Paul Robert Walker

American Profiles was the first series of its kind designed with the needs of middle school and high school students in mind. The reference value of every book is enhanced by the inclusion of chronologies, further reading lists, a complete index, and a concise introduction to the general subject of the book. The series presents a wealth of useful information on important Americans and their achievements in all fields of endeavor.

American Profiles series
Facts on File • 1992 • $25.00 (hc)
ISBN 0-8160-2576-2 • 144 pages • Ages 10 and up

The Wild West—one of the most intriguing periods in U.S. history—was created by the combination of a particular place, time, and state of mind. It was the land west of the Mississippi, the time following the California gold rush, and a life that, while tough and violent, was filled with freedom and opportunity. The adventurous spirit of the Wild West has always fascinated people—first through dime novels and, more recently, as shown in "cowboy and Indian" movies and miniseries. While these portrayals were always exciting, they were often misleading or outright falsities. As this book eloquently demonstrates, the true stories of the Wild West are as exciting and often more interesting than their less factual counterparts.

Great Figures of the Wild West paints a vivid portrait of this fascinating period of American history, profiling eight people whose life stories are closely tied to our image of the Wild West: Sitting Bull, Jesse James, Buffalo Bill, Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, Geronimo, Belle Starr, and Judge Roy Bean.