SOLVED. Western FICTION Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid [s]

[Adele]

This was an unusual fictional western about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but they hooked up with a third person who was an admirer of Butch and he rode with the pair through South America. Also, Sundance was drinking and causing problems in this book.

I read this in paperback sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s, but the book may have been published earlier than that.

[Adele]

Bumping.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Adele, normal bump period is 30 days - it helps to get new members seeing your query.

[Adele]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Adele, normal bump period is 30 days - it helps to get new members seeing your query."

Oh, I'm sorry. Thanks for letting me know.

[Kris]

Butch & Sundance: The Early Days by Donald R. Bensen?
Here's a cover image from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Butch-Sundance-...

[Adele]

No, this isn't it, but thanks for suggesting.

[Adele]

Here is some added information that might help identify this book, but it tells how the book ends so --

(view spoiler)[
There is a popular myth/theory that Butch did not actually die in the shootout in South America but came back to the US and lived a long, peaceful life, perhaps in MT. In this book the man Butch and Sundance meet up with looks at least a little like Butch and he may even be posing as Butch. This is awkward for him when they first meet, but they start riding together anyway. Then, all three are at the shootout and this poseur and Sundance are the two who are killed, so this poseur provides an explanation of how Butch could have survived when everyone thought he died. (hide spoiler)]

[Adele]

Bumping, though I do not have high hopes. My husband says I dreamed this book. That's not possible is it?

[Darcy]

Sometimes it can take years before someone who knows the book you're referring to shows up. Don't give up hope, just maybe don't rush it either ;)

[Kris]

This book is too recent and it's non-fiction, but you might find it interesting - Butch Cassidy: Beyond the Grave by W.C. Jameson.

[Adele]

Kris wrote: "This book is too recent and it's non-fiction, but you might find it interesting - Butch Cassidy: Beyond the Grave by W.C. Jameson."

I have looked at parts of this and it does look really interesting. I should probably read the whole thing. Thanks for the reminder!

[Adele]

Bump

[Adele]

Bump

[Peggy]

I don't think this is it, but you might like Good Morning, Young Lady.

[Adele]

Thanks, Peggy. You are correct that is not it. My main interest in this book is the way the relationship between Butch and Sundance is depicted.

[Adele]

bump

[Adele]

bump

[Adele]

bump

[Brenda]

Butch Cassidy, My Brother this is old, around the time the movie came out. Butch's sister tries to tell what her brother was really like as a person, not just as an outlaw. She also makes the case that he and Sundance came back from South America.

[Adele]

Thanks for the suggestion Brenda, but this is not it. The book I'm looking for is fiction and this appears to be more of a memoir.

[Adele]

I'm trying to think of anything else I remember that might help . . . it's possible neither of the names Butch nor Sundance appear in the title, but the book was definitely focused on them. I seem to recall it was written entirely or mostly from Butch's perspective (limited third person). Etta appears or is at least mentioned, but she does not play a major role. Definitely paperback and no later than 1987 (most likely earlier).

[Adele]

sad pessimistic bump

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

How did you get the book - via parents, library, friend, bookstore? Thrift shop? Gas station?

[Adele]

I checked it out from the public library in the town where I grew up. I have already tried calling that library and the person I spoke with wasn't able to help me, but I got the feeling she was searching databases similar to the ones I have searched online. I don't think she was searching any sort of records for that particular library, but maybe the library wouldn't still have a record of a cheap paperback it owned in the 1980's? Or not a searchable one anyway?

[Adele]

Does anyone know anything about this book?

Could it be what I am searching for?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

I have no idea - but abebooks says about that book: "Of the old Wild Bunch, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid were the only two left. A few steps ahead of Federal Marshalls, they made their way to Argentina to make plans for a peaceful, prosperous future. . .but it wasn't in the cards." Also it was that book that was made into the movie.

[Adele]

I have done a little more research and I'm still not sure this is my book but it seems very promising! I'm going to order a copy and I will comment here when I know for sure one way or the other.

Point of clarification for anyone following this thread: one of the sellers of a copy of this book says it was made into the movie, but the movie was released in 1969 and the original date of publication of this book (first printing) is 1970, so it cannot have been made into the movie. But maybe the movie rights to the story were sold before the book was published? William Goldman's screenplay won the Oscar for original screenplay, not adapted. That could also just mean not adapted from a published work, but Goldman has said he based the screenplay on general (and extensive) research, not any particular book. I'm pretty sure this book is not a novelization of the movie either, but I could be wrong about that.

In any case, if this book is a faithful retelling of the story in the movie, then it's not the one I remember, so I'm hoping that's not what it is. ;-)

[Waldo]

The Goodreads listing for the author's date of birth is 1 January 1970. The author's site makes no mention of this book, however the author is approachable on Twitter: @SocialHistorian

Either the publication date is off or the author's DoB - or both.

Daniel Carney wrote The Wild Geese, based on incidents he had knowledge of. The book was written but unpublished when the author showed it to Andrew V. McLaglen who went on to direct the film before the novel was published. Bit of trivia for you. I forget the source.

[Adele]

The David King linked to on Goodreads as the author of the Butch Cassidy book is not the right David King. The link leads to a different David King who is also an author, though of a very different type of books. Most likely this David King actually was born in 1970. That's what wikipedia says anyway. Now I'm wondering if the David King author of the Butch Cassidy book is a pseudonym.

[Lisa]

David King" is a pen name used by Howard Pehrson (b. 1914) , who also wrote as "Matt Weston". King ...
Found this on Librarything.

[Adele]

This is it! I can't believe I found it. And my husband thought I dreamed it. :-D