Review: Epitaph

Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We all know the story of the Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, and the shoot out at the O. K. Corral. One of history's most iconic gunfights that only lasted 30 second, but is one of the most famous and well know gunfight in history. We've seen the movies that romanticized it and how in history class they touched on it and made it seem like it was nothing and really didn't elaborate on it. But this story really showed how it probably really did go down.

The characters were more in depth, well developed, more true to how they really were as far as not just a sweet loving family that didn't have any problems what so ever. It showed that Wyatt was just like any other man who lost his patients with his wife/live in Maddie, cared for his brothers and even considered Doc Holliday as his brother. As well as being a quiet man who a lot of the time kept his emotions in check.

A lot of research was done to ensure a more accurate account of the events leading up to the gunfight as well as the true characteristics of the people. The author makes you feel as though you are right there watching everything unfold. Even though this book is about Wyatt and Josephine Marcus and their lives, there is plenty in the story about the other Earp brothers, their wives, and even Doc Holliday and all his rumors that have followed him from every town, city, and state that he lived in, traveled to or even pass through.

The gunfight itself is only a small part of the entire narrative, it only last 30 seconds in it's entirety. This is more about the lives and events leading up to the gunfight, and the events after, told from the perspective of those involved which make this such a great novel. It's not just the same facts that have been told over and over again, but an engaging novel that brings the events and character to life.

The author even gives the wives, including Sadie (Josephine. Only those that really love her call her Sadie), more of role in this book. We learn more about their pasts, why the boys loved them, or why Wyatt despised Maddie so much. You learn more about the cowboys that started the fight, and each one was shown their own personalities, rude, greedy, corruption, and self-centeredness.

This book was well received, fast paced, entertaining, and very enjoyable.






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