About book The Life And Adventures Of Nat Love, Better Known In The Cattle Country As "Deadwood Dick" (1995)
Great book: With the caveat that it is not a good book. Let me explain: It is poorly written with a view towards exploiting his reputation, which is fine with me. And some of the most interesting things are left out: After the first chapter on his childhood as a slave, there is no mention of racism. He likes writing things like, "We did the usual things in town" but is low on details and interesting anecdotes. The last few chapters are a advertisement for the Pullman rail cars - maybe he wrote the book hoping that Pullman would promote it. (He doesn't admit it, but I'm sure he had a ghost writer.)But as a document it is fascinating. You have to rad a lot between the lines and you have to remain skeptical about what he says and doesn't say, but the fact alone that there were black cowboys and ranchers and enough of them that he never found it necessary to point them out as special is fascinating. He never mentions racism: Why? Because it was so normal it didn't seem worth mentioning? Because he was so grateful for being freed from slavery that he didn't think the racism he must have encountered was very bad? Or because he wasn't actually a "victim" of racism: He was free, successful, had a spectacular reputation and more importantly carried two revolvers wherever he went. Another thing: He wants to sell the book, so it's understandable that he never says anything negative about America, about race relations or about the things he did himself (which I'm sure where not always pleasant). But even then, he is, in the end, so overwhelmingly patriotic and positive about America that you have to wonder: He was born a slave, he was black in a racist atmosphere, but he was proud to be a part of this country that he knew very well. I was impressed by that: We live in an age of complaint (and it is usually justified), but he lived in an age where everything seemed possible, an age of moving and shaking, and he loved it and was proud of it, despite the hardship and injustice all around him. Maybe he even thrived on the chaos of it all: The sam chaos that gave the same space to heroes and villains, to justice and injustice.Its a tough read, because it's not good as a book, but if there is a top ten of characters in American history it's worth getting to know, Nat Love has a conspicuous spot on that list.
I found this book interesting. Nat Love had an adventuresome life as a cowboy. The involvement of blacks in most of history is not well known and this book is unique because Nat Love wrote about his life as a slave boy, a cowboy, and as a porter when he quit being a cowboy. He became known as Deadwood Dick after a rodeo performance in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. He also became well known all over the west. This autobiography tells about his encounters with Bat Materson, Billy the Kid, Jessie and Frank James. He also tells about seeing the battlefield where Custer was killed.
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The autobiographical work by Nat Love (1854-1921), an ex-slave from a Tennessee plantation, The Life and Adventures of Nat Love, reads like a penny novel. I have heard many people complain about the casual use of historical personages in the writing of an historical novel but Nat Love apparently did it for real. Buffalo Bill, the James brothers, Billy the Kid and Pat Garret all played a part in his colorful life. He couldn't be accused of being humble as he claims to be the best in everything he tried. Not much is known about him that didn't originate from him so I take his boasts and self-proclaimed achievements with a grain of salt. His later life was spent as a Pullman porter and he traveled all over the country. I thought it rather strange that he was apparently accepted and liked by everyone which contradicts many of his contemporaries. Not one mention was made of discrimination of any sort. I would like to think that this was the case but again I have my doubts. Nevertheless his account of his life is entertaining and could appeal to many.
—Thom Swennes
