Clay Allison was both liked and loathed in his lifetime, embodying the contradictions of the American frontier. He could show moments of kindness for the downtrodden, but also carried deep hatred for Northerners and Black people. Dangerously unpredictable, he was capable of generosity one moment and chilling violence the next, a quality that made him as frightening as he was fascinating. His legacy is forever stained by his acts of cold-blooded killing, making him a symbol of admiration, fear and contempt in the West.

In today's interview, New Mexico historian and author Donna Blake Birchell discusses her book Tall Tales and Half Truths of Clay Allison and helps shed light on the man behind the myths.

The author's books at Arcadia Publishing: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/collections/vendors?q=Donna%20Blake%20Birchell&contributorID=325

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