Doc Holliday: The Life and Legend

This is one of the best books on legends of the Old West I have read. It is an intimidating 414 pages with an additional 85 pages of notes. The first 100 or so pages seemed dry, and academic, so I put it down. After a two-week break, I started reading again and by about page 150 I found myself reading a rip-snorting book I didn't want to put down. If you start it and want to stop - hold on - it gets better! It has the best understandable description of the "Cowboys" versus the Earps in Tombstone and the so called "gunfight at the OK corral" that I have read. By the end of the read you will be glad the author Gary Roberts was so detailed and meticulous. The book provides food for thought and is great for discussions with other Western lovers. Roberts describes alternative accounts of incidents and characterizations, so you know different perspectives. It is definitely worth reading especially for those interested in Doc Holliday, the Earps, Tombstone, the "Cowboys", and surprisingly the old West "media."

If you're a fan of the Old West and you'd like to learn a bit more about Val Kilmer....I mean, John Henry 'Doc' Holliday, then you're in for a treat with this fine work by Gary L. Roberts.PROs:1. A LOT of historical detail; From the Holliday family origins, through the Civil War, all the way through to after Doc's death in Colorado, you'll get the while story (as much as is known, that is).2. Learn about the stories you've never heard; Doc involved in a stagecoach robbery? His mother's struggle with tuberculosis? Big Nose Kate hated the Earps??? Lots of information!!!3. A look at the man behind the legend; His dental practice(s), his love life, and what his closest friends/bitterest enemies thought of him (Bat Masterson apparently couldn't stand him, yet most of our knowledge about Doc's life comes from him!)CONs:1. Mr. Roberts is a fantastic historian, but a mediocre storyteller. I do not mean that as an insult; this book is a fantastic treatise on Doc's life...but at times, the writing can be pretty dry. Sometimes, even a biographer needs to make a boring story interesting.2. Kindle Edition pictures/descriptions not formatted evenly; Definitely not the author's fault, but the Kindle edition has some layout issues. It doesn't make the book unreadable, but the formatter(s) should have fixed that pre-release.3. Not for the casual tv Western buff; this is a bit more 'hardcore' history. It isn't all action and gunfights...its mostly background and detail. If you're easily distracted, this is NOT the biography for you.CONCLUSIONA must-read for any serious student of the Old West, and a necessity for those desiring to learn about the men behind the six shooters. I will wholeheartedly recommend to any of my historian friends.

Too often tries to give a detailed blow by blow account of the actions of secondary or even tertiary figures. The emphasis on the minutiae detracts from what is potentially a much more interesting portrayal of Holliday and even Wyatt Earp

Difficult to remember who is on the Earpss and Doc's side.

Great book, I'm just over halfway through it. It encompasses so much more than just John Holliday. It informs you of the political climate and players of the time. Who backed the Earps and Doc politically, financially, and morally. The different rival newspapers that wrote the news as well as the propaganda regarding the Earps, Doc, and the ¨Cowboys¨ gangs. The attitudes and lifestyles and even the language of those who live within Doc's orbit and first-hand testimony of many within and outside it as well. I'm recommending this book along with a high regard for the author for his painstaking and thorough research and putting everything in chrronological order and proper context.

Loving this book and it’s a very easy read!!!

One of these four stars is in honor of all the detailed research that went into this. There is a lot of information about Doc in this book, but there's also a LOT of information about the times he lived in. If you're a fan of the era, including the Earps and all the other characters, this is the ideal book for you. If you're focused only on information directly about Doc, it may seem a little verbose.

Doc Holliday by Gary Roberts is one of the definitive books on the history of the west and the life and times of Tombstone. It is expertly researched, well written and thoroughly tracks the life of Doc Holliday and his compatriots in the west. The book does not assume anything and takes stock in what researches no. It is an academic text but I don't feel that it detracts from the book itself and in reality offers a richer and more accurate account of Doc Holliday's life whether it is the episodes in Georgia, Tombstone or his time traveling around the west. A clear picture of western justice is painted and the politics of the time are very clearly shown. For those who want to see what life in the west was like Roberts does an excellent job of presenting that. There are so few high quality academic books written on the west that this is truly a welcome addition for those wishing to study western history. It focuses on his life and how the legends around his life were created. Enjoyable whether you have read a lot or a little but regardless you are sure to learn a lot.

There are some great critiques on Amazon for this book including one by Susan McKey Thomas. These great reviews are highly deserved for this book has every researched resource carefully listed. The author even makes Dental Medicine quite readable. If you want to learn anything about the legendary Doc Holliday - you will find it here or you can make the most informed of guesses from the reading matter. Essentially showing the reader the essence and spirit of John Henry and why life guided him to become the mysterious figure and legend in his own lifetime which he became and for a long time remained before essentially being rediscovered. I am glad I discovered this man in this book. I read it through in two sittings, reading was time well spent.

I'd like to agree with the other five star reviewer. This book is a serious, well-researched, cross-referenced history book focussing on the actual life of a character who has been so mythologised that the reality is obscure.One of the reviews on the back states that everything that is known or recorded about Doc Holliday is in this book, which is pretty much accurate as I far as I can tell.Sometimes this means going over scraps of information and postulating theories - this is not repetition; merely testing the facts.Holliday comes across as a funny, drunk and mostly tragic man of his times. The machinations of 1880s Tombstone are detailed effectively and the real reasons for the Gunfight at the OK Corral teased out. It is a long way from the Hollywood nonsense and, actually, rather more interesting.If you want a real book about the Old West and gunfighters, then this is the work for you.

At last a intelligently written but easy to read biography of one of the most famous men ever to of lived in the Old West. This is a superb book and is full of useful information about the Georgian born dentist and gambler. I read it from cover to cover in a couple of nights. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Old West in general and John Henry Holliday in particular.

Anyone interested in the history of the old west will enjoy this book.It is easy and interesting to read, the research is excellant and the bibliography and references run to over 80 pages.This is a thinking man's book, maybe not for someone who usually reads western novels.

I was riveted to this biography from start to finish. The bographer presents a portrait of a man who, for all his legendary status was inordinately lonely and very, very fallible. I particularly enjoyed the newspaper extracts. All in all, a wonderful read for anybody with a passing interest in the life and times of John Henry Holliday.