Glenn Shirley

Shirley sets out to gather all the sources for this biography. His intent is to sort through the legends and myths and come up with a definitive biography of the notorious female outlaw. His first chapter analyzes the many books, articles, and movies that have been produced about Starr. In doing so, he illustrates how many authors continue the myths and misinformation written by some predecessor. Shirley includes many photos and copies of documents. His end notes are often more interesting then the main text for they contain many interesting side lights to Starr's story or Shirley's research to obtain that story.… (mer)

For nearly a century, Belle Starr has been a favored subject of popular writers interested in the American West. Books, articles, poems, songs, and movies have described her as a "bandit queen" or as a "female Jesse James."

She was neither.

In Belle Starr and Her Times, a book that is likely to become the standard reference on this subject, noted western writer Glenn Shirley examines the extensive popular literature surrounding Belle Starr and compares it to the historical record. Shirley does a good job of sorting out the numerous disagreements between the two. Belle Starr emerges from Shirley's detailed analysis as a tough, independent woman who lived in an unsettled and difficult time. She associated with western outlaws, and was herself convicted once of horse theft. For this conviction she spent nearly a year in prison. Even though her activities were notorious in Arkansas and Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma) they hardly justified the nickname "bandit queen" coined by newspaper writers and journalists.… (mer)