Shot All to Hell: Jesse James, the Northfield Raid, and the Wild West's Greatest Escape

Though I read this some years ago, I decided to reread. Well written and researched and worth the time. I "loaned" my first copy to someone, never do that, so I had to buy another copy. Worth the price.

To be fair, I was born and raised in Minnesota. About a month ago we went to the Northfield bank robbery museum. Which is very tiny, but really interesting. It is the actual bank as it was on the day of the raid. No reproductions. Inspired me to order this book. I found it interesting. Not to mired down in the minutia of detail, but enough to keep you invested in the story. Felt like it was well researched and true to the facts of.

Much has been written about the James Brothers and the Younger Clan but if one is interested in a good sketch of all the personel involved in the aborted hold-up and a thorough telling of the bank robbery itself, a reader need look no further than Mr.Gardner's entirely readable account of the robbers, the victims and the outcome of the Northfield, Minnesota battle.Immortalized in song, film and writing, the Northfield Bank robbery has taken on almost mythical status; Mr.Gardner, through his thorough research and competent telling of the story, strips most of the myth away yet the reader finds the truth just as compelling as the fictions. His accurate depictions of the robbers involved, characters who really need no embelishments, draws the reader on. He describes the actions of all involved with a flair toward their "larger than life" status, allowing the story to move along as if in a novel only everything he depicts is backed with as much verification as available.The escape of the James Brothers and their subsequent fates draws the reader into a grudging admiration for the toughness and ingenuity of the notorious brothers. The Youngers are also thoroughly described up to their last shoot-out before capture. The equipment, weapons and horses utilized by the gang are analyzed in detail but without burdensome or excess information. As an example, he describes all of the robbers as wearing "dusters", a long coat worn over one's clothing to limit dust and dirt (also, to hide weapons) accumulating on one's clothes; these could be made of canvas but Mr.Gardner mentions the "fine quality linen" of the coats worn by the gunmen. Details like this abound but are not dwelled upon making for a good flow to the story.As I mentioned earlier, much has been written about Northfield and the characters involved. I've never seen the story told in such a robust and readable fashion until Mr.Gardner's volume. This entirely fascinating book occupies a prominent place on my bookshelf and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the robbers themselves, the era or the attack on Northfield. Rich with detail, abounding in references and as authentic as the era itself, "Shot All To Hell" is, indeed, a five star read!

I would like to recommend what i consider a terrific book on the Northfield Raid and robbery. The book is aptly titled "Shot All To Hell" subtitled "Jesse James, The Northfield Raid, And the Wild West's Greatest Escape" by Mark Lee Gardner. What a fantastic read ! Like the thwarted robbery in my home state (The Dalton gang's demise in Coffeyville, KS) this was another example wherein hard-working citizens in a peaceful American town, stood up to a gang of cutthroats and sent them hightailing it out of town, leaving two of the gang dead in the street. The town did suffer losses, however. A Swedish immigrant, Nicholas Gustavson, was killed in the crossfire, and teller James Haywood died a heroic death by refusing to open the safe, even at gunpoint. Some compelling conclusions (based on extensive research by Mr. Gardner) were:The robbery was not the original reason for the trip to Minnesota, nor was Northfield itself originally targeted.The gang spent considerable time in various towns before hitting Northfield. The plan was to avoid killing anyone if at all possible.The aftermath turned out to be the largest manhunt in US history as to the number of participants.Pards, I could go on for pages here but you get the drift. How in the blazes did Jesse and Frank James, afoot in a Minnesota swamp, totally lost, with Frank wounded, elude hundreds of searchers and make it all the way back to Missouri ? As I said, this book is FANTASTIC. One last note..there is a great contemporary (fancy word for "at the time of..) photo of the bank's interior on page 71 of the hardback edition. I kept a bookmark on that page cuzz i constantly referred back to it during the narrative on what happened inside. There is also a really good diagram of the escape route out of town. One last point, please take the time to read the Prologue and Epilogue. Most importantly, read the Notes for each chapter. They are a wealth of information, painstakingly researched and added for the reader's benefit ! The notes are numbered corresponding to the page number they refer to. Alright, then. Saddle up & ride to Northfield, circa 1876 by buying and reading Mark Lee Gardner's "Shot All to Hell" You'll be glad you did !

I don't know what I was looking for when I started reading this book. But, but this is not an in depth study of Jesse and Frank James nor Cole Younger and his brothers. It was okay. It was entertaining, but I was disappointed. I don't know any more about Jesse James now than I did before I ever started reading the book. In fact, of all the characters in the book, this book divulged less about Jesse than anybody.

Product was in great shape and sent very quickly. Will now start "seeking out" this vendor. Thanks!

Forget the legends and myths created by the Hollywood versions. This is the true story of an adventure seemingly doomd from the outset. The audacity of the raid was startling but poor luck, bad information and some heriocs from the townspeople made it a disaster for the James gang. Escape was made possible by the misplaced ego and lack of cooperation from the chasing posses. This is a first class tale, based on authenticity. The author has really researched his facts and has compiled an important history of this episode of the James Gang.

I was very pleased with this book , have not had time to read it yet

Fantastic read, possibly the best factual western book I have read. Great attention to even the smallest detail and written in an entertaining and informative style. Can't praise enough. A must read for all western enthusiasts.

I really enjoyed this read, if you're a fan of the wild west and all it's tales then this is a book for you. It sticks with eye witness accounts and verbal evidance. No fantasy writing needed. It is a remarkable book.