{"title":"Michael Wallis","description":"\u003cp\u003eMichael Wallis crafts compelling narratives that breathe life into American history and culture. His works often explore vivid biographies and intriguing tales of the past, drawing readers into richly detailed worlds where history feels immediate and engaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a strong emphasis on travel and adventure, Wallis guides readers along iconic routes and through fascinating landscapes, blending storytelling with insightful reflection. His writing invites exploration both of place and spirit, perfect for those who appreciate journey and heritage alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"belle-starr-by-michael-wallis-9781631494772","title":"Belle Starr","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the annals of legendary Wild West desperadoes, Belle Starr is remembered to this day as the Bandit Queen. Shortly after her murder in 1889, a highly romanticised, sensational book titled \u003cem\u003eBella Starr ... The Bandit Queen, or the Female Jesse James\u003c\/em\u003e was published—the first in a series of high-profile portraits to brand Starr as a villain. Now, celebrated author Michael Wallis parses over a century of mythmaking to reveal the woman behind the renegade legend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWielding compelling research, including correspondence, official records, and contemporary newspaper accounts, Wallis traces Starr's beginnings to Carthage, Missouri, where she was born Myra Maibelle Shirley in 1848 and was classically educated to be a Southern belle. Myra's early years were characterised by the chaotic violence of the Civil War—she was traumatised by the death of her brother, who was killed riding with \"bushwhackers,\" one of the many insurgent guerilla groups supporting the Confederate Army. From then on, she swore revenge against all Yankees and became a willing \"friend to any brave and gallant outlaw.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe crimes committed by Starr's innermost circle—stagecoach stickups, bank robbery, horse theft—would take her from war-torn Carthage to rollicking Scyene, Texas, until she finally settled in Indian Territory (present Oklahoma). And although Starr indeed ran in the same circles as notorious outlaws Jesse James and the Younger brothers, the crimes ascribed to her were greatly embellished—including the fact that the allegedly bloodthirsty Starr more than likely never killed a single person.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTurning a redemptive eye to Belle Starr's tarnished legacy, Wallis crafts an illuminating portrait of a woman demonised for refusing to accept the genteel Victorian ideals expected of her, a woman who chose instead to live her life outside the law, riding sidesaddle with a pearl-handled Colt .45 strapped to her hip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46855725514988,"sku":"9781631494772","price":62.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781631494772.jpg?v=1759275351"},{"product_id":"the-lincoln-highway-by-michael-wallis-9780393059380","title":"The Lincoln Highway","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt began in 1913 with a glorious new highway that connected the bright lights of Broadway with the foggy shores of San Francisco. It was a magnificent and meandering road that enticed millions of newly motoring Americans to hop in their Model Ts and explore the fading frontier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt was the road of Gettysburg, Pretty Boy Floyd, Notre Dame, the Great Salt Lake, and the Gold Rush Trail. Once a symbol of limitless potential, it has undergone a miraculous revival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith hundreds of rare photographs, this ode to a bygone era guides us across the true spine of the country, exploring vintage diners, Art Deco buildings, and funky roadside attractions—all waiting to be discovered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Lincoln Highway\u003c\/em\u003e invites readers to rediscover an iconic part of American history, celebrating the vibrant stories woven into its path.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47603246072044,"sku":"9780393059380","price":75.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780393059380-the-lincoln-highway.jpg?v=1778058568"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/michael-wallis.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}