About the Author

Jeff Guinn is the bestselling author of numerous books, including Go Down Together, The Last Gunfight, Manson, The Road to Jonestown, War on the Border, and Waco. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas, and is a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame.

Reviews

"Engaging. . . reads like a road story--two kids from the Dallas slums in a fast car, headed to nowhere good." --The New Yorker

"A fine work of history. . . . Easily readable and includes much of the last
two decades' new scholarship. . . . Especially good at . . . placing Bonnie
and Clyde in context." --Bryan Burrough,
The New York Times Book Review

"A rollicking read, an astonishing story of perseverance in the face of hopelessness,
and a perverse tale of two lovers whom only death could part."
--Mark Dunkelman, The Providence Journal

"Guinn cuts through the sex and gunsmoke surrounding the gangster
love story of Bonnie and Clyde. . . . A welcome corrective."
--J. Lynn Lunsford, The Wall Street Journal

"Guinn has deftly restored the humanity of America's best known
crime couple, stripping away the Hollywood glamour and hype with
the unvarnished but equally compelling truth."
--Kathleen Krog, The Miami Herald

Who hasn't heard of Bonnie and Clyde Barrow? The story of their murderous crime spree during the Great Depression has been told numerous times in both print and film. These new books provide lengthy, detailed descriptions of their many crimes, as well as comprehensive reviews of their backgrounds. Schneider (Brutal Journey), in particular, emphasizes the social climate of the era, as encountered especially by Clyde-oddly, the book is composed in the second person, as addressed empathetically to Clyde himself, leading the author into language that is impressionistic and somewhat disconcerting to encounter in sourced nonfiction. Although Schneider does not justify the criminal lives of the Barrows, his aim may be to show that their story is relevant today, when members of modern street gangs sometimes view a life of crime as their best way out of poverty. Relying on unpublished manuscripts and testimonies and written sources that he deems reliable, Guinn (former book editor, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; The Christmas Chronicles) reminds us that many stories of Bonnie and Clyde were exaggerated in the news, resulting in myths he challenges here. For example, they were very inept crooks. Although he does not provide as comprehensive a review of the era's social climate as Schneider, Guinn explains how celebrities reflect the needs of their particular time. In addition, his coverage of the law enforcement effort to bring down Bonnie and Clyde is more detailed than Schneider's. He accurately points out that the general public idolized Bonnie and Clyde because of their rebel image of sticking it to bankers and the law during a period of economic and social struggles. Ultimately, the public adoration changed when Bonnie and Clyde killed two motorcycle cops. Many readers may feel that they've already had enough of these two, but both books are fine additions to the literature, although Schneider's approach takes some getting used to. Guinn's is more strongly recommended if one must choose.-Tim Delaney, SUNY at Oswego Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

"Engaging. . . reads like a road story--two kids from the Dallas slums in a fast car, headed to nowhere good."

--The New Yorker
"A fine work of history. . . . Easily readable and includes much of the last
two decades' new scholarship. . . . Especially good at . . . placing Bonnie
and Clyde in context." --Bryan Burrough,
The New York Times Book Review
"A rollicking read, an astonishing story of perseverance in the face of hopelessness,
and a perverse tale of two lovers whom only death could part."
--Mark Dunkelman, The Providence Journal
"Guinn cuts through the sex and gunsmoke surrounding the gangster
love story of Bonnie and Clyde. . . . A welcome corrective."
--J. Lynn Lunsford, The Wall Street Journal
"Guinn has deftly restored the humanity of America's best known
crime couple, stripping away the Hollywood glamour and hype with
the unvarnished but equally compelling truth."
--Kathleen Krog, The Miami Herald