Billy the Kid, 'the Holy Grail of Western Americana'

Every week, The Thread recommends a book that offers a fresh perspective on the news.

There's been a lot of buzz about an old photograph of a fascinating outlaw that will soon go up for auction — and the bids may go as high as $5 million dollars.

National Geographic aired a special this week about this rare photo of Billy the Kid and what it took to authenticate the picture.

It was taken in the summer of 1878 and features Billy and the rest of his gang playing croquet. Yes, croquet.

"The Kid" is looking directly at the camera, leaning on a croquet stick, his expression unsmiling.

The photo was purchased in a Fresno junk shop for $2, and will now likely sell at auction for millions. As one expert put it, genuine photographs of Billy are "the Holy Grail of Western Americana."

Writers are also fascinated by Billy. Everything from comic books to academic biographies have been published about him, but I'm recommending what I think is one of the best: "To Hell on a Fast Horse" by historian Mark Lee Gardner.

Gardner does for Billy the Kid what he did for Jesse James and the story of the Northfield, Minn. bank raid. He brings rich detail and a flowing narrative to a story obscured by Old West mythology.

In Gardner's book, we learn how ambition, ruthlessness and a cold outlaw heart motivated Billy and his determined and ultimately successful pursuer, Sheriff Pat Garrett.

"To Hell on a Fast Horse" is The Thread Must-Read of the week.

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