The Chivalry of Crime
A Novel
"Set in the tumultuous aftermath of the Civil War, The Chivalry of Crime is the story of a young man who wants a gun - and what happens when he finally gets his wish.". "When the legendary shootist Robert Ford brings his tent saloon to Weaver, Colorado, young Joshua Beynon is among the first to greet him. Ford is reviled by some for having slain Jesse James, but to Joshua he is a demigod, a living connection to the mythic world of outlaws he has read about his whole life. Joshua is determined to get a gun for himself and to make Ford his friend - and in pursuing those wishes Joshua embarks on an unimaginable journey that utterly transforms his ideas about adventure, violence, manhood, and glory." "The Chivalry of Crime intertwines Joshua's story with the true and amazing story of Jesse James's life. In Ford's telling, Jesse James emerges as a man twisted by violence into retribution's dark angel, an implacable instrument of revenge.". "The life of Jesse James and the story of Joshua and Robert Ford come together in an explosive drama that touches the very root of violence in human nature."--BOOK JACKET.
Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Fiction, Nonfiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.
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What the reading experience may hold
A fuller profile for choosing with more confidence—not just another copy of the preview.
Fiction · Nonfiction
Use these as starting points rather than limits; the most memorable books often stretch beyond their catalog labels.
Catalog signals suggest warfare and conflict, violence, death, or criminal harm. These notes may not be complete; consult a publisher or reader-supplied guide when detailed warnings matter.
These notes are inferred from available catalog information and may not be complete. Check a publisher or reader-supplied guide if you need comprehensive warnings.
Dark tone · Urgent pace
Best when you want to settle into a longer reading experience.
A good fit if…
Readers looking for a substantial, immersive commitment with room for a world or argument to unfold.
This book's DNA
A visual estimate based on this edition's categories, description, and length. Select a star to explore the signals.
This signal is descriptive, not a rating. It helps compare the kind of reading experience this edition may offer.
Spoiler-Free Emotional Arc
A broad estimate of the book’s emotional rhythm, shown without story events or outcomes.
This visualization is an interpretive estimate based on catalog description, categories, tone, pace, and content signals. It does not describe specific scenes.
A quick reading snapshot
Edition facts and catalog signals to help you decide whether this book fits what you want to read next.
- ISBN-13
- 978-0-3161-2084-5
- Language
- English
- Edition record
- OL9505354M
A more thoughtful way into this book
This guide uses the edition details and category signals above to help you choose deliberately. It does not replace the author's work or a full review.
Best when you want to settle into a longer reading experience.
Begin with its place in Fiction, then notice where the book resists that label.
Read for connection, not completion.
Mark one passage that sharpens the book's central concern and one that complicates it. That tension often reveals more than a quick summary.
Three questions to carry with you
- What does the central character want, and what do they misunderstand about that desire?
- Which detail or relationship changes how you interpret the story?
- What feeling or question does the book leave with you after the plot moves on?
Editorial framework by Wesley Bryan, BookenDeX Founder and Editor.
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