Gentleman Bandit, John Boessenecker
Gentleman Bandit, John Boessenecker
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Gentleman Bandit
The True Story of Black Bart, the Old West's Most Infamous Stagecoach Robber

Author: John Boessenecker

Narrator: Stephen Graybill

Unabridged: 10 hr 20 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/14/2023

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author and award-winning historian John Boessenecker separates fact from fiction in the first new biography in decades of Black Bart, the Wild West’s most mysterious gentleman bandit.

Black Bart is widely regarded today as not only the most notorious stage robber of the Old West but also the best behaved. Over his lifetime, Black Bart held up at least twenty-nine stagecoaches in California and Oregon with mild, polite commands, stealing from Wells Fargo and the US mail but never robbing a passenger. Such behavior earned him the title of a true “gentleman bandit.”

His real name was Charles E. Boles, and in the public eye, Charles lived quietly as a boulevardier in San Francisco, the wealthiest and most exciting city in the American West. Boles was an educated man who traveled among respectable crowds. Because he did not drink, fight or consort with prostitutes, his true calling as America’s greatest stage robber was never suspected until his final capture in 1883. Sheriffs searched and struggled for years to find him, and newspaper editors had a field day reporting his exploits. Legends and rumors trailed his name until his mysterious death, and his ultimate fate remains one of the greatest mysteries of the Old West.

Now historian John Boessenecker sheds new light on Black Bart’s beginnings, reputation and exploits, bringing to life the glittering story of the mysterious stage robber who doubled as a rich, genteel socialite in the golden era of the Wild West.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

About John Boessenecker

John Boessenecker is the author of twelve books, including New York Times bestseller Texas Ranger. He has received the Spur award from Western Writers of America, the Best Book award from Westerners International, and in 2011, 2013 and 2019 True West named him Best Nonfiction Writer. He has appeared frequently as a historical commentator on PBS, The History Channel, A&E, and other media. He lives near San Francisco, California.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mark on July 29, 2023

Serviceable examination of the life and times of Charley Boles, Civil War vet, farmer miner and scourge of the Wells Fargo stagecoaches of Northern California...meticulously researched, pricking the balloons of many of the popularly held myths about Black Bart's attacks...Good context as to the infl......more

Goodreads review by Melody on April 13, 2024

This took me ages to finish, but the book is only partially to blame...it's been challenging for me to really get back into nonfiction (or any sort of disciplined reading if I'm being honest) since my personal life blew up 5 years ago, so the fact that I even decided to read this is something I'm pr......more

Goodreads review by Strachanb on March 20, 2024

Good to listen to if you enjoy a little California history.......more

Goodreads review by C.S. on January 24, 2024

My first nonfiction read of 2024, and it was a whirlwind of action, adventure, danger, intrigue, even a dash of mystery, all wrapped up in the stupendous research and technical skills of John Boessenecker and his biography: Gentleman Bandit: The True Story of Black Bart, the Old West’s Most Infamous......more

Goodreads review by Richard on August 02, 2023

If you were one of those people who grew up in the 1950's or '60's when Westerns were King on television, you probably recognize the name Black Bart as being one of those outlaws that always got captured by the good guys, or killed by them because he was a desperado and they were the bad guys and ne......more