Synopses & Reviews
Hansen re-creates the real West with his imaginative telling of the life of the most famous outlaw of them all, Jesse James, and of his death at the hands of the upstart Robert Ford. James, a charismatic, superstitious, and moody man, holds sway over a ragged gang who fear his temper and quick shooting. Robert Ford, a young gang member torn between worshipping Jesse and taking his place, guns him down in cold blood and lives out his days tormented by the killing.
Synopsis
American history's most famous outlaw comes alive in Ron Hansen's imaginative recreation of the West. The charismatic Jesse James has a quick temper, an even faster draw, and holds sway over his ragged gang-that is, until the arrival of upstart Robert Ford. Torn between worship and jealousy of James, Ford makes a fateful decision that torments him for the rest of his life and becomes one of the most legendary events of the American frontier.
About the Author
Ron Hansen is the author, most recently, of
A Stay Against Confusion: Essays on Faith and Fiction and of the novel
Hitler's Niece. His previous novel,
Atticus, was a National Book Award finalist. Other highly praised works of fiction include
Mariette in Ecstasy, The Assassination Of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Desperadoes, and the story collection
Nebraska. With Jim Shepard, he edited the anthology
You've Got to Read This: Contemporary American Writers Introduce Stories That Held Them in Awe. Ron Hansen is married to the novelist Bo Caldwell and lives in northern California, where he teaches fiction writing and literature at Santa Clara University.