The Texas That Might Have Been: Sam Houston's Foes Write to Albert Sidney Johnston Book

In terms of reading pleasure, I enjoyed the chapters where I could keep track of everyone. The chapters where I got lost in a morass of names, not so much, however the author does try to help the reader there, even including a genealogy in the chapter where the feud between two families disintegrates into a feud within the one. And I expect most people do better at following the names of the various lawmen and outlaws than I do.

In terms of research, however, I thought this book excellent. Boessenecker clearly understands that the kinds of crime bad guys indulged in changed over the years that Westerns cover, which right there puts him ahead of the authors of some books I have read (and way ahead of TV westerns). His footnotes are good, and even within the text I can always figure out what year something is happening. The map he provides in the front doesn't include every town discussed, but you can always get a general idea of where something is happening.

Bossenecker provides the dates and locations of dozens of newspaper articles he's used, which is terrifically helpful, because California has a website archiving many of its old newspapers, so the reader can go read the original writeups, if so inclined. Nineteenth century reporting was no more accurate than it is now, but reporters back then didn't pretend to be dispassionate observers and weren't above giving their opinions on things, meaning the writing was often much livelier. But Bossenecker also dug into archives less easily available, providing corrections on the newspaper reports (and, sometimes, on other author's write ups of the events).

The occasional photos are always pertinent to the text, and often enhance it (blown up railroad cars, hurrah!).

Recommended for anyone interested in the subject.