or accurately. Collaborating with Phillip Steele to tell the truth, she offered not only her personal insight, but also previously unpublished photographs and her mother's diary, which had never before been seen by anyone outside of the Barrow family. The result is a revelatory reminiscence that sheds dramatic new light on Bonnie and Clyde's exploits.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Crime, Memoir

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1997

Reviews

[Dee Dee G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not knowing much about Bonnie and Clyde, I always wondered why people usually glamorized their life. This book is pretty good at explaining a lot. These two were in love, desperate and not that smart when it came to their crimes. Just reading the crime timeline felt like it wore me out. They just kept going and going. There is nothing romantic about about them and how they lived.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admit I had far higher hopes for this book than were actually met. I appreciated that it did the best it could to remove all of the folk lore and provide an as-factual-as-possible account. However, due to it being written with the input of Marie Barrow (Clyde's youngest sister) I was disappointed by the sheer lack of insight into the character of her family. I know she died before the completion of the monograph but at the same time, I did not feel I knew anything new about the people involved. The title may be The Family Story of Bonnie and Clyde but almost nothing about the family, is it were, is revealed. Sad. I so much wanted it to be better, but if you treat it as simply a narrative of Bonnie and Clyde's story it is perfectly suitable and does not at all veer into the realm of the romanticized or overly dramatic.

[Brenda McDearmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
The drive from Dallas to Amarillo isn’t long by Texas standards but is more enjoyable when my husband and I can share a good read-aloud. Shortly after we moved to Dallas, we had dinner at the home of a retired Dallas police officer who had an impressive home library. When we left to head home, he offered us his copy of this book, suggesting that we would enjoy all the local history in this famous crime story. He was right. We enjoyed it, for sure.

Who else would like to read this book?

•True crime junkies
•Lovers of all things Texas history
•Transplants to Texas from anywhere else
•Anyone trying to get a jump on their Goodreads reading challenge with a short read

And, of course, those who find themselves on a long drive on the highways or biways of the great state of Texas.

[Shayla Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because my mother-in-law's dad is the great-nephew to Clyde, so I borrowed his copy and learned so much.

I had no idea Clyde played sax or that Bonnie's . . . teeth . . . were embedded into the car after the shootout. There were a lot of things I knew zilch about, so it was fascinating reading this story.

The photos were a great bonus!

[Susan Oram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the fact that this book removed much of the folklore and mystique of this murderous duo. It was good to learn more about the pair, but I would have liked to learn more about how their families were involved and the roles they played.

[Teri Reitmeyer perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

a good read

...i read this in one day...i've read other accounts of bonnie & clyde - knowing the story, this account was most interesting in that myths & untruths were noted & explanations given by a family member...i enjoyed this book & recommend it...

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot as it told the prime story about Bonnie and Clyde. Enough of the story was told so as not to be too detailed, and yet enough to understand what the gang went through. Bonnie and Clyde and the gang stole as it was the depression era of the 1930s and there were no jobs or opportunities to make money. However their robbing and stealing became violent as cops were on their trail and they never could collect enough to settle down and enjoy their riches. They were constantly on the run and hiding out from the law. The money was used for survival and then they would have to rob again to obtain more money, and then continue running and hiding again. Bonnie and Clyde's death ended in a shoot out by police. However, if they were caught, most likely they would have been prosecuted for many robberies and murders and sentenced to die on the electric chair, so their destiny was sealed regardless.

[David Ward · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Family Story of Bonnie and Clyde by Phillip W. Steele with Marie Barrow Scoma. (Pelican Publishing 2000) (364.1552). This is one silly narrative. Co-author Marie Barrow Scoma is Clyde Barrow's sister; the highlight of the book is a picture of the two co-authors sitting on a couch in 2000 grinning at the camera. My rating: 2/10, finished 2002.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at the escapades of Bonnie and Clyde from the viewpoint of Clyde Barrow's youngest sister Marie. This story also uses Clyde's mother's diary as well as interviews to add information. A rather romantisized look at the criminal lives of the infamous Bonnie and Clyde.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinated by these gangsters.

[Birgitte Bach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meget informativ og faktuel bog om forbryderparret.