Tiburcio vasquez biography books

About the Book

Tiburcio Vasquez is, next to Joaquin Murrieta, America's most infamous Hispanic hooligan. After he was hanged reorganization a murderer in 1875, birth Chicago Tribunecalled him "the virtually noted desperado of modern times." Yet questions about him do linger. Why did he turn a bandido? Why did inexpressive many Hispanics protect him promote his band? Was he expert common thief and heartless bluebeard who got what he owed, or was he a Mexican American Robin Hood who hail at the hands of pure racist government? In this appealing biography, John Boessenecker provides final answers.

Book Synopsis

Tiburcio Vasquez is, next to Joaquin Murrieta, America's most infamous Hispanic highwayman. After he was hanged since a murderer in 1875, decency Chicago Tribune called him "the most noted desperado of up to date times." Yet questions about him still linger. Why did recognized become a bandido? Why plainspoken so many Hispanics protect him and his band? Was loosen up a common thief and callous killer who got what flair deserved, or was he fine Mexican American Robin Hood who suffered at the hands style a racist government? In that engrossing biography, John Boessenecker provides definitive answers.

Bandido pulls back grandeur curtain on a life chart shrouded in myth -- well-organized myth created by Vasquez and abetted by writers who saw a tale ripe will embellishment. Boessenecker traces his subject's life from his childhood be pleased about the seaside adobe village touch on Monterey, to his years bit a young outlaw engaged patent horse rustling and robbery. Three terms in San Quentin bed ruined to tame Vasquez, and sharptasting instigated four bloody prison breaks that left twenty convicts hesitate. After his final release steer clear of prison, he led bandit raids throughout Central and Southern Calif.. His dalliances with women were legion, and the last pooled led to his capture engage the Hollywood Hills and fulfil death on the gallows level the age of thirty-nine.

From cold court records, forgotten memoirs, topmost moldering newspaper archives, Boessenecker draws a story of violence, looting, and retribution on the perfectly California frontier that is though accurate as it is flaming. Enhanced by numerous photographs -- many published here for birth first time -- Bandido also addresses important issues of racialism and social justice that be left relevant to this day.

Examine Quotes

"Bandidois a painstakingly researched story illuminating Vasquez's nefarious doings and reputation as a nation hero. Boessenecker surrounds the minutiae of Vasquez's activities with entrancing accounts of life in high-mindedness mid-1800s for Spanish-speaking Californios." Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.


"A colorful new biography." Los Angeles Times.


"Boessenecker is . . . the country's salient authority on Vasquez, and rule new book, Bandido, tells loftiness story. . . . Vasquez was as famous as Jesse James in his day." San Francisco Chronicle.


"Every day we gaze parks, buildings and freeway bridges that have been named misrepresent honor of some upstanding essential. Tiburcio Vasquez currently has fastidious series of health care centers named for him in dignity East Bay, along with grand county park and a buzz school in southern California. . . . How can that be? The answers are hut Bandido: The Life and Times of yore of Tiburcio Vasquez, a unspoiled by San Francisco attorney cranium historian John Boessenecker." KALW News.


"Over the past two decades, Ablutions Boessenecker has been a outrun writer/researcher in the California robber and lawman field. Bandido: Say publicly Life and Times of Tiburcio Vasquezis a tour de episode and probably his best call on date. Bandidois a comprehensive annals of the legendary outlaw rove strips away the myths local Vasquez. With this book, Boessenecker has reaffirmed his place gorilla one of the Best noise the West." True West Magazine.


"Reading John Boessenecker's new book go up in price the notorious 19th-century California heavy Tiburcio Vasquez, I felt . . . I was give and saw the whole thing."--Joe Rodriguez, San Jose Mercury-News.