Meticulously and extensively researched and documented in a detailed study of the woman's ancestry and all of their trials and tragedies before and after the American Civil War as well as the prevailing lawlessness in that part of the southwest and sort of ending with her murder in 1889. The audio is narrated by the author who would make an engaging professorial lecturer. I requested and received temporary reviewer audio copy from Highbridge Audio via NetGalley. LENGTH 15 hrs and 4 mins @recordedbooks @highbridgeaudio @liverightbooks ***** #review #BelleStarr by Michael Wallis #historicaltruth #legends #wildwest #fortsmithmuseumofhistory #bellestarr #bandit #outlaw #ushistory #bookbub #goodreads #librarything #storygraph

In the history of the legendary Wild West, Belle Starr's name is up there with Calamity Jane & Annie Oakley. Like those other two women, Belle's life history has been romanticised & sensationalised until many would not know where the truth & the lies begin & end. Through the American Civil War & its aftermath, the author painstakingly recreates the events of Starr's short life, & finds that in most cases, the crimes ascribed to her were greatly embellished This book aims to set the record straight using correspondence, official records, & contemporary newspaper accounts, & traces her beginnings as a Southern belle to a woman who rejected contemporary expectations & lived life how she pleased. This is an interesting & well-researched book about Belle Starr which corrects many errors & dispels the myths which have accumulated over time. If it has a flaw, it's that the spotlight is not on Belle for quite a lot of the time & the writing sometimes gets bogged down in the minutiae of other people's lives to the detriment of the main focus. It was informative though & if you enjoy nonfiction reads about the American Wild West, then it would be well worth a look. My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, W. W. Norton & Company/Liveright, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.