Law and Order, Ltd.: The Rousing Life of Elfego Baca of New Mexico

"In fashioning this life story of Elfego Baca we have made no attempt to set down in chronological order his deeds from birth to old age, but have been more concerned with those incidents which best bring out the interest and humor and strangeness of the Old West he lived in." This light biography of Elfego Baca (from 1928) was built on interviews by the author (and published) while Baca was still living. Any biography of such a colorful character skirts the edge of folklore, but it also provides plenty of insight into Baca's character, along with a broader perspective of Western culture and the personalities inhabiting it. This is a fascinating look at a controversial man who defied death, dealt lead, and sought to bring law and order to his piece of the Old West.