Based on a True Story: Jesse James and the Reinterpretation of History in Popular Media

This thesis examines the ways in which the story of Jesse James continues to be portrayed in popular and scholarly media. First, it explores the media’s effect on the creation of his legend and much of the American knowledge of his life. Then it looks into the efforts of William A. Settle, Jr. and other scholars to dispel many of the myths about James and establish his real history. Finally it shows the how the modern reinterpretations of James in popular media reflect more of the legend than history despite the fact that these productions are often advertised as being truthful to the past.