The Family Story of Bonnie and Clyde

If you've seen the movie and liked it, but wanted a little more detail and background info then you should really check out The Family Story of Bonnie and Clyde by Phillip Steele and none other than Clyde's own sister Marie Barrow Scoma. This book really takes full advantage of Marie's first hand knowledge about her brother and runs with it. Although, if you have a problem with violence or gruesome details i would probably avoid this one. Clyde Barrow's life begins near Teleco, Texas where he spent his early years often left to the care of his older sister Nell. He and his 6 other brothers and sisters were often unintentionally neglected by their parents. Even as a young child, Clyde loved movies with outlaws like Jesse James and would imagine himself to be these outlaws for weeks after seeing the movies. His family never stayed any one place very long, and, as a result, the kids didn't attend much school. The family soon moved to West Dallas, a homeless and vagrant area. Clyde left school at age 17, and, being handy with cars and machines, he easily found work. His first crime was merely taking a few turkeys from a neighbor's yard, but not long after that he pulled his first armed robbery. Then, teaming up with his brother, Buck, and a few other friends, he robbed the Buell Lumber Company. Soon after this is when the Outlaw Gang was formed and they robbed a few more shops before getting caught. When this happened, Clyde decided to clean up his act and he opened a family gas station with his dad. Clyde met Bonnie in January of 1930. Bonnie Parker, who had just suffered a divorce, was helping a friend who had broken her arm when Clyde stopped by to visit the girl he also new. "It was apparently love at first sight for both of them." Clyde spent the night at the Parkers and must have been pretty embarrassed when police showed up with warrants for his arrest. Bonnie wrote Clyde in jail and pleaded him never to do anything like this again, but she later aided in his escape by slipping him a gun that he and an inmate used on the guard. This marks the beginning of the infamous duo known as Bonnie and Clyde. Over the next few years, the 2 partners in crime, along with various other gang members, successfully rob over 100 businesses. You probably already know or at least have heard about the dramatic finale, but just in case, I'll leave it to you to read the book. I will tell you, however, that the tragic ending involves over 200 bullet holes. This book altogether gives an in depth background to each member and has incredible action along with humor and drama. I enjoyed The Family Story of Bonnie and Clyde tremendously. Even if you haven't heard, read, or seen anything about Bonnie and Clyde, this book covers everthing from A to Z( even whether or not Clyde was homosexual)in a way that is fairly easy to follow. I would recomend this book to anyone who enjoys action and a gripping tale of love, hate, betrayal, comedy, and two wild outlaws.

It was a pleasure to learn more factual details about Bonnie and Clyde. What a fascinating account of the lives and deeds of this notorious pair. I certainly recommend this book.

As a newspaper editor and historian in north Texas, "The Family Story of Bonnie and Clyde" by Phillip W. Steele was extremely helpful in my research. This book provides a wealth of important details that, taken with other records, helps provide a deeper understanding of these two outlaw icons. I look forward to seeing Mr. Steele's next release on Bonnie and Clyde. Tony Swindell, Sherman (TX) Herald-Democrat

Marie Barrow Scoma is Clyde Barrow's youngest sister and felt that no book, film, article or video told the story of Bonnie and Clyde and their Barrow Gang completely or accurately. Collaborating with Philip Steel, Marie offers not only her personal insight, but also previously unpublished photographs and her mother's diary, which have never before been seen by anyone outside the Barrow family. The Family Story Of Bonnie And Clyde casts new information on one of the most infamous criminal couples in the history of the United States. This candid and informative contribution of the family story behind the folklore and legend is a welcome contribution to American history in general, and the biographical story of Bonnie and Clyde in particular.