The Making of a Legend

Why did Jesse James become so famous?

Why was Jesse James one of the most famous outlaws of the Old West? Well, for starters, he had a great name, right up there with Billy the Kid, Johnny Ringo and Wild Bill Hickok. He was on the loose for more than 15 years, an eternity in outlaw longevity. He had a great publicist, journalist John Newman Edwards, who shaped Jesse’s image as a Robin Hood who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Jesse was also featured in dime novels, which further spread his myth. And finally, he died young—a requisite for any legend.