They Call Me Doc: The Story Behind the Legend of John Henry Holliday

A fresh, lively retelling of the life of one of the most infamous characters of the Old West, Doc Holliday, by an imaginative, yet accurate storyteller.

Customer Reviews:

This Book Blew Me Away

By Faye M. Swetky "The Swetky Agency" - December 4, 2010

I just received a copy of THEY CALL ME DOC, The Story Behind the Legend of John Henry Holliday, because I'm a big western Americana fan, as well as a fan of the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. When I started reading this, I knew it was something special, something more than just another biography. It's written in Doc Holliday's own voice and point-of-view, and the writing is POWERFUL! The author pulls no punches. How he got so fully into the mind of a man who passed away 150 years ago is remarkable, but he did. And he dispels a number of "facts" about Holliday as sheer myths, while building a new respect for this southern Christian gentleman (and he really was that, despite his reputation). This is probably the best bio I've ever read, bar none. And certainly it's the best one I've ever seen on Doc Holliday. Complete with colorful portrayals of the Earps, Big Nose Kate, the Clantons, the "Cowboys" who set out to destroy Holliday and the Earps, and so many more. I can't wait... read more

Hard to give this more than 3 stars

By Jeffrey J. Bakke - March 5, 2011

As an avid Southwestern history nut, I didn't find anything in the book that was new. Same old pictures, same accounts, just a novel-esque method of delivery. The book contains a few facts mixed with a lot of legend. The author also included a half a dozen pictures that have been reproduced in almost every book I've ever read about the law and order of the old west. I really looked forward to reading this book because of the author's reputation along with the editorial review on Amazon. Sadly, I was very dissapointed. If you are not aware of the many carefully researched books written about Dodge City and Tombstone and are looking for a little entertainment, then this book is probably for you. If it's Doc Holliday history that you're interested in, there are many, many books that are much better than this one. For one, I'd suggest reading Bob Boze Bell's "The Illustrated Times of Doc Holliday." It's about as long of a read and better researched. It has some great pictures too.

More then just another reflection on the old west

By Gardennuts - December 11, 2010

I hardly ever write reviews, but having received 'Doc' as a gift and immediately falling in love with it, I couldn't resist. This book is a blast of fresh air over a tired landscape of western reflections. Instead of another dutiful reporting of the facts of the OK corral conflict, the author speaks straight from Doc's heart, with surprising clarity, perspective and insight. By writing with Doc Holliday's voice, we are given a compelling glimpse not only of a hard bitten gunslinger, but of a young boy growing up in the turmoil of the civil war.

With beautiful writing the events that formed the life of an American legend come to life, elevated 'Doc' from a flat, Saturday matinee image to a complex young man dealing with the destruction of his southern home, the early death of his beloved mother, and conflicts within his own family that would eventually drive him west.

Most surprising to me, and it was a very pleasant one at that, was the love story that emerges... read more