I am fond of this book. It does acknowledge that we live in a media stew, where a cinematic coup will override the efforts of several conscientious diarists and researchers. The real west has a lot to offer the person who looks things up, the drama can also be concocted for the adrenaline freaks. I enjoy the tension, and some of each of the major tropes. Eventually we will get more entertainments like the Deadwood mini-series that blend the two streams effectively.
This is a book to read by those building a critical apparatus for serious study. ( )