In the lore of the Wild West, the Younger brothers have been glorified as heroes and outlaws. Like Jesse and Frank James, with whom the Youngers once rode, these men are remembered for bank robberies, the Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid, and their hooliganism. “Ride the Razor's Edge” dramatically describes their adventures, while also placing their actions in the wider perspective of the times in which they lived. The story tracks the deeds and misdeeds of Cole Younger and his brothers James, John, and Bob, and tells the story of a troubled state during the late 1800s. From their Civil War battles against the Union with William Quantrill and his band of guerrillas, to the raid in Lawrence, Kansas, to their first bank robbery in Liberty, Missouri, the Youngers were both heroes and foes of their state. Using family records, personal letters, and interviews with a nephew of the Youngers, author Carl W. Breihan lends credence to the captivating legends of these notorious brothers, making this story an enthralling and entertaining one. This is a tale of struggles, with the Union armies, Kansas Jayhawks, and personal ideals. Breihan's account continues through Cole's and James's years in a Minnesota prison to Cole Younger's fight to adapt to life after his pardon.
