MO-CW-L Archives

From: Arleigh Birchler <>
Subject: [MO-CW] Woe to Live On
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:59:51 -0700 (PDT)

I just finished reading Daniel Woodrell's book about the border wars in western Missouri.  The edition I have has been renamed "Ride With the Devil", to coincide with the Universal Pictures' movie.  It was a very good book.  Reading it gave me a lot more respect for the actors and actresses.  Toby McGuire did a great job portraying the character as Woodrell wrote him, as did all the rest of the cast.
 
One of the things that has been discussed a lot in some groups is who the characters are supposed to be.  Daniel Holt is generally considered to be John Noland.  In the book, however, Noland briefly appears and talks with Holt.  Black Jack Ambrose' company of bushwhackers is called "The Kansas Irregulars".  He seems to be clearly modeled on Bill Anderson, down to having two sisters killed and one maimed in the collapse of the "women's prison" in Kansas City.  I do not remember seeing Arch Clay in the movie, but he seems to be based on Archie Clement.  Quantrill and Coleman Younger appear as themselves.
 
I can well remember the evening when I was living in Madison, Wisconsin, when Mike Kelley phoned me.  We talked a lot about Black Confederates, and about Race and Slavery, as well as about modern day racism.  He highly praised "Ride With the Devil."  I had not seen it, but I got a copy and watched it.  Since then I have seen it so many times that my wife told me I should buy a copy to save money.  I ordered that, the Woodrell book, and a CD of the Broadway Musical "The Civil War."  I wore out my wife's copy of it on my recent trip to Madison, Kansas City, Mississippi, and Tennessee.


Arleigh Birchler, BSN, MDiv
"Sweet Baboo"
McGee's Crossroads, North Carolina

(Ali Sengaree - Allah'ka cli here chaya)

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• [MO-CW] Woe to Live On by Arleigh Birchler <>