I have spent more hours than I am proud to admit finding myself fully immersed in the Red Dead video game series. My introduction to the series starts all the way back in 2005, when my love of westerns led me to buy an oddball game titled Red Dead Revolver. While the world of the van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption and its follow-up Red Dead Redemption 2 bear little resemblance to that of Red Harlow, the technical evolution from the first entry of the series to the most recent is astounding. But despite the technical prowess of the series, it is the story, the characters, and attention to the minute details that create the surrounding environment that capture the imagination and render the gameplayer hooked from the moment they are introduced to John Marston and again later to Arthur Morgan.

So naturally when I stumbled upon this book title, I immediately had to read it. Right from the start I find a kindred spirit in Tore Olsson. Like the author, I am not a regular gamer, but have a deep love for history. Reading along in this book not only explains the historical context of the game’s setting, but also reveals why myself, and many others enjoy it so much. History itself is the greatest of storytellers, and the fact that the creators of RDR2 represented actual history so well, while creating a fictional tale, is a key driver to its massive success. In this book we find a detailed look at the expansive environment of Red Dead Redemption 2. Olsson neatly divides the book into three sections, one for each part of the country the player encounters in the game.

We begin with the west, where Olsson examines a multitude of themes and circumstances that shaped what the west would have looked like during the time period of RDR2. Olsson touches upon the backdrop and makeup of the West itself, while also sifting the cliches of Cowboys and Indians from the facts of who these people really were. He also provides insight into the real-life people and groups, like the Wild Bunch and the Pinkertons, that inspired the characters and events of RDR2.

In the next section Olsson move to the Deep South, noting that it is a rarity for a video game to use such a setting. In this section Olsson provides an in-depth look at how race, both before and after the Civil War shaped the South in 1899. I personally found the chapters examining Jim Crow and the Lost Cause to be the highlight of this book, as they provided excellent context into how and why both came into existence, what that meant for 1899 Red Dead Redemption, and what that meant for 1899, and even present day, USA. Olsson also looks into the role of immigrants in the US at this time as well as Women’s Suffrage, again both topics rarely touched upon in a video game, and hence worthy of mention by the author.

Finally, the third section studies Appalachia, and the race for mining and felling its resources, which profited few and impoverished many. I found this particularly interesting in both the dispelling of the “hillbilly” stereotype, and the circumstances behind the economic exploitation of the region and its inhabitants that have remained even today.

Throughout each section, while Olsson provides the historical backdrop, he also judges what the game got right, and what was lacking. Unsurprisingly, the developers at Rockstar Games, who famously pour over the minutia of every aspect of their game environments, get far, far more right than they do wrong. Once you play this game it is easy to see how a Professor of History like Olsson could get sucked into it and end up with hundreds of pages dedicated to the history behind the game. Likewise, if you are one of the millions of people that love the game, you will find yourself getting sucked into this book. I only wish I could register for Olsson’s class!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well organized, well researched, easy to read, and included a personal touch from the author. A special thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read it in advance. I’m of to begin yet another play-through as Arthur Morgan

In Red Dead’s History, Olsson combines the excitement of a video game with the real historical context it engages, from the “Wild West” to the Deep South to Appalachia of 1899. Even though I have never played any of the Red Dead Redemption games, I was still drawn in by Olsson’s prose. He discusses history with an entertaining voice, dispelling myths, adding nuance, and explaining the complexities of the past with great care. I learned so much reading this book, and I had a great time doing it.

Engaging and enlightening, Olssen delves into the historical context behind Red Dead Redemption 2 and gifts both historians and gamers a thoughtful look at the social and political constructs that defined the era depicted in the game. I learned lots about the history of the West, the South, and the Southern Appalachias, and the various factors that led to their modern-day depictions and stereotypes. This book scratched a particularly good itch and has me very excited to play through RDR2 again, now with historical context that will enhance my play through. I appreciate what Olssen does with this book, resembling what was likely his class’s outline, in tackling the various social issues that the game spotlights chronologically from the perspective of a fan of the game.
This was an exciting read, thank you Tore C. Olssen, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley.

As a huge fan of the Red Dead Redemption franchise, I was excited to receive a copy of this ARC. The author seamlessly blends scenes from Red Dead Redemption 2 with the actual history it was inspired by. Although the author is a fan and praises many things the game got right, he doesn't shy away from taking it to task for its occasional lapses in judgment (like its lazy stereotyping of the Appalachian region and its people). Overall, if you're a Red Dead fan who also enjoys an entertaining history lesson, it's definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

A good way to introduce the history of 'the west' to those who might not normally read history. Essentially, using the videogame as an educational tool, while also picking apart the plot of the game for historical accuracy. Well worth a read.