|
|
(Larger Image)
|
Texas Bad Girls: Hussie, Harlots, and Horse Thieves
by J.Lee Butts
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Republic of Texas (2000-01-25)
ISBN: 1556228333
EAN: 9781556228339
Dewey Decimal #: 364.10820922764
Paperback: 265 pages
SKU: 81408000362
Condition: Fine
Comments: 1556228333 New, never read, may have minor wear on cover.
|
Editorial Reviews
|
Product Description
Sometimes humorous, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, sometimes deeply sad and moving-such are the biographies of fifteen Texas bad girls. Husband killers, run-of-the-mill murderers, whorehouse madams, prostitutes, gamblers, bank robbers, floozies-each contributes immeasurably to a rowdy, ribald history that dates from the state's earliest settlers to yesterday's biggest news story. These bad girls of Texas prance across the pages of this book in a seamless parade of behavior so far outside the realm of common convention that their places in history were virtually guaranteed even while they lived. Their lifestyles assured the harshest of societal criticism and condemnation then and now, but our relentless curiosity won't let them rest.
|
Customer Reviews
|
A Disappointment
Rating  (2)
Date: 2002-05-06
2 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
Great potential for a fun, interesting read is often wasted in "Texas Bad Girls." The author has some fine story-telling skills, and some of the yarns are genuinely fascinating. Unfortunately, the author seems in love with his own cleverness, and ruins a good many of the stories by inserting distracting quips and jokes. The humor works sometimes, but too often it serves to mark this book as the work of an amateur, one step up from a vanity project. The author appears to have done a great deal of original research, but explains none of it and cites no sources beyond a bibliography of older books and articles at the back. This, along with the wise-acre writing style, robs the book of credibility. I think Mr. Butts has potential as an entertaining writer of light history, and I'd like to see him set his standards a little higher.
|
|
Fun History
Rating  (5)
Date: 2001-01-23
1 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
If you thought history couldn't be fun, read this book! The author's style is delightful, sprinkled with humorous and original expressions. Hope he's writing another!
|
|
Texas Bad Girls Gone Good
Rating (5)
Date: 2000-12-12
2 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
This author has a unique and gifted way of taking simple historical facts and turning them into a wonderfully written "Texas tale" filled with humorous quips and folklore. Texas Bad Girls is a must read for those that love the wild days of the west but are willing to take a different ride down that dusty trail. The statement, "Stand by your man", is quickly dismissed as a simple cliche. These women were tough and real and they take you right along every step of the way. A great romp...and some of them were experts at romping! A fun read and a must read. Looking forward to the next adventure. Good job Butts.
|
|
TEXAS BAD GIRLS
Rating (5)
Date: 2000-12-06
3 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
I KNOW THIS AUTHOR. HE HAS BEEN A DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER-IN-LAW FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. I HAD THE HONOR OF READING SNIPPETS,EXCERPTS AND ROUGH DRAFTS AS THIS WORK WAS BEING COMPILED. AS JIMMY TRAVELLED THE HIGHWAYS, BYWAYS AND BACK ROADS OF TEXAS, VISITING LIBRARIES,OLD CHURCHES,SCHOOLS AND COURTHOUSES, HE LEAFED THROUGH MOUNTAINS OF ARCHIVED MATERIALS,READ OLD NEWS PAPERS AND DUG IN BOXES OF JUNK IN SEARCH OF MATERIAL TO AUTHENTICATE HIS STORIES. THE TENDER LOVING CARE HE PUT INTO HIS RESEARCH IS VERY EVIDENT IN THE FINISHED PRODUCT. HIS DESCRIPTIVE TALENTS BRINGS EACH CHARACTER INTO FOCUS FOR ME. I CAN CLOSE MY EYES AND MENTALLY SEE EACH WOMAN. I'VE NEVER BEEN A STUDENT OF HISTORY, BUT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN AN "A" STUDENT HAD HISTORY BOOKS BEEN WRITTEN WITH THIS MUCH HUMOR.TEXAS BAD GIRLS WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, MAKE YOU CRY AND MAKE YOU WANT MORE. READ IT ONCE. WAIT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND READ IT AGAIN. IT'S BETTER THE SECOND TIME. I LOOK FORWARD TO JIMMY'S NEXT BOOK WITH EAGER ANTICIPATION.
|
|
texas bad girls get good reviews
Rating (5)
Date: 2000-11-30
1 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
I read this book the day I bought it. I thought it was a well researched, and was very well written. I enjoyed reading about the history of these women. I hope the author will write one about those bad Texas men to go with it. The author seems to have a flare for writing about historical events as if he was actually there. It was great.
|
|
|
|
|