"With "Wyatt Earp: A Biography of the Legend," celebrated author and historian Lee A. Silva has written far more than another conventional biography. As evident from the book's sub-title, "Volume 1: The Cowtown Years," this is the first of four volumes and covers only his subject's early years from his birth to his beginnings as a peace officer and concluding with the commencement of his legend in Dodge City. Though Wyatt remains the focus of the narrative, his story is enriched by what emerges as virtually a history of the Old West. Mr. Silva achieves the amazing feat of transporting readers into the past through vivid desriptions and investigations of virtually every facet of Wyatt's early life. Wyatt's milieu at the various stages of his maturation are throughly explored to provide readers with the comprehensive knowledge necessary to understand the social and cultural values that influenced his development. These include a thorough examinanation of Wyatt's family life as well as extensive histories of the various towns and communities in which he lived. Many episodes from his personal life, including his first marriage and the disputed horse-thief charge,are explored in depth. Events which became part of his legend, including his often-told accomplishments as a lawman in Wichita and Dodge City as well as lesser-known incidents in Ellsworth and Deadwood,are given more detailed scrutiny than previously available. Other treasures include a very inclusive biography of Doc Holliday and even a meticulous examination of the Buntline Special legend that has been forever associated with Wyatt. Particularly fascinating to anyone interested in not only Wyatt Earp but in this country's history is the story of how gunfighters emerged during the post-Civil War years and how Wyatt's development was influenced by this new breed of professional shootists."-Amazon review