Michael Wallis

Billy the Kid

The Endless Ride

“Countless books have been written about the infamous outlaw ... this is surely one of the best.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

In this revisionist biography, award-winning historian Michael Wallis re-creates the rich anecdotal saga of Billy the Kid (1859–1881), a young man who became a legend in his time and remains an enigma to this day. In an extraordinary evocation of the legendary Old West, Wallis demonstrates why the Kid has remained one of our most popular folk heroes. Filled with dozens of rare images and period photographs, Billy the Kid separates myth from reality and presents an unforgettable portrait of this brief and violent life.

“Meticulously cutting a path through the minefield of Billy-the-Kid mythology, Michael Wallis has given us a story that is at once accurate, nuanced, and a very good read.”—Linda Gordon, author of The Great Arizona Orphan Abduction

“Following Wallis’s search for the real Billy the Kid is a fascinating experience.”—Elmore Leonard

“Wallis ... sifts fact from fiction.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Engrossing.”—Publishers Weekly

Michael Wallis, author of Route 66 and the highly acclaimed Pretty Boy, hosts the new PBS series American Roads. He plays The Sheriff in the animated Pixar feature Cars. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.