Preview
  • The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid

  • By: Pat F. Garrett
  • Narrated by: Daniel Luna
  • Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (213 ratings)

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The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid

By: Pat F. Garrett
Narrated by: Daniel Luna
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Publisher's summary

Reputed to have killed his first man at the age of 12, William Bonney went on to gun his way into Western legend as Billy the Kid. When he was finally shot himself at the age of 21, the Kid was famous throughout the country as the boy who, so he boasted, had killed a man for every year of his life.

This is the story of William Bonney as told by the lawman who ended his notorious career. While explaining the public sympathy that the citizens of the Southwest often accorded youths like Bonney, Garrett challenges the glorified legends of the Kid, offering instead the more genuine story of a young, reckless cowhand who became a hired gun.

Combining the best elements of eyewitness history with the dramatic flair of a great western novel, this is the clearest account we have of the meteoric career of a man some thought of as a murdering fiend, and others as the Robin Hood of the Southwest.

(P)1997 Blackstone Audio Inc.
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Critic reviews

"Was Billy a true Western hero fighting for justice in New Mexico's Lincoln County War or simply a wacko who enjoyed killing? Find out here." (Library Journal)

What listeners say about The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

I bought the hard copy so I can read it in more detail. i am fascinated by the history of billy the kid and wanted to read this book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bad audio good story

The recording fidelity leaves a lot to be desired but the story is great and well told. It’s amazing how much of the kids life isn’t told in modern documentaries. It’s worth a listen if you have any interest in the west, particularly if you want to hear it in the parlance of the day.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not the worst

Not a fan of the narrator. The literal bleeping of words got annoying, just read the story dude, as it was written.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bastante bueno

Bastante bueno como cultura general, un libro entretenido, ha estado bien.
Gracias y buena lectura

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Account of a Desparado

Well written story of Billy the Kid. Nice to get facts for a change rather than mostly fiction

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Liked the story but…

How many biographies can you read that are penned by the man who killed the subject? My only complaint about this work is the recording. It flips between sounding like it was recorded with a cassette player (I’m aging myself) to sounding like it was recorded on a cassette player from inside a box. The reading was good enough but the audio quality was not very good.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Audio

Reader was really good but the audio isn’t great…I’d relate it to the quality of audio you get via Bluetooth in your vehicle. I don’t understand why some of these audio books can’t give HD quality audio

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story…

To hear the story from someone who was there and had first hand knowledge is a rare opportunity. Worth the price of the purchase.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting Take…

Good story- glad I read the official version. I learned a great many things. The Audible recording was not the best quality (very rare), being louder and softer in certain places and muffled considerably in others. Almost sounds like it was recorded in mono vs. stereo. Otherwise it was a fun, fast read.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

well done except for the obvious patch ins.

Good history from one who was actually there. Garrett is now looked upon as a villain, but was in fact doing the duty others were afraid to do.

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3 people found this helpful