There are few times and places as romanticized as America’s “Old West”. It has a robust mythology peppered with gunslingers, outlaws, and rugged pioneers. One of the most recognizable of these legendary rogues has to be Billy the Kid. The young outlaw barely lived to see twenty-one, but his legend would prove to be immortal. In a world that produced hundreds of outlaws and gunfighters, why has Billy the Kid been so lovingly mythologized? Tune in and find out how laundry theft, a gun hidden under a breakfast for two, and some dude named “Windy” all play a role in the story.

Works Cited

Garrett, Pat F. The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid. Birmingham, AL: Palladium, 2007. Print.

Nolan, Frederick. The West of Billy the Kid. Norman: U of Oklahoma, 1998. Print.

Otero, Miguel Antonio. The Real Billy the Kid: With New Light on the Lincoln County War. Santa Fe: Sunstone, 2007. Print.

Tatum, Stephen. Inventing Billy the Kid Visions of the Outlaw in America, 1881-1981. Tucson: U of Arizona, 1997. Print.

Tuska, Jon. Billy the Kid, His Life and Legend. Albuquerque: U of New Mexico, 1997. Print.

Utley, Robert M. Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life. London: Tauris, 2000. Print.

Utley, Robert M. High Noon in Lincoln: Violence on the Western Frontier. Albuquerque, NM: U of New Mexico, 1995. Print.

Wallis, Michael. Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride. New York: W W Norton, 2008. Print.