Butch Cassidy: A Biography

Butch Cassidy: a Biography is a well-researched and readable account of the life of the famous outlaw. Thoroughly annotated and drawn from nearly every work on the subject, Patterson's book presents the tale in an exceptionally balanced and inclusive way. Patterson is no apologist, nor does he appear to be a critic. While he points out that Butch Cassidy may have held social and political opinions that might fit the social bandit model, the author does not attempt to portray the outlaw as the Western version of Robin Hood and accomplishes the task of telling the tale using as many facts as are available, including contradictory as well as corroborative accounts.It is not hard to understand the appeal of the Robin Hood myth of the western outlaw. The West was a place of vast geographic expanse that did not easily lend itself to rapid and efficient law enforcement. Massive corporations, particularly mining interests, railroads, and cattle companies often used vigilantism to punish thieves and to drive minor competitors out of business. The social bandit, stealing from the rich and the powerful, drew tremendous loyalty and admiration from the average citizen, even if he did not share the wealth. Butch Cassidy is best known as a bank and train robber. He also was a cattle rustler, horse thief, and, in spite of his extensive criminal history, a very well liked man. That fact along with the fact that he apparently never killed anyone might justify his status as an American Robin Hood. Richard Patterson, however, is less than convinced and provides detailed accounts of Cassidy's exploits that lead the reader to the conclusion that while Cassidy did indeed share some of the social and political opinions of the typical social bandit, he was primarily motivated by a quest for excitement and easy money. The first recorded criminal act committed by Cassidy, at the time still going by his real name, Robert Leroy Parker, involved his breaking into a general store near his home of Circle Valley Utah and taking a new pair of overalls. Cassidy left a note promising to return to pay for the clothing. In spite of Parkers apparent honesty, the proprietor filed a complaint with the authorities. The matter was eventually settled but it caused considerable embarrassment for the Cassidy family. The second incident involved the alleged theft of a saddle for which young Butch Cassidy was arrested between 1879 and 1884, in Garfield county Utah. There is no record of the arrest and Patterson offers the testimony of only one person as evidence. Apparently during his time behind bars for this incident Cassidy was "mistreated by the authorities." (5) Other than these two incidents, Patterson offers no other early evidence that Cassidy was pushed into a life of crime out of resentment against the law or corporate greed. Drawing his details mostly from secondary sources and interviews conducted by other historians with people who may have known Butch Cassidy, Patterson provides

If you are interested in the life of Butch Cassidy, this is the book to buy. Patterson has successfully written an objective book trying to sort out the myths from the truth. He writes about all the different rumours and documented materials that exists, thus allowing you to draw your own conclusions. Intriguing as well as funny!

This is the most thoroughly researched biography of Butch Cassidy ever written. If you're looking for the facts, this is the place to find them. Patterson's experience as a lawyer has made him admirably skeptical, and he does his best to sort through the many conflicting accounts of Cassidy's life and death.

This book is filled with details about Butch Cassidy. It has all the information you would want to know...but I'm not giving it 5 stars, because it is written in a dry, academic tone, like the author was a professor submitting this to an academic historical journal. It's too bad these details were not set down by someone with a more lively writing style, like Tom Wolfe. BUT, the information itself is often fascinating, and it confirms William Goldman's (the author of the BUTCH movie screenplay) assessment that EVERYBODY liked Butch. Goldman himself gives great details about Butch Cassidy in his book ADVENTURES IN THE SCREENPLAY. That is to be recommended as well. This book is good, though, just not great.