In this remarkable companion volume to the ten-hour miniseries of the same name, the Editors of Time-Life Books have drawn upon thousands of rare photographs, diaries, and artifacts to present a portrait of the American West that looks beneath the romantic veneer of the myth. Encyclopedic in scope and lavishly illustrated with photographs and full-color paintings throughout, THE WILD WEST lets you experience the majestic grandeur of the West and the powerful historical forces that changed it. Most of all, it lets you meet a diverse and unforgettable group of people who chose to forge new lives in this vast land.