Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves

Race and Ethnicity in the American West Series #1

By: Art T. Burton

Narrated by: Ron Butler

Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Deputy US Marshal Bass Reeves appears as one of "eight notable Oklahomans", the "most feared US marshal in the Indian country". That Reeves was also an African American who had spent his early life as a slave in Arkansas and Texas makes his accomplishments all the more remarkable. Bucking the odds ("I'm sorry, we didn't keep black people's history," a clerk at one of Oklahoma's local historical societies answered a query), Art T. Burton sifts through fact and legend to discover the truth about one of the most outstanding peace officers in late 19th-century America - and perhaps the greatest lawman of the Wild West era. Fluent in Creek and other Southern native languages, physically powerful, skilled with firearms, and a master of disguise, Reeves was exceptionally adept at apprehending fugitives and outlaws, and his exploits were legendary in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

A finalist for the 2007 Spur Award, sponsored by the Western Writers of America, Black Gun, Silver Star tells Bass Reeves' story for the first time and restores this remarkable figure to his rightful place in the history of the American West.

©2006 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska (P)2015 Tantor

An exceptional life story.

though sometimes it gets a bit like an encyclopedia. thousands of great western tales. Bass Reeves is a great American Hero.

Review of Bass Reeves book.

One of the great stories of a Black Deputy Marshal under the hanging Judge in Little Rock.

The story!

The level of detail was impressive - particularly for a Black character during that period. The story adds new meaning to the phrase “The Wild West!”

Loved it

This is American history untold in American schools. Not only was the story of US Marshall Bass Reeves dynamic and inspiring but the period and location of his story is very revealing. From the sad transition through slavery to Plessy and legal segregation via "separate but equal" and the lost of Indian land into the State of Oklahoma the listener is sitting in a classroom of a story untold.

I highly recommend this audio and it's great narration by Ron Butler even if you're not looking to understand the true American story.

African American History in the Old West

Great introduction to his life in the Oklahoma territories. The narrative is more like a series of reports, local folklore, and testimonies but still gives a colorful description. Worth the time if you like history.

Great character but poor telling of his story

For a historical figure with such an amazing story this book did nothing to elevate the tale above a dry recounting of court records. Bass' story deserves a better telling than this. Get what you can from this version as I have yet to find the exciting version and you need to learn about this amazing man.

The Untold American History

Wow what a amazing story. Totally captivating from the beginning. This book is more educating, than it is entertaining. It should be a required reading for all American History Classes in this country. Thank You.

Too Heavy On Details

This book reads like a Bass Reeves case file. It's unfortunate that information on this legendary character is limited. There are many cases where Bass made a simple arrest, without incident, that are highlighted in excruciating detail.
Good information about his story and the highlights of his life are in here, but it is mostly scattered in the rambling, banal minutae of the list of every single case the author could find Bass tied to. A large part of this book reads more like an exhaustive reference than a good story.
This was probably the authors intention, at least in part, since information on Bass is scattered and so hard to come by.

ONE OF THE BEST

Very well performed very informative history of the the early west be it black or white. There was no skewing or fantasizing just definitively stating the facts of one man's life as a law enforcement official with a passion and tenacity to complete his duty. Overall this is one of the better written western history books, a must read.

Good story

Most life stories seem to be based loosely on fact. This is backed by facts…lots of facts…almost boring. Sometimes easy to want to stop listening but worth the finish.