Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Billy the Kid: An Autobiography” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Billy the Kid: An Autobiography

by Daniel A. Edwards

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 21 ratings · 0 reviews

In 1882 a notorious outlaw by the name of Jesse Evans, a childhood friend of Billy the Kid and a participant in the Lincoln County War, walked out of jail after serving a 10 year sentence for killing a Texas ranger. Jesse walked out of prison a free man and disappeared, never to be heard from again. Never, that is, until 1949 when Jesse came out of hiding after almost 60 y In 1882 a notorious outlaw by the name of Jesse Evans, a childhood friend of Billy the Kid and a participant in the Lincoln County War, walked out of jail after serving a 10 year sentence for killing a Texas ranger. Jesse walked out of prison a free man and disappeared, never to be heard from again. Never, that is, until 1949 when Jesse came out of hiding after almost 60 years to claim an inheritance left to him by his brother.

In the course of proving his identity to a court Jesse told some amazing stories of his time when he was an outlaw but his biggest revelation of all was that his good friend Billy the Kid was still alive. Jesse led a young lawyer named William Morrison to an old man named not William H. Bonney but William H. Roberts who after some consideration finally agreed to come forward and reveal himself as Billy the Kid. He agreed to this on one condition. This condition was not that he could receive fame, fortune, or royalties on a book, but this condition was that he would reveal himself only if he could obtain a pardon from the Governor before his death so he could die a free man.

You see, Billy the Kid was still wanted for murder and was condemned to hang. To come forward and reveal himself was to risk being arrested and put to death. This was a risk that William H. Roberts was willing to take. He sat down with Mr. Morrison and told his story.

This book contains that story. It is the one true autobiography of Billy the Kid. A story that aside from some definite highlights and adventures that one would expect from the Kid, was remarkable normal and focused on his skill breaking horses as much or as more as his skill as a gunslinger. Billy the Kid was, in fact, just a gifted young cowhand who found himself juxtaposed against corrupt officials and lawmen at what became a key moment in American History.

Before one dismisses Mr. Roberts it should be considered that 5 living acquaintances of Billy the Kid, aside from Mr. Evans who revealed him, were willing to sign legal affidavits that Mr. Roberts was the man they knew as Billy the Kid. Further, new photographic evidences shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were the same man. Mr. Roberts' story became the inspiration for the opening scene in hit movie "Young Guns II" starring Emilio Estevez as Billy the Kid. Also Consider that Pat Garrett was denied his reward for killing the kid for many months, and that only a special act of the legislature allowed him to finally receive it. Consider further that a contemporary newspaper reported, after seeing the body of the kid, that the Kid had tanned his skin and grown a beard to disguise himself as a Mexican which fits perfectly the local history that Pat Garrett killed the wrong man. All of this and more is contained in this book. Thanks to Mr. Morrison each of us can now pull up a chair, sit down across from Billy the Kid, and listen as he shares his story. ...more

Kindle Edition , 234 pages

Published October 31st 2014 by Creative Texts Publishers

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

Or buy for

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Billy the Kid , please sign up .

Recent Questions

One reviewer asks "Did Sheriff Garrett kill Billy the Kid on that fateful night or was it someone else? Did Billy the Kid live out his life and die of old age? Was Brushy Bill Roberts really Billy the Kid?" What do YOU think?

See 1 question about Billy the Kid…

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 46)

filter | sort : default (?) | rating details

Rob Eberhardt is currently reading it
Sep 28, 2015

Jeffrey Davis added it
Sep 24, 2015

michael myers marked it as to-read
Sep 21, 2015

Amanda marked it as to-read
Sep 10, 2015

Dan Schumacher rated it 4 of 5 stars
Aug 25, 2015

gator12 is currently reading it
Aug 22, 2015

Rick Garner added it
Jul 19, 2015

Lorelei Willems rated it 4 of 5 stars
Jul 06, 2015

janine d fisher rated it 4 of 5 stars
Jul 06, 2015

Mike Mitchell marked it as to-read
Jul 04, 2015

Loretta M Nicholson rated it 4 of 5 stars
Jun 27, 2015

Lisa A DiSavino is currently reading it
Jun 22, 2015

Jay marked it as to-read
Jun 21, 2015

Triston rated it 5 of 5 stars
Jun 21, 2015

Kevin W. Jerrell rated it 4 of 5 stars
Jun 16, 2015

Rhiannen rated it 4 of 5 stars
Jun 07, 2015

Vettius29 marked it as to-read
Jun 04, 2015

Adrian rated it 3 of 5 stars
Jun 23, 2015

Meghan marked it as to-read
Sep 08, 2015

Karen marked it as to-read
May 21, 2015

Holly Daphine rated it 5 of 5 stars
May 18, 2015

Ron marked it as to-read
May 15, 2015

Fallon Mason rated it 4 of 5 stars
May 29, 2015

Daniel Duckworth rated it 5 of 5 stars
Apr 10, 2015

Michael Kranich rated it 2 of 5 stars
Mar 28, 2015

Patrick Bruning marked it as to-read
Mar 23, 2015

Luke Powers marked it as to-read
Mar 20, 2015

james s emanuel rated it 3 of 5 stars
Mar 17, 2015

Daniel Edwards rated it 5 of 5 stars
Mar 15, 2015

Brad marked it as to-read
Mar 12, 2015

« previous 1 2 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

Share This Book

Share on your website

title link	preview: Billy the Kid: An Autobiography
avg rating	preview: Billy the Kid: An Autobiography Goodreads rating: 4.05 (21 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23534946-billy-the-kid?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1425520260l/23534946.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23534946-billy-the-kid?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Billy the Kid: An Autobiography by Daniel A. Edwards[/url]

+ Share on your website

Trivia About Billy the Kid: An...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

See a Problem?

Preview — Billy the Kid by Daniel A. Edwards

Billy the Kid: An Autobiography

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Recent Questions

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Share This Book

Share on your website

Trivia About Billy the Kid: An...

See a Problem?

Preview — Billy the Kid by Daniel A. Edwards

Billy the Kid: An Autobiography

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Recent Questions

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic Discuss This Book

Share This Book

Share on your website

Trivia About Billy the Kid: An...

new topic
Discuss This Book