English Summary/英文概要： Finalist for the Western Writers of America Spur Award for Best Biography--Now in Paperback To some, Jesse James was a Robin Hood, a mythic figure of righteous retribution. To others he was the devil incarnate, a bloodthirsty hooligan, and cold-blooded killer. The disparity between these views is often attributed to an almost invisible link between the marauding Missouri guerrilla bands of the Civil War and the general lawlessness that plagued the Old West. For more than twenty-five years Ted Yeatman combed through the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and numerous historical societies and private collections--including those of many James family members and Jesse’s great grandson--to produce this thorough examination of the careers of Frank and Jesse James. The result is a complete account of the James brothers during the Civil War, their sixteen years of notoriety, and the lives of those who outlived Jesse. In 1866 the legend of the James brothers began with the first successful peacetime daylight bank robbery. It ended in 1882, when Jesse was killed by Bob and Charlie Ford while the three of them planned the robbery of the Platte City Bank. The fact that former gang members turned on Jesse later led Frank to surrender voluntarily to the governor of Missouri and face a trial. He was never convicted. Ted Yeatman has created a thoroughly documented narrative that will be satisfying both to readers who know little about the James brothers and those who have read everything in print about them. Also included are dozens of heretofore unpublished illustrations and photographs of the people, places, and artifacts associated with the notorious James bandits.

Awards/获奖情况： Review
"...the best I have ever read about the notorious bandits." -- St. Joseph News-Press, June 19, 2000
"Exceptional!!!!" -- Today’s Books, July 14, 2000
FRANK AND JESSE JAMES is an example of how a biography should be prepared. -- True West Magazine, September 2000
Frank and Jesse James is an example of how a biography should be prepared: thorough research into all available depositories; -- True West Magazine, Sept. 2000 by Chuck Parsons
I close with two suggestions: 1) Read Ted Yeatman’s book for the full Jesse and Frank James story; 2) Be careful riding those freight cars west of El Paso. -- WILD WEST, August 2000
Readers will Mr. Yeatman’s gambol through Missouri history. -- ST. JOSEPH NEWS-PRESS, June 2, 2000
Yeatman not only gives the James brothers’ story well, he encompasses it in a history of the times. -- Jim Dullenty, Former Editor TRUE WEST/ OLD WEST magazines