With the film of Ron Hansen's novel set for release later this month--"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"--here's a good story in WaPost about Jesse James.
Includes comments by author, Ron Hansen:
The fiction Hansen created around the facts provided for him the cowboy music and nuance and rhythm of the times. "The way I try to write scenes is to be as authentic to history as is known," he says. "I say, 'This is Jesse as I imagined him, though.' I'm trying to convey the psychology and spirit of the situation." Bob Boze Bell, executive editor of Arizona-based True West magazine, a big admirer of Hansen's book, says: "His work sets the stage for historical drama. My impression after reading it is that he only enhanced the gaps where we didn't know what exactly happened."
"Taking Aim at Jesse James & History"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/07/AR2007090700677.html?nav=hcmodule
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443680/
Includes comments by author, Ron Hansen:
The fiction Hansen created around the facts provided for him the cowboy music and nuance and rhythm of the times. "The way I try to write scenes is to be as authentic to history as is known," he says. "I say, 'This is Jesse as I imagined him, though.' I'm trying to convey the psychology and spirit of the situation." Bob Boze Bell, executive editor of Arizona-based True West magazine, a big admirer of Hansen's book, says: "His work sets the stage for historical drama. My impression after reading it is that he only enhanced the gaps where we didn't know what exactly happened."
"Taking Aim at Jesse James & History"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/07/AR2007090700677.html?nav=hcmodule
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443680/
