ROY BEAN

Frontier Americans, along with Paul Bunyan and Davy Crockett, in which truth and legend combine to make a highly entertaining story of a scoundrel. Schooled with ax and gun in Kentucky, he ran off to Mexico at an early age, took to blockade running, and then in middle years moved west of the Pecos, set up a saloon and a court of justice, put up a good show, pocketed the fines, and interpreted the law in a highly successful manner. He performed as marriage broker, coroner, saloon keeper and Solon. Sonnichsen writes well with a nice wit and a good sense of perspective. Not a book for Little Lord Fauntleroy -- but red-blooded boys will like it, I think.