Easton Press DLE Item 3388 JESSE JAMES AND HIS BAND OF NOTORIOUS OUTLAWS
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1saintmelville
EP has added to the Deluxe Limited Edition list:
https://www.eastonpress.com/prod/D04/3388/JESSE-JAMES-AND-HIS-BAND-OF-NOTORIOUS-...
https://www.eastonpress.com/prod/D04/3388/JESSE-JAMES-AND-HIS-BAND-OF-NOTORIOUS-...
2jroger1
As a collector of western Americana, I’ll probably have to get this one even though more reliable biographies are available today. The price is right for a DLE in a small format.
3uncledaveh
>1 saintmelville: Thank you for the 'heads up'. Believe I'll have to order this one.
4saintmelville
>3 uncledaveh: You're welcome
6Wootle
How accurate are any of them? At least a few historians submit that JJ was not killed like said in this volume, but lived to a ripe old age under another moniker.
7jroger1
>6 Wootle:
That rumor was convincingly quashed when the body in Jesse’s grave was exhumed and subjected to DNA testing. It was found to be related to a member of his family.
>5 astropi:
Early biographies such as this one are sometimes instructive of how legends begin and grow. An earlier DLE by Buffalo Bill served a similar purpose and so does the current one about Sitting Bull.
That rumor was convincingly quashed when the body in Jesse’s grave was exhumed and subjected to DNA testing. It was found to be related to a member of his family.
>5 astropi:
Early biographies such as this one are sometimes instructive of how legends begin and grow. An earlier DLE by Buffalo Bill served a similar purpose and so does the current one about Sitting Bull.
8uncledaveh
In my experience, books from this period don't tend to be too historically accurate. (As if all history wasn't somewhat subjective.) (Also, see jroger1's comment above about legends.) However, since it doesn't seem that Easton publishes a lot of books in this particular genre, I have already ordered mine.
10uncledaveh
My copy is supposed to ship on Monday (11/05/18).
11uncledaveh
I received my copy of 'Jesse James' on Saturday (11/10/18). The book is smaller (which I already knew) but very nice. The 'gold' on the slipcase did not fill in well in some areas of the lettering, so I have requested a replacement.
12jroger1
I just received the Jesse James DLE, a small but attractive book priced accordingly. It looks like it will be a fun read.
From the first chapter: “How can one begin the tale of this terrible man? What language can furnish the vocabulary which contains enough lurid words, wild synonyms, sanguinary adjectives, and murderous verbs, to do justice to this horrible monster; this insatiable vampire who has drank enough blood to print in red, an entire edition of this narrative. ... No novelist in his wildest flights of fancy, no writer urged on by the maddest vagaries of a heated imagination, no pen possessed of inventive genius short of Satanic, could conjure up such a character, trace so wild a life, or create such dramatic tableaux.”
Not a fan, obviously. No hero worship here!
From the first chapter: “How can one begin the tale of this terrible man? What language can furnish the vocabulary which contains enough lurid words, wild synonyms, sanguinary adjectives, and murderous verbs, to do justice to this horrible monster; this insatiable vampire who has drank enough blood to print in red, an entire edition of this narrative. ... No novelist in his wildest flights of fancy, no writer urged on by the maddest vagaries of a heated imagination, no pen possessed of inventive genius short of Satanic, could conjure up such a character, trace so wild a life, or create such dramatic tableaux.”
Not a fan, obviously. No hero worship here!
14thisGuy33
Just wondering if anyone has read or began to reading their copy of Jesse James DLE. Just wondering your thoughts on it.
I'm kind of on the fence with this one. I've decided to dial back my obscene spending on EP and FS books (mainly because I just have so many yet to read).
That being said ... this does look fun/interesting. However I can't find any book reviews on goodreads or other places on this title.
I did read the online kindle sample which is maybe 10 pages or so ... and it was a fun read ... but it seemed to be a little simplistic in its writing (if that even makes sense ... and i know that is very subjective of a statement).
Anyway ... I'm just looking for others thougts on this title.
I'm starting to think I might buy some cheap versions of titles that i'm somewhat interested in instead of always buying the EP or FS versions.
I assume others choose to do this as well ... buy the EP/FS/FP and other fine publishers copies of titles they know they will cherish and read again and again ... and then spend their money more wisely on titles they are lukewarm on.
I'm kind of on the fence with this one. I've decided to dial back my obscene spending on EP and FS books (mainly because I just have so many yet to read).
That being said ... this does look fun/interesting. However I can't find any book reviews on goodreads or other places on this title.
I did read the online kindle sample which is maybe 10 pages or so ... and it was a fun read ... but it seemed to be a little simplistic in its writing (if that even makes sense ... and i know that is very subjective of a statement).
Anyway ... I'm just looking for others thougts on this title.
I'm starting to think I might buy some cheap versions of titles that i'm somewhat interested in instead of always buying the EP or FS versions.
I assume others choose to do this as well ... buy the EP/FS/FP and other fine publishers copies of titles they know they will cherish and read again and again ... and then spend their money more wisely on titles they are lukewarm on.
15jroger1
>14 thisGuy33:
I’ve only read pieces of the book so far, but agree with you that it is amusing. I also agree that it is not a literary classic. I don’t buy many DLEs anymore except for the illustrator-signed ones, but I bought this one for these reasons:
- I collect Western American nonfiction, especially about the “Wild West.”
- The illustrations are plentiful and interesting, even if simple, and the front cover is beautifully illustrated.
- Jesse operated in my part of the country, so I am familiar with many of the locations mentioned.
- it is one of EP’s less expensive DLEs.
You’ll have to decide if any of these factors make it worthwhile for you. Like you, I read many books on the Kindle that interest me some but not enough to purchase an expensive copy.
My wife and I sometimes spend a long weekend in a cabin at Robbers’ Cave State Park, about an hour’s drive from our home in Tulsa. Here is a link to an interesting article about Jesse as well as other outlaws and buried treasures. https://owlcation.com/humanities/RobbersCave
I’ve only read pieces of the book so far, but agree with you that it is amusing. I also agree that it is not a literary classic. I don’t buy many DLEs anymore except for the illustrator-signed ones, but I bought this one for these reasons:
- I collect Western American nonfiction, especially about the “Wild West.”
- The illustrations are plentiful and interesting, even if simple, and the front cover is beautifully illustrated.
- Jesse operated in my part of the country, so I am familiar with many of the locations mentioned.
- it is one of EP’s less expensive DLEs.
You’ll have to decide if any of these factors make it worthwhile for you. Like you, I read many books on the Kindle that interest me some but not enough to purchase an expensive copy.
My wife and I sometimes spend a long weekend in a cabin at Robbers’ Cave State Park, about an hour’s drive from our home in Tulsa. Here is a link to an interesting article about Jesse as well as other outlaws and buried treasures. https://owlcation.com/humanities/RobbersCave
16thisGuy33
>15 jroger1: ... Thanks for your thoughts. I can completely see how your location to the events makes this an easy purchase/read. And I too do really like the cover illustration and the not overly inflated asking price. It definitely has a lot going for it.
I will read that link tonight ... looks like fun information for sure!!!
The one thing that is really keeping me one the fence (besides the wanting to cut back on shelling out so much money each month to DLE's) ... is that when I read the online kindle sample of 10 or so pages ... it was such a quick read (which was fun and isn't a bad thing) ... but I just think I would read this so quickly and never re-read it again.
Maybe my simple solution is to just buy the kindle version ... read that ... and if i think i'll re-read it ... then grab this dle version. That is what is called some thinking out loud as I type.
lol
I know my thoughts on EP and FS purchases changed when I finally read thru EP's Jules Verne Journey to the Center of the Earth DLE ... It was a fine book (wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations ... especially the one full page almost 98% pure black illustration) ... but It was the first time I had ever read the story. And thought it was an enjoyable read for the most part ... but I did find myself getting bored often. I think mostly because I didn't find Verne's visuals to be very "juicy" (maybe it's because I was also reading lots of Dickens at the time and I love the vast descriptions found in almost every sentence of his writing). I also hated how when they finally reached the center of the earth and the opportunity of the fun stuff was right at hand ... they immediately began their rushed journey back to the surface. I don't understand how they finally reach this "whole newly unseen world" and they spend such a short time there.
Anyway ... long story long ... I just found I was heavily disappointed in "Journey" ... to the point I'm pretty positive I won't be revisiting that title. And at the high price for that DLE ... for it to just take up so much shelf space ... it's actually the first title that I'm thinking of selling.
I think this is what has sparked my more refined decision making when it comes to my personal DLE purchases.
Oh well ... now I'm just babbling. :)
I will read that link tonight ... looks like fun information for sure!!!
The one thing that is really keeping me one the fence (besides the wanting to cut back on shelling out so much money each month to DLE's) ... is that when I read the online kindle sample of 10 or so pages ... it was such a quick read (which was fun and isn't a bad thing) ... but I just think I would read this so quickly and never re-read it again.
Maybe my simple solution is to just buy the kindle version ... read that ... and if i think i'll re-read it ... then grab this dle version. That is what is called some thinking out loud as I type.
lol
I know my thoughts on EP and FS purchases changed when I finally read thru EP's Jules Verne Journey to the Center of the Earth DLE ... It was a fine book (wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations ... especially the one full page almost 98% pure black illustration) ... but It was the first time I had ever read the story. And thought it was an enjoyable read for the most part ... but I did find myself getting bored often. I think mostly because I didn't find Verne's visuals to be very "juicy" (maybe it's because I was also reading lots of Dickens at the time and I love the vast descriptions found in almost every sentence of his writing). I also hated how when they finally reached the center of the earth and the opportunity of the fun stuff was right at hand ... they immediately began their rushed journey back to the surface. I don't understand how they finally reach this "whole newly unseen world" and they spend such a short time there.
Anyway ... long story long ... I just found I was heavily disappointed in "Journey" ... to the point I'm pretty positive I won't be revisiting that title. And at the high price for that DLE ... for it to just take up so much shelf space ... it's actually the first title that I'm thinking of selling.
I think this is what has sparked my more refined decision making when it comes to my personal DLE purchases.
Oh well ... now I'm just babbling. :)
17treereader
>16 thisGuy33: "I just found I was heavily disappointed in "Journey" ... to the point I'm pretty positive I won't be revisiting that title."
It's possible (probable, even) that a different translation exists that might include something (essential, even) that was missing from the version you read. I'm not up to speed on exactly which translations are better than which, nor which translation the EP used in its DLE but with Verne (and Hugo, Tolstoy, etc...) it's always something to consider before starting a read. Sometime in the last year or two there was a somewhat detailed discussion in this group about EP Journey translations. I've only read the standard EP version, which is considered significantly inferior due to content omissions and unnecessary name changes. I found it enjoyable but I do plan on seeking out and reading a better version of it someday.
It's possible (probable, even) that a different translation exists that might include something (essential, even) that was missing from the version you read. I'm not up to speed on exactly which translations are better than which, nor which translation the EP used in its DLE but with Verne (and Hugo, Tolstoy, etc...) it's always something to consider before starting a read. Sometime in the last year or two there was a somewhat detailed discussion in this group about EP Journey translations. I've only read the standard EP version, which is considered significantly inferior due to content omissions and unnecessary name changes. I found it enjoyable but I do plan on seeking out and reading a better version of it someday.
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