The Life and Adventures of Nat Love

By: Nat Love

Narrated by: Chris Matthews

Thousands of Black cowpunchers drove cattle up the Chisholm Trail after the Civil War, but only Nat Love wrote about his experiences. Born to slaves in Davidson County, Tennessee, the newly freed Love struck out for Kansas after the war. He was 15 and already endowed with a reckless and romantic readiness. In wide-open Dodge City he joined up with an outfit from the Texas Panhandle to begin a career riding the range and fighting Indians, outlaws, and the elements. Years later he would say, “I had an unusually adventurous life”.

That was rare understatement. More characteristic was Love’s claim: “I carry the marks of 14 bullet wounds on different parts of my body, most any one of which would be sufficient to kill an ordinary man, but I am not even crippled”. In 1876 a virtuoso rodeo performance in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, won him the moniker of Deadwood Dick. He became known as DD all over the West, entering into dime novels as a mysteriously dark and heroic presence.

This vivid autobiography includes encounters with Bat Masterson and Billy the Kid, a soon-after view of the Custer battlefield, and a successful courtship. Love left the range in 1890, the year of the official closing of the frontier. Then, as a Pullman train conductor he traveled his old trails, and those good times bring his story to a satisfying end.

Public Domain (P)2020 Historical Recordings

Stampeding Cowboy

It was refreshing to read something that was a post slavery time and see someone thrive. I’m inspired by the stories Nat told about his life and what he was able to achieve in such a time.

great book

read after the harder the they fall, great read should've had in red dead redemption definitely would recommend checking out

Nate Love Deserves Better

First off, it's pronounced "Nate" not "Nat". he spelled it both ways but it was pronounced "Nate", rhymes with "late".

The narrator didn't read his name that way, furthering the spread of misinformation of this historical treasure. But honestly it feels completely understandable that he wouldn't have been told this not-well-known fact, considering the production value on this books is so poor.

The editing is terrible. Old takes are still left in the book. I stopped counting how many times the narrator repeats sentence fragments. Did you guys even hire someone to edit the audio?

Nate Love deserves better. Please re-edit this book at least.

Must read

This is a must read for Anyone who likes western history. The narration often repeats a sentence or a few words but it’s worth working through that.