America's ancient treasures : a guide to archeological sites and museums in the United States and Canada /

Surprisingly, Miller's is the first biography of a colorful character who co-starred with the now better known Bill Cody. Out-West characters outgrew themselves and became legends. Capt. Jack became the hero of dime novels and folklore. This carefully researched work utilizes fresh archival materials, including two dealing specifically with Crawford. Despite 55 pages of notes, about 50 illustrations, an exhaustive bibliography, and a careful index, the writing is straightforward, closer to plain talk than to ponderous documentary. The book deals with the poet (eight books), the genuine scout, the merchant and miner, the family man and reformer, the rancher, and the nationally famous platform artist whose dramatic accounts enthralled audiences, as his costarring with Cody had earlier. A spellbinder with a dashing appearance (only Custer outclassed him for personal glamor), Crawford comes across here as an energetic, practical, sturdily honest, hardworking man with a gift that turned his memories and dreams into a facet of the American Myth. Miller treats Crawford with care and integrity, and turns a possible Sunday-supplement character into a good fireside "read." Mostly for regional libraries, of course, but unusually good for all libraries wanting worthy materials for sparse shelves of solid Westerniana. Undergraduate (all levels); graduate; faculty; general. J. N. Igo Jr.; San Antonio College

A nun working in a Union hospital taught the young--wounded--Crawford to read; limping about Philadelphia, he visited some playhouses and was swept away with the idea of theater. He became a poet and playwright but first went West to become a scout, a rancher, miner, actor--and showman with Buffalo Bill. Crawford led an incredible life, which Miller ably renders out of material recently made available. (Reviewed Sept. 15, 1993)082631449XJohn Mort