Review by Library Journal Review
Blanche Barrow and her husband, Buck, joined Buck's brother Clyde and his wife, Bonnie Parker, for a few months in 1933, ostensibly to help the outlaw couple rest on their run from the law. Soon thereafter, Buck was dead, and Blanche began writing this memoir from prison. Editor Phillips has enveloped Blanche's gripping memoir with a meticulously researched historical context, describing the political and economic backdrop and filling in the details of Blanche's story-including profiles of Barrow gang victims. When Blanche attempts to justify her involvement and downplay her role, Phillips is careful to point out contradictions and reminds readers that she was also building her case for parole. Even so, Blanche comes across as a kind and interesting person who perhaps committed quite a youthful indiscretion. Phillips interviewed Blanche for his previous book (Running with Bonnie and Clyde: The Ten Fast Years of Ralph Fults) and had access to her personal scrapbooks and photographs. A contradictory tale-the reader sees the human side of these killers while also wincing at their brutal, heinous crimes. Highly recommended.-Karen Sandlin Silverman, CFAR-Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
