THE INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER “Tombstone is written in a distinctly American voice.” –T.J. Stiles, The New York Times “With a former newsman’s nose for the truth, Clavin has sifted the facts, myths, and lies to produce what might be as accurate an account as we will ever get of the old West’s most famous feud.” –Associated Press The true story of the Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, and the … —Associated Press
The true story of the Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, and the famous Battle at the OK Corral, by the New York Times bestselling author of Dodge City and Wild Bill.
On the afternoon of October 26, 1881, eight men clashed in what would be known as the most famous shootout in American frontier history. Thirty bullets were exchanged in thirty seconds, killing three men and wounding three others.
The fight sprang forth from a tense, hot summer. Cattle rustlers had been terrorizing the back country of Mexico and selling the livestock they stole to corrupt ranchers. The Mexican government built forts along the border to try to thwart American outlaws, while Arizona citizens became increasingly agitated. Rustlers, who became known as the cow-boys, began to kill each other as well as innocent citizens. That October, tensions boiled over with Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, and Billy Claiborne confronting the Tombstone marshal, Virgil Earp, and the suddenly deputized Wyatt and Morgan Earp and shotgun-toting Doc Holliday.
Bestselling author Tom Clavin peers behind decades of legend surrounding the story of Tombstone to reveal the true story of the drama and violence that made it famous. Tombstone also digs deep into the vendetta ride that followed the tragic gunfight, when Wyatt and Warren Earp and Holliday went vigilante to track down the likes of Johnny Ringo, Curly Bill Brocius, and other cowboys who had cowardly gunned down his brothers. That “vendetta ride” would make the myth of Wyatt Earp complete and punctuate the struggle for power in the American frontier’s last boom town.
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Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday and the Vendetta Ride from Hell by Tom Clavin an in depth account of Tombstone and the famous gunfight at the OK Corral it would host. On the afternoon of October 26, 1881, eight men clashed in the explosion of gunfire. Thirty bullets were fired in a span of thirty seconds. In the end, three men were killed and three others were wounded. The fight had come after a long, tense and hot summer in which cattle rustlers, a gang of outlaws known as The Cowboys, had been terrorizing the back country of Mexico, stealing livestock and selling them to corrupt ranchers. The Mexican government built forts along the border to keep the American outlaws at bay and the Arizona citizens were increasingly agitated as stagecoaches were being robbed and innocent people were being harmed. That October day, tension had boiled over with Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, and Billy Claiborne confronted the Tombstone marshal, Virgil Earp, bringing along Wyatt and Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday to back him up. But the story doesn’t end there. After the smoke clears, there were inquests and trials that had the Earps and Holliday up on murder charges. Tempers flared further as vendettas were made and carried out. Everyone knows the myths and the legends, what do you know about the real story of Tombstone?
A few months ago, I read and reviewed Tom Clavin’s book, Blood and Treasure, which he co-wrote with Bob Drury, about Daniel Boone and the exploration of America’s first frontier. I knew I was in for an in-depth history lesson with Tombstone. I have been interested and fascinated by the Gunfight at the OK Corral since I did a report on it for an eighth grade history class and knowing that the Earps have a connection to my current hometown with many of the Earps buried in nearby cemeteries, has made the topic even more alluring. Mr. Clavin peels back decades of myth and legend surrounding the story of Tombstone to reveal the true story about the drama and violence that made it infamous. He takes the readers back to the founding of Tombstone and each of the players’ lives before they came to Tombstone as well as the political and social tensions which played a role in the famous gunfight. Mr. Clavin also details the “vendetta ride” in which Wyatt Earp formed a posse that included his younger brother, Warren and Holliday, to track down those who cowardly killed Morgan, and attempted to kill Virgil. Tombstone is a very in depth history into the city and the people that would participate and witness the most famous gunfight of American Western history. If you love history, I highly recommend you check out Tombstone.
Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday and the Vendetta Ride from Hell
is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook
Great read
Tom Clavin has written an engaging, well-researched book that takes the reader to the hot, dusty streets of Tombstone and on the Vendetta Ride with the Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday.
I raced through this book – it kept my attention riveted on every page. I really enjoyed the way the book was organized – a topic that has so much information available needs a strong focus and organization. Tombstone has it.
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holiday, and the Vendetta Ride from Hell.
Now I’m hooked. My love of history has never ventured much into the Wild West part of American history. I knew the names and the general sort of history but, after reading Tom Clavin’s Tombstone, I’m ready to remedy that. I’ve added his previous books to my vast TBR list.
Nothing dry and dusty about this book, just the setting of the town of Tombstone. Beyond the shoot out at the OK Coral, this is a vibrant rendering of the history of the famous town. Populated with a long list of people, I never had any trouble keeping them straight in my mind. With lots of very interesting footnotes, my desire to learn more grew from chapter to chapter. I can think of several people who might enjoy receiving a copy as a gift.
My thanks to the publisher, St. Martin’s and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
If you are a history fan and love lots of detail information this book is for you.
Well written and a lot of research done on the subject.
Personally, and I like to have a lot of detail information but I found some of all the background information to be a bit overwhelming to the point of remembering who is who became a bit of a job. I did learn a lot of new information that I was not aware off. The relationship between the Earp Brothers and their wives (I should say common law wives). The politics that went on in that time. This book shows clearly that the Earp Brothers were not always the good guys even if their intent was mostly good. In the early days of Tombstone there really was a very narrow line between the two sides. If you are interested in that time period of American history and want to learn more I definitely think you will enjoy this book.
nonfiction, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-figures, cultural-exploration, American SW
This is a well researched nonfiction presentation suitable for almost everyone from the casually interested to the scholar. Did I mention that it is a history geeks delight? It is not only about those involved in later events but is also a history of the area before the vendetta from the Spanish through the American civil war including the atrocities perpetrated upon the innocents of the various Indian tribes and followed by the development of the types of licit and illicit forms of law enforcement. There are brief bios of the people involved prior to the known events as well as details gleaned from many sources. As one of those history geeks, I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
4.5 Stars
Tombstone is a well developed and unique read. I was a bit hesitant when I saw the title as it has had many versions and tales, but to my surprise I have to say I liked this one so much more. Great read and one I would and will recommend to readers