Travis Simpkins

Sunday, May 7, 2017

"The Kid" by Ron Hansen

The Kid

by Ron Hansen

Scribner, 2016

Notes by Travis Simpkins

As with his previous works Desperadoes and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Ron Hansen's 2016 novel The Kid raises both the Western and Historical Fiction genres into the realm of Fine Art. Carefully composed, each sentence and chapter rings with beautiful truths and harmonious use of the English language. Ron Hansen's ability to convey sentiments and dialogue in ways that are both thought-provoking and relatable is an inspiration. His works are amongst those select novels that I find myself re-reading again and again… discovering something new with each revisitation.

Though the story of Billy the Kid (Henry McCarty, Kid Antrim, William H. Bonney) has been told before in other books, it has never before been treated with such literary style and depth of character. Hansen brings the brief and violent history of the Kid to life in masterful form. From the Kid's stormy childhood to the Lincoln County War, from misdeeds to thievery, from best intentions to the pensive tone of his final words ("Quien es?") before being shot dead by Sheriff Pat Garrett, the text remains both enlightening and engaging throughout. I particularly enjoyed the sensitivity ascribed to the Kid in his various romantic flings… displaying an earnestness and humanity in him that is not seen in other works on the subject or within the genre.

The Kid. Ron Hansen: William H. Bonney. Billy the Kid

The Kid. Ron Hansen: John H. Tunstall

The Kid. Ron Hansen: James Dolan and L.G. Murphy

The Kid. Ron Hansen: William H. Bonney. Billy the Kid

The Kid. Ron Hansen: Richard "Dick" Brewer

The Kid. Ron Hansen: Charlie Bowdre

The Kid. Ron Hansen: William H. Bonney. Billy the Kid

The Kid. Ron Hansen: Governor Lew Wallace

The Kid. Ron Hansen: William H. Bonney. Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett

The Kid. Ron Hansen: Lincoln County Courthouse. Billy the Kid escape

The Kid. Ron Hansen: William H. Bonney. Billy the Kid grave

The Kid. Ron Hansen: William H. Bonney. Billy the Kid Museum

The Kid. Ron Hansen: William H. Bonney. Billy the Kid

The Kid. Ron Hansen: Sheriff Pat Garrett

The Ten Commandments (1956): The Exodus. Charlton Heston as Moses

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille, The Ten Commandments (1956) was a partial remake of his 1923 silent film of the same title, and tells the Biblical, Old Testament story of the Exodus... Moses' struggles with Pharaoh Rameses II and his God-given quest to free the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. The Ten Commandments was a staggering cinematic achievement for it's time, bot in special effects (the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea... ) and set design, and remains one of the most financially successful films ever made. The all-star ensemble cast is great, including Charlton Heston as Moses, Yul Brynner as Pharaoh Rameses II, Anne Baxter as Nefretiri, Edward G. Robinson, Yvonne De Carlo, Vincent Price, John Carradine, Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Woody Strode.