324pp. A good humoured social history of the American frontier, with sections on Gambling, Violence & Merriment; Lawyers, newspapermen and other Professionals and Misunderstood Minorities. Fascinating stories of pioneers, lawmen, outlaws, cowboys, schoolteachers, preachers and Native Americans describing the diversity of their frontier experience. Characters include Black Bart, the poet who became an outlaw by accident; Amelia Bloomer who introduced the garment to the frontier when she had had enough of dresses; Soapy Smith, the flim flam man and many others. Bibliography and Index.

True crime Criminology