The Jesse James Scrapbook

The Scrapbook presents a kaleidoscopic view of the civil war and surrounding years as experienced by Jesse James and the people he touched (often not so gently) in the course of a career filled with theft, murder, and singing in church. The fictional account of the outlaw's life, which takes place mainly in the border states, views the great issues of the time from the perspectives of a diverse assortment of individuals; at the same time, the character of Jesse James radiates outward to conjure up the mythic aspect-Arthurian legend generally and Robin Hood for the outlaw-of the Confederacy's culture of nobility. Plus, it's a page turner.

Like an unfinished jigsaw puzzle, Jansen furnishes pieces of Jesse James' life for the reader to put together and see a completed picture emerge. Each of the chapters in The Jesse James Scrapbook reveals a side of Jesse's life from the points of view of his fourth grade teacher, his neighbors, newspaper articles and letters, and other observers of his time. I enjoyed hearing each character's voice, different from chapter to chapter, tell of experiences with Jesse. Although the book is fiction, the accounts ring of truth as they are based on legendary or actual accounts. For those of us who truly believe that the "story" part of history is the most fascinating and alive, this book is a "must read."

Read the Jesse James Scrapbook for history, for a taste of life with outlaws, for stories of America's Civil War. George Jansen's fascinating novel covers more than one-half century of incidents and people connected with Frank and Jesse James. The incidents are based on real or legendary happenings, and source notes accompany this historical novel. Narrators such as Confederate soldiers, farmers, acquaintances of the James family tell their stories, chapter by chapter. The tone of each chapter, the voices of the narrators, complete with changes in speech patterns, all take the reader back to the time period -- the second half of the 19th century. This fascinating book describes people and places and encounters with carefully chosen words. I bought two books . . . so I wouldn't have to share mine.

This carefully researched fictionalization of Jesse James' life allows the reader to watch Jesse, a troublesome, strong-willed kid who could be anyone's neighbor, evolve into the feared gunslinger that he became. Told through the eyes of different characters, each of whom knew a different Jesse, his story unfolds sometimes in humor, sometimes in poignancy, and sometimes in raw tragedy. For any reader who likes history, interesting characters, and fine writing, this book is a must-read. Elizabeth Varadan

I was hooked from the beginning of "The Jesse James Scrapbook." George Jansen, a superb storyteller, took me to a place I didn't know I wanted to go to. But I got caught up in the multivoiced narratives of people who lived in the second half of 19th century American and whose lives touched or were touched by the James brothers and other notorious outlaws of the time. Once I arrived in that time and place, I didn't want to leave. An amazing first novel. Can't wait for the next one.