Tom Clavin’s Tombstone is not based on the 1994 Tombstone film starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, although many of the events in that movie are chronicled in it. It’s a history book about the Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, and others in their fight to bring law and order to the American Western frontier, more specifically the mining town of Tombstone in southeastern Arizona. It covers how the town of Tombstone was founded, how it grew and thrived, the threats it faced from outlaws and native Americans, and of course, the shootout at the O.K. Corral and the violent aftermath. It gives brief histories on all the major and minor characters that took part in Tombstone’s story, complete with pictures.

Tom Clavin’s writing does a good job of bringing to life the history of the region, the characters on both sides of the law, and their respective histories. It’s an informative and entertaining read that is worth checking out for anyone interested in the story of the taming of the American frontier in the 19th century and what life was like back then. It gets romanticized so often in movies that you can forget that the Old West was a raw and violent place.

If you’re interested in getting into the history of the Old West and the mythos of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, Tom Clavin’s Tombstone is a good place to start. Recommended.