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2010 in books — by the numbers

2010 was a record year in one respect. I read more books this year than in any one year since I started keeping a book diary in 1976. This year’s total was 127, quite a bit higher than the 111 from last year, the previous record. I attribute the number to 2010 being the first […]

Book Review: Brief Lives: Leo Tolstoy by Anthony Briggs

There is an art to researching and writing biographies — at least good biographies. Although a work’s length and the amount of independent or original research may suggest how deeply a biographer delves into his subject, it certainly isn’t determinative of quality. At the same time, it is a field where the shorter the book, […]

Book Review: Wild Bill Hickok & Calamity Jane: Deadwood Legends by James D. McLaird

“Legend” is a word tossed around too easily and misused too often. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a legend is “an unverified story handed down from earlier times, especially one popularly believed to be historical.”

In titling his latest book, James D. McLaird demonstrates he knows what the word means. Wild Bill Hickok & […]

Book Review: Seth Bullock: Black Hills Lawman by David A. Wolff

By their nature, historic figures tend to be locked on particular periods in their lives. If they also happen to become a key character on television or in film, it is fairly certain they will be forever stereotyped by that portrayal. For many, Seth Bullock has become the handsome, somewhat idealistic and good-hearted sheriff from […]

The year in books — by the numbers

The numbers will finish off the end of the year book-related posts. I’ve been keeping a book diary since the beginning of 1976. This year I reached a record number of books read, 111. That figure is tempered by the reverse of what affected last year’s numbers. Just as my 2008 reading included a few […]