“A must have for fans of the true west... more than 60 photographs and extensive bibliography make [it] a must-have reference for historians, students, and fans.” Amazon UK
by Leon Claire Metz is a definitive reference for anyone fascinated by the reality—rather than the Hollywood mythos—of the Old West. The "Why It Works" Review
: Metz’s primary goal is to strip away the "dime novel" exaggerations. It serves as an essential tool for separating the legendary exploits of the OK Corral from the gritty, often brutal reality of 19th-century lawlessness.
: Readers from Amazon praise the book for being a "good primer" that avoids becoming too "murky and obtuse". The writing is noted for being plain and smooth, allowing you to fly through dense historical information easily.
: Unlike niche biographies, this encyclopedia offers a massive variety of entries, covering household names like Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp alongside obscure but equally dangerous figures like Bill Doolin or Pearl Hart.
: Beyond people, the book includes entries on specific events, geographical locations, and even the terminology and language used at the time. Community Perspective
Readers generally find it to be an "indispensable" part of a Western historian’s library, though some note that certain entries could benefit from even stronger sourcing.