My Life with Bonnie and Clyde

By Blanche Caldwell Barrow

Book Overview

Bonnie and Clyde were responsible for multiple murders and countless robberies. But they did not act alone. In 1933, during their infamous run from the law, Bonnie and Clyde were joined by Clyde's brother Buck Barrow and his wife Blanche. Of these four accomplices, only one--Blanche Caldwell Barrow--lived beyond early adulthood and only Blanche left behind a written account of their escapades. Edited by outlaw expert John Neal Phillips, Blanche's previously unknown memoir is here available for the first time. Blanche wrote her memoir between 1933 and 1939, while serving time at the Missouri State Penitentiary. Following her death, Blanche's good friend and the executor of her will, Esther L. Weiser, found the memoir wrapped in a large unused Christmas card. Later she entrusted it to Phillips, who had interviewed Blanche several times before her death. Drawing from these interviews, and from extensive research into Depression-era outlaw history, Phillips supplements the memoir with helpful notes and with biographical information about Blanche and her accomplices.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806137150
• ISBN13: 9780806137155
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Length: 376 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Blanche Barrow's experience with the infamous duo

This book contains Blanche Barrow's memoir of her days married to Buck Barrow, and how they lived and travelled with Bonnie and Clyde. The handwritten pages that Blanche penned while in prison may never have been found or published if it hadn't been for Esther L. Weiser who took her time to find just the right editor in John Neal Phillips. Esther's foreword is a tale of serendipity and circumstance itself, and Phillips' historical notes and biographical information make this book a complete account of this time and these people in history. I thought I knew about what happened from the movie, but now I know it was just a movie with a bit of truth and lots of dramatic license applied. The book also includes real photos of everyone involved. According to Blanche, she and Buck loved each other, but Buck was loyal to his brother Clyde and he couldn't walk away from him. It was a star-crossed situation for Blanche and Buck. This was a good read, yet troubling and sad. After reading this, I have a newfound respect for Blanche Barrow.

Love this book

You see a different side of Bonnie and Clyde. One told by someone close to them. Amazing book.