That's all I can say! I truly loved every moment of reading this book, and at the time I didn't even have a cat! (I have one now...)

I have a Herd of little Fur Babies of my own and this gave me insite into the past and present lore of the cat. I love the every part of this book. It even gives spells using cat parts, but only the good kind such as shed wiskers and claws. A must for any mystical person with a magickal cat.

I'm so glad someone finally wrote this book! It's all here -- history, myth, spells your kitty can help you perform, info about the different breeds, touching stories by cat "parents" whose kitties showed psychic abilities, interesting scientific facts about cat behaviour, photographs of exotic cats, folktales, cat deities, etc. Only one thing I didn't like. Was it really ncessary to tell us about cat persecutions and actually show us a picture, albeit an old one from some old horrible time, but, you know, to show us? The truth is harsh and I didn't really want to see a chapter on that in a book I love so much. But, that was only one chapter and the rest of the book is truly loveable. Thank you, DJ Conway, for writing about our furry little bundles of love :)

Homer Croy wrote this informal biography of the James boys of Missouri, first published in 1949. The author uses homespun sources for many of the stories and anecdotes of Jesse and Frank, the Younger brothers, and their nefarious associates. Mr. Croy lived near Jesse's base in northwestern Missouri, hence the title. Croy was born the year after Jesse died, and considered himself almost a contemporary. He traveled to various towns and farms interviewing folks who remembered the Widow James and her famous sons. The result is a casual history, and reminds one of sitting on a front porch in small town Missouri while the old people spin tales. Lest one doubt the credibility of the sources, Mr. Croy takes care through newspaper archives and other, more objective sources to verify the facts. He also briefly examines the influence of Frank and Jesse on dime novels, art, and movies. Croy is forthright in his biases, but also keeps his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. Out in Missouri, folks truly admired Jesse and Frank, especially their low opinion of banks and railroads. It's doubtful that Jesse James was really an Old West Robin Hood, but the book never seriously suggests that as a fact. We can believe that Jesse's killer, Bob Ford, was a coward, and that Pinkerton men were considered polecats. Decent folks just didn't stand for that type of behavior. The book won't give the reader any particular insight, beyond the obvious, of the James boys and their motivations. Nevertheless, it's an entertaining blend of fact and folklore. Good light reading for students of Western history. ;-)

I first read this book in grade school, UMPTEEN years ago, when , mostly to annoy my Mom, I set about reading every book I could find on western outlaws. After my "Billy the Kid" era, I moved on to Jesse James. First I read the "scholarly" books with the ooky pictures of dead outlaws and Jesse's scary one-armed mother (her hand was blown off by a bomb lobbed through the family door by the Pinkertons.) Then I found Homer Croy, who tells roughly the same stories, but with a wonderfully humorous and personal writing style. Stylistic, yes, and probably more legend than truth. But of all the books, this is my very favorite. I was so happy to learn it was back in print. I assume that Mr. Croy has passed on, but he hasn't, I'd travel to wherever he is to buy him lunch. Perhaps not a "great" book in the sense of, say, WAR & PEACE, but a great book nonetheless.

A well written book by a fellow NW Missourian, Mr. Croy interviewed many eyewitness's to the actual James gang robberies. It is easy and fun to read. A must have book.