This entire book has lots of emphasis on how short and violent The Kid’s life truly was. Utley, just like any other historian, knows very little about the beginning years of his life. I found it hard to find a thesis for a biography, the best I can put together would be that Utley says how much Henry McCarty actually did throughout his extremely brief life. Going into detail about how he began his life as a “hoodlum” so to say. Growing up in 1800s was a time of evolution and people like Henry McCarthy led a life being a creature of his time. Utley did an exceptionally well job not stretching the story of Billy the Kid’s life to the tall tale that some historians have done over time. As I read this book I would look things up when Utley told …show more content…
He was born Henry McCarty but later acquired the names Henry Antrim, Kid Antrim, and Billy Bonney. Being seventeen when he killed his first man gave him the early start he needed to live the outlaw life the way he did. He later found himself playing a good part in a range war killing at least six people. He did a fine job getting noticed for his good shooting throughout his life, even was remembered by spinning his revolvers at the same time ready to shoot. Hanging out with the areas hardest cowboys he picked up lots of traits. Although he lead a gang of hombres whom were much older than he was and had them looking up to him as a fine shooter. He grew up tough and only getting tougher, Utley wrote about how The Kid would kill and abandon the guilt like nothing since he’d killed basically as he pleased anyway. No matter where he was he always found himself trying to clear his slate with the law. Henry McCarty or Billy Booney, he was always as ruthless as he used to …show more content…
He had friends that would protect him through thick and thin being a hero for much of the hispanic community. The Kid picked up Spanish fluently before long being in New Mexico enabling him to play his fair share with a number of hispanic woman who loved him very much. When Henry went into the Lincoln County War he attracted even more fans so to say, men who were impressed with his incredible shot and woman who longed to be with him. Being one of the McSween followers he was known throughout to be the most daring and willing amigo in the gang. Beginning his manhood rustling cattle with the roughest men around forced him to earn his stripes fast and he adapted well to whatever situation he encountered. Until of course he ran runs into Shariff Garrett who was the man to finally shoot down the one and only Billy The Kid. Billy The Kid was important to the Hispanic community during his time and played a large role in the evolution of the western world in the late 1800s. People looked up to him and the law looked to find him. He was known basically across the country for being an outlaw in the west and killing in the blink of an eye. Billy The Kid was a large role in shaping the overall outlook on the expanding western society in his