Buffalo Bill Cody: The Man Behind the Legend - Biography of the Wild West Icon for History Enthusiasts and American West Fans - Perfect for Reading, Gifts, and Classroom Education

This was a great read, and shed light on both the myths and realities surrounding Will Cody's life. The author admits and doesn't shy away from mentioning aspects that were or could have been fabricated or sensationalized; however, he also provides rationale for the why/wherefore of those assertions whenever relevant. However, unlike many historians who tend to (perhaps subconsciously) minimize the "awesomeness" of larger-than-life characters by trying to make them appear "too" normal/average when in fact they are far from it, this author celebrates Will Cody's amazing, can-you-believe-that-really-happened life by showcasing his incredible exploits with the same matter-of-fact, objective analysis as that does elements of his life that were likely fictitious. All told, it's amazing that so many amazing adventures happened to the same guy, and it's really interesting how he created a romanticized version of himself and his Old West world in such a way that he could re-sell it for amazing profits across the globe...all while being generous and not overly obsessive about money. It seems that towards the end of his frontier days he began to understand he was living in a real-life wild west show, and began to construct his "character" while it was still in the process of being shaped by the realities of his scouting and hunting work. Truly and incredible plainsman, showman, and iconic character, brought to life in a fair and objective fashion in this text.