---
product_id: 30742569
title: "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: A Novel (P.S.)"
brand: "ron hansen"
price: "€ 22.78"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 12
url: https://www.desertcart.ie/products/30742569-the-assassination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford
store_origin: IE
region: Ireland
---

# The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: A Novel (P.S.)

**Brand:** ron hansen
**Price:** € 22.78
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: A Novel (P.S.) by ron hansen
- **How much does it cost?** € 22.78 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ie](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/30742569-the-assassination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford)

## Best For

- ron hansen enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted ron hansen brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The: A Novel (P.S.)

## Images

![The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: A Novel (P.S.) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/714yKKIVfNL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    If only it hadn't been so long !
  

*by J***K on Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2020*

The title I gave this review is a bit harsh for a book I liked  but it is true. I saw the film version of the novel prior to reading  it.Both have similar strengths and weaknesses .A number of scenes are dragged out entirely too long to the point of boredom.At times it's a little  hard to figure out what is going on.Yet, the novel is ultimately compelling and at points quite interesting.(The same is true of the movie).The novel does one important thing that the movie does not do- and couldn't do unless it was to become a mini series.It gives you a James Gang back up story that is probably the most interesting part of the book.The roots of the James Gang lay in Civil War Missouri.We have a tendency to see the Civil War in terms of regular battles between regular armies.There was some of that in Missouri, most notably the Battle of Wilson's Creek.Frank James fought for the Confederacy in that battle.While technically a Confederate victory , they were unable to capitialize on it and Confederate hopes for domination of Missouri were dashed shortly thereafter in the Battle of Pea Ridge in nearby Arkansas.But that didn't end the conflict in Missouri which devolved into an ugly guerilla war .The most famous guerilla group were Quantrills Raiders, a pro Confederate gang  that routinely murdered people.Frank James, Jesse James and Cole Younger- the most prominent members of the James Gang- all road with Quantrill.It was their basic training.They came out of the war extremly hardened and vicious.They tended to justify their conduct in terms of the war acting as if they were still fighting the Yankees.Importantly a large number of pro Confederate  Missourian's , more or less bought it and turned a blind eye to the James Gang or even helped them.That is probably why the gang continued for so long and why Jesse James  was able to hide in plain sight for years.Hansen clearly rejects a romanticized image of James.His Jesse James is a rather creepy character.However his assassin ,Bob Ford is even creepier.He is not at all motivated by law and order or moral sentiments.I didn't even get the impression that he was all that interested in the reward  for killing James.He seems to resent James' exisistence.James looms too large for him and suffocates him.He wants to be a big man and killing James is the ticket to that.Unfortunately , Ford made a major blunder , at least from a public relations standpoint, he shot an unarmed James in the back while his wife and children were in the house.At first the public may have been largely relieved but as people began to think about it, they began to turn on Ford.It didn't help that Ford was cleary an arrogant jerk.The book is overly long and at times irritating.It should have been cut down in size.Had it been sensibly edited ,it may have been a borderline great book .As it stands it's a very worthwhile book especially for people interested in American history.A good book to read  before or after it would be TRUE GRIT in which Frank James and Cole Younger make a brief but telling guest appearance.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Absolutely Incredible Book
  

*by A***Y on Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2017*

This book would get more than five stars if it were allowed.  This is one of the best books I ever read, and I am always reading something.  Though it is 'fiction', the author uses a lot of words and phrases that were used in the era of 1881.  Researched well, as far as I know, I think a lot of the dialogue and episodes were from primary sources (non-fiction accounts and newspapers).  Over and over this writer wrote sentences or descriptions that were stunning, like:  (pg. 113)  "Snow made boards of his trousers..."; and (pg. 133) "...Dick slid off a stool and limped over with a mug that sloshed pennies of coffee on the floorboards."  Even the punctuation was most likely from back then.  The author was so dedicated to making this book seem to come right from 1881 and making the era and the people seem as if the reader is peeking in on real life scenes from then.  He is either a brilliant researcher or a real good liar.  In any event, he is an incredible writer.The book covers the last three months of Jesse James's life and of his assassin's, Robert Ford.  I could not put this book down and, when I had to, I couldn't wait to get back to it.  Now I want to read a non-fiction book of the same thing to see just how much was true, just so I don't make a fool of myself in conversation by insisting that things in this book that may have been created by the author were true.  Highly recommend the movie of the same name that is on DVD.  It contains many direct pieces of this book.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Audiobook is missing some of the book’s details
  

*by M***N on Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2018*

The book itself is amazing. My favorite! I have had the book for several years. I’ve read it a few times. It’s brilliant. My favorite. However— I bought the audiobook recently so I could listen to it while I fall asleep (yes I’m the obsessed with it) be warned: the audio book has small details removed. Perhaps to make it flow more like a screenplay. Parts of paragraphs are cut out, details here and there. Some dialogue is missing. It’s still good and is read well.... but I hate that anything is missing.

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ie/products/30742569-the-assassination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/30742569-the-assassination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Ireland*
*Store origin: IE*
*Last updated: 2026-03-21*