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.

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.

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.

Tore C. Olson is the history teacher that I always wanted but never got. Until now.

This book is my #1 candidate for unofficial Red Dead Redemption 2 culture guide. Remember when games used to have the booklets inside the CD boxes that would give you background context? This would be my first pick for that.

I am amazed at how well the author ties in the topics from the videogame and U.S. history. From industrialization, to slavery, to other incredibly shaping phenomena this book encompasses the quintessence of the cultural aspects of RDR2. The author does a fantastic job in comparing the historical relevance of multiple eras as well as what shaped those eras, who and what sparked the change, and why it matters in the big picture. The ideas in the book are sown together with a fine thread of narrative, historical context, and fantastic insight to create a beautiful story on the canvas.

I am especially amazed at the depth in which the analysis goes into in different places, as the quality is beyond rich in every chapter. I could not put this book down at every chance that I got, and might reread it very soon as I feel that going back through it would reveal even more understanding on the relevance of other phenomena.

As a long-time Red Dead fan and certified semi-niche history nerd (a cross-section that is not uncommon, as the existence of this book proves in itself), I greatly enjoyed this accessible yet in-depth exploration into the RDR-verse and its factual parallels found in the historic U.S.

I read this in tandem with a fresh RDR2 playthrough and highly recommend that others do the same, as I found that each enriched the other :)

Excited to listen to Roger Clark’s reading this summer (…and probably to play the game again).

As one of the many obsessed fans of the Red Dead Redemption franchise, I couldn't wait to sink my hooks into this book. The author's exceptional writing plunges you right into the heart of the wild west, delving into an iconic American era, and the political arena of the 1800s. I found myself researching several topics in the book, from Jim Crowe to the history of the Appalachias. Masterfully done, a must read for history buffs and gamers alike.

I have been eager to play Red Dead for a long time. After reading this, I am all the more eager to play. The author uses a medium that many people today love, video games, to educate the reader about history. While the years don't exactly match up with those they actually occurred, the author states that most of the game play is in fact true to historical events. I found it very educational.

5 Out of 5 Stars

In 2021, IGN put Red Dead Redemption II as number 8 in the best 100 video games of all time. This popular 2018 game is the only history-based game to make it into the top 100. Historian Tore C. Olsson examines the setting and contents of the game and compares it to actual historical events to show how well the game does in accuracy.

From the West to the Deep South and finally to Southern Appalachia, Red Dead’s History: A Video Game, An Obsession, and America’s Violent Past explores each setting and examines how the video game presents it and how the real locations looked historically. Olsson argues that violence (known as the most toxic and problematic part of video games) is a way to begin comprehending the crucial features of modern American history.

Olsson’s exploration of Red Dead Redemption II is thorough and covers a lot of ground. He examines large swaths of the US, and although he only looks at a few decades of history, there is a tremendous amount of material to cover. Because of this, some areas do not receive the same amount of attention. Part Three of the book, Southern Appalachia, does not receive the same detail as the West and the Deep South. While this could be for numerous reasons, it leaves the reader wanting more.

Even though the book has some cons, the writing, analysis, and other aspects are well done. Part One is the most engaging section of the book. It focuses on the West and stands out amongst the other parts because it closely resembles how Red Dead Redemption II is advertised: as a Western. Another excellent part of the book is how well the thesis carries through the chapters. Violence in the game and American history is the star of the work. Each chapter compares the violence in the game to violence in history and discusses how well the game shows historical events. It also explores how audiences today would handle the subject matter. Olsson speculates that some iconography or specific events are excluded from Red Dead Redemption II because it might alienate audiences.

Overall, this book is very well-written. It provides a more mainstream way to examine modern American history. I highly recommend this book. Whether you are a fan of Red Dead Redemption II or an American history fanatic, this book is a great choice. It does an excellent job showing late nineteenth-century American history and highlights aspects of that history that many people may not be aware of. It also contributes to the larger histography through modern-day stereotypes that started during the turn of the twentieth century. It is time that historians start looking more closely at pop culture media and how it lets more people learn about history, even if it is just an opening to learning more.

Red Dead’s History by Tore C Olsson

Summary:

Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption II, set in 1911 and 1899, are the most-played American history video games since The Oregon Trail. Beloved by millions, they’ve been widely acclaimed for their realism and attention to detail. But how do they fare as recreations of history?

In this engaging book, award-winning American history professor Tore Olsson takes up that question and more. Weaving the games’ plot and characters into an exploration of American violence between 1870 and 1920, Olsson shows that it was more often disputes over capitalism and race, not just poker games and bank robberies, that fueled the bloodshed of these turbulent years. As such, this era has much to teach us today. From the West to the Deep South to Appalachia, Olsson reveals the gritty and brutal world that inspired the games, but sometimes lacks context and complexity on the digital screen. Colorful, fast-paced, and dramatic, Red Dead’s History sheds light on dark corners of the American past for gamers and history buffs alike.

Review -5-star
As someone who loves history and gaming and is very much into the game of Red Dead, this was a fun read, I loved the history lesson I got and I was correct in my thinking that the game was out of the time frame they are trying to portray. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the book and was pleasantly surprised at how the author broke it down. Even knowing that the game is out of the time frame they wanted to portray I will still enjoy the game and continue to play it. I enjoyed the writing style of this author and would love to read more.
I received this book for my honest review.

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

Very interesting and creative approach to the history of the Old West. Seeing American history through the eyes of Red Dead Redemption was fascinating and I would definitely recommend this to other Old West buffs,

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.

I found this to be quite an interesting read considering I had played the video game previously. The juxtaposition of the video game to history of the West was very intriguing and captivating. This book would be an excellent choice for someone who may not necessarily be a history buff. It's a good segway. I really found this to be quite educational, well written, and will recommend it to others.

Thank you to Netgalley for a digital ARC.

Given the title of this book, you would think it simply tells the history of the video game Red Dead Redemption II, but it's much more than that. It actually compares the history as it is depicted in the game, which is set in 1899, and the true history of that year. I don't play video games but I do love history, so I was curious to see what the author had to say about this. It turns out that Red Dead Redemption II is more accurate historically than most video games, even though it does slip into stereotypes on the rare occasion. Red Dead's History reads like a history textbook, but much less dry. I learned quite a bit about that time period and enjoyed reading this book very much.

All in all, this was a very interesting read from start to finish, and I highly recommend it.

5/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Tore C. Olsson for the opportunity to read and review Red Dead's History.

This is a must for fans of Red Dead Redemption 2 looking to delver further into the historical context surrounding the game's outlaw gang and their enemies (namely Pinkertons and brutal industrialists.) There were chapters relating to the Indigenous people of the era, post Civil War reconstruction, Appalachia mining towns and more. I loved learning about the reality of "cowboys" - way more likely to be striking for workers' rights than robbing trains and the way capitalism has shaped our country. Olsson has an extremely easygoing, approachable language for such serious topics and kept me engaged. I only wish the audiobook was available for review. Having Roger Clark, the actor behind the game's protagonist, read the audiobook will be a real treat.

(I am writing about this book and have interviewed the author for a forthcoming feature in Den of Geek. When I saw this book existed, I had to be the one to cover it because I'm a big fan of the games)

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press an advance copy of this history book that looks at American history as portrayed through a popular computer game, one that has probably had more influence and taught people more than schools whose books are being sanitized so as not to upset people who don't want to know the truth.

I was blessed with parents who never thought of video games as something that would rot our minds, or make us serial killers. My parents thought of it as a diversion, a reward for when school was done, the yard was mowed, a bed messily made. From Atari I moved up the ranks to the Commodore 64, where the games became a little more thoughtful, setting the way for PC games that included history as part of the gameplay. One never really thought about learning about world history through Sid Meir's Pirates, but there was a little bit of historical accuracy. And a whole lot wrong. Games though have progressed on one of the most popular, violent, controversial, and yet addictively interesting has been Red Dead Redemption II. A game that touts itself as a Western, but is something much more. As historian, educator and writer Tore C. Olsson noticed when he first started playing. In Red Dead's History: A Video Game, an Obsession, and America's Violent Past discusses the history of America as presented in the game, how much the game got right, got badly wrong, and explores the importance of many of these moments of gameplay, and how this history still reverberates today.

COVID lockdown has been quite the muse for many books, and the this one is no exception. Left with no college courses to teach Tore C. Olsson bought himself a new PC game system, beginning with the hottest game at the time. Red Dead Redemption II. Olsson was absorbed by the story, but was impressed more by what the game got right about American history, even though the eras might be off. Olsson was so impressed that he began to teach a class on the game as history for his college course. Olsson looks at the game through the adventures of the characters, and writes about what the game presents, what they get right and wrong. Olsson looks at the role of women, especially the question of voting, which makes up a minor adventure. The role of cowboys is discussed, with a little myth breaking here, pointing out that many cowboys were minorities, something omitted in many histories and popular westerns. As the game is a little violent, meaning a lot violent the culture of guns makes up a chapter, how even back than there were lovers of gun porn, and the ease in which a gun could solve problems. What was a surprise was the discussion on the railroads, labor issues, and strike busting Pinkertons, something that is not much discussed in books, as that might be a little to Commie Red for kids to learn about.

One of the best primer's I have read on American history that I have read. Not only does Olsson write well about the game, Olsson has a very nice writing style that makes the real history not only interesting but real. This book is probably better than the books I had in history class, and that was before the plans to take over school boards and make people worker drones of patriotism began. One can learn the real story about the growth of railroads, and the large government subsidies that railroad magnates received, all while cheating workers. Olsson is also quick to point out the wrong things, the era seems off, the racism about the people who dwell in the Appalachians, and many other things.

Fans of the game will enjoy this, and hopefully learn quite a bit. I did not expect such a well written, and presented history, especially based on a shoot-em-up. This book exceeded my expectations, and I will be pushing this on a lot of people. History effects us all, and many of the issues that we are dealing with started about these times. Ignorance solves nothing, nor does one side controlling the issue. A fantastic book for gamers, teachers, parents, and people who love well-written history.

In full disclosure, I'm not a gamer and have never played any iteration of Red Dead. But the person reading this book doesn't really need to be familiar with the game to enjoy the book. And Olsson does write this book with a great deal of passion and enthusiasm. The majority of the book opens with a reference to different events that happen in the game as the beginning of a chapter, and then proceeds to a high-level comparison to real life events and how the game aligns or strays from reality. This serves two valuable purposes. The first is explaining historical events in an easily digestible format for people that don't seek out historical information to give them a primer on life in three different areas of the country in the late nineteenth century. The second is to show that while there's still an excessive amount of violence in Red Dead Redemption II (the game Olsson focuses on in the book) that's unrealistic to reality, there's still much to gain from the efforts the developers made to make the game setting more historically accurate, including not just its portrayal of historical events but the people that populated the areas where the game takes place. This book isn't for someone that is looking for a deep dive of the time period or one of the specific topics he addresses. If you're a history buff with an affinity in particular for this time period you might appreciate the tie-in to a video game, but you won't necessary walk away with a lot of additional knowledge. Olsson also tends to stray into interpretations and opinions throughout the book, and while I don't disagree with him, take it into consideration when reading. Overall it was an enjoyable book and while it didn't dissuade me from reading it or make me feel like I was missing anything crucial to understanding the book, I can see how if someone is familiar with the game or a passionate fan of it, it would add an extra layer of enjoyment to reading it. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I must confess that I am not a gamer by any stretch of the imagination. I hadn’t heard of Red Dead Redemption II prior to reading this book. I was able to see the game through the kindness of my son, who demonstrated it for me. I watched him play and was struck by the beauty and realistic portrayal of the characters and the background scenery. I was fascinated by the action.
After an hour or so of watching, I started to read Red Dead’s History by Tore Olson. This book is fascinating. I like the easy conversational style of the author’s writing, which made me want to learn more about this history of the Old West and the life following the Civil War. The book, however, delves not only into that past, but it connects it to today. The book covers such topics as the the treatment of Blacks following the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, the Suffragist movement, the westward expansion with its displacement of Native Americans and the ensuing conflicts, and ends with the expansion into Appalachia for economic reasons. The author includes insight into such topics as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys. All in all, it was all encompassing and very interesting to read.
I am sure few gamers really play and think “I wish I knew more about the history of the subject of this game.” After reading the book, though, I want to go back to the game and see it from the perspective of what I have read. I believe it would greatly enhance the game by doing so.
I am thankful that I had the opportunity to read this book. I will definitely recommend it to people I know enjoy reading histories. I know they would enjoy reading it. It might even change their minds about playing video games.

I had not heard of Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption II, but when I asked my son about them, he raved about how good they were. I was intrigued by a book comparing the accuracy of a video game to real history, and this didn’t disappoint. American history professor Tore Olsson puts his popular class outline in book form. It’s an engaging read with thorough analysis, and it never shys away from discussing the complex and challenging historical events that the video game may not quite capture in its digital world. Highly recommended for anyone who loves history, … and video games. It’s a unique look at the Wild West through the medium of a video game. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author, for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I recently grabbed Red Dead Redemption 2, intrigued by the historical setting. As a history buff, I couldn't pass on giving this book a go either. This book uses the game as a lens for exploring this period of history. The author is a big fan and knows the game, but doesn't hesitate to point out when the game gets something wrong or doesn't include all the context. Or in some cases, events that got left out of the games altogether. This book is perfect for Red Dead fans who want to know more about the history of the game's time period in an accessible way.

<i>Red Dead’s History</i> was an interesting nonfiction drawing parallels between the US in the late 1800s and the fictional country depicted in <i>Red Dead Redemption II</i>.

The book was well written and engaging with an easy writing style so that it never felt like I was reading a textbook (which often happens to me when I read nonfiction).

I really enjoyed the commentary on the game as well. It blended seamlessly with the points the author was making.

Overall I really enjoyed this, even though I typically gravitate to fiction.

This is a very good book aimed at the general reader on the major topics of the American West as told through the perspective of the video game series "Red Dead Redemption." The chapters are largely grouped around themes that make up the history of the West, for example interaction between Natives and Settlers, rail expansion and frequency of violence. The book is amply footnoted and contains an extensive bibliography. I was pleasantly surprised to see a number of books I had used in my studies (which began in the 1970s) as well as a reference to my first college history professor, Richard Maxwell Brown, whose focus of study was violence in American history.

The author does a good job of showing where the gameplay of the video game differs in time and place from the historical record. Some scenarios in the game did not fit with what was going on in the actual history, for example battles with Natives that extended into the early 20th century.

The author makes an effort to praise the developers of the video games for hewing as closely to actual history as they do. It's encouraging in our current video-obsessed world to see this occurring. I recall a visit to the Indianapolis Children's Museum in the 1980s where the computer game "Oregon Trail" was supplementing an exhibit on westward expansion. Those who have played this game will know that whatever the historical shortcomings of the game it often did encourage the players to learn more about the times. I could see that in the groups of children who after a turn on the computer actively entered the rest of the exhibit with enthusiasm.

This book does a good job of doing that as well and expanding a player's knowledge. I would hope that all players of this video game series could have a companion copy of this book to supplement what they experience online. It's also a valuable reference for those wishing to learn more of the actual history of the American West.

This was not a natural choice for me -- I had never even heard of Red Dead and solitaire is the extent of my video game participation. I am, however, very interested in American history of the late 18th and early 19th century, and this book is written by a history professor. As it happens, the professor explains enough about how the game presents the history so that I never felt lost. Olsson briefly describes how the video game sets up each scenario and explores a few of its countless variations according to what choices the players make. Then he puts it into historical perspective and spend a few pages talking about the topic, such as the Jim Crow South, frontier gun culture, the not very romantic life of the cowboy, and the 19th century suffrage movement. I'm familiar with all these subjects, but I still learned so much from the professor's short and fascinating explanations. Predictably, the professor discovers that while there is much attention to historical detail in the game, when a choice had to be made between entertainment and historical accuracy, entertainment won out. (Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy.)

I really enjoyed this in-depth look at American History through the perception of how the Red Dead Redemption games portray the time period of the late 19th century. I'm a huge fan of both Red Dead games and a history major so it was a perfect clash of both worlds. I've always been fascinated by the rendering of the American West in the game and how visceral and real the characters and situations often felt. Olsson provides a lot of context and history regarding the places, culture, politics, and social issues during the 1800s as well as the periods before and after. Putting the characters of the game in the context of history and comparing certain situations, places, and characters to real life people made both the book and game a lot more interesting because when I go back and play the game, it'll bring to light a whole different outlook on the landscape and atmosphere of the game. I think a lot needs to be said about how much work RockStar put into making Red Dead Redemption as close to historically factual as possible. The author really explains in detail how the game got some stuff right and what they didn't, but a majority of the game's interpretations of history were pretty accurate to what someone like Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang would have experienced during this time. My only criticism is that sometimes the author falls so deep into the history and backstory that I forget what point the author was tying this particular point of history to the game. Sometimes huge chunks of chapters would give backstory and history on a particular event and only within the last couple sentences bring it back to the game. I think a little more integration of the game and history all together would have helped instead of huge chunks of history that relate back to a few sentences about the game. Other than that, I think this was a solid book that anybody who is interested in history, gaming history, or just appreciates the historical depiction of America during the late 1800s within the Red Dead Redemption series, will enjoy this book.

My library serves a lot of gamers, and the framing of history told through the lens of a video game will appeal to them. As someone unfamiliar with the game, I still found this history of a sort of lost time compelling. We'll buy it.

Gosh, I had no idea there was actual value in playing video games. This book was an absolute eye opening for me and I'm so glad that I read it. It was interesting and fun and would have been even more fun if I were a gamer, I think. I'm encouraged to see if I can get my grandson interested in this particular game. And to think that the author is a history professor just right up the road from me in Knoxville!

Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Best wishes, Prof. Olsson, in teaching history through gaming. I think you're onto something here - something important.

This was really an amazing lesson in history and the somewhat fake history in RDR2. I love the game and have since I played it multiple times. I have always loved learning historical facts and loved how there was some history in the game and while I knew most of it was fake or in the wrong time it was still really interesting. Learning the actual history that the game took pagea from for their character and the history was really amazing. I am not surprised that people took this as a class and if I were able to I would have as well. Really well written and thought out. Kudos to the author. I would and will read it again.

First off, a huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book.

While looking for upcoming books, I stumbled across this title and it immediately caught my attention. As a history buff and big fan of the Red Dead video game series, this seemed like a great idea for a book. I had not heard of the author before, so I did not know what to expect and if I am being honest, I wasn’t expecting a whole lot. I was very pleasantly surprised!!!

The problem with a lot of history books is that they tend to be more homework than propelling narrative, but that is definitely not the case here. Prior to writing this, the author taught a college course (lucky students!!) about Red Dead Redemption and how it adapts actual history. It reads so easily that you can tell that he has shaped the book based off of hundreds of hours of talking about this with his students.

Focusing primarily on Red Dead Redemption 2, each chapter covers a major historical event and how it comes across in the game. It covers US History from before the Civil War until 1899 (when Red Dead 2 takes place) and beyond. Each chapter is conversationally written and the pace is perfect. I found myself squeezing in more pages than originally planned because the subject matter was so interesting and I learned new things about the time period.

I can’t recommend this book enough!! Even if you have never played the Red Dead games, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in US History.

"Red Dead's History" by Tore C. Olsson examines the popular video games Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption II through the lens of American history. Olsson, an award-winning American history professor, explores how the games depict violence in the United States between 1870 and 1920, highlighting the underlying factors of capitalism and race that often fueled conflicts during this period. Drawing parallels between the game narratives and historical realities, Olsson provides insights into the gritty and brutal world that inspired the games, offering context and complexity to the digital screen portrayals. This engaging book serves as a captivating exploration of American history for both gamers and history enthusiasts alike.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars, rounded up, of course.

The author does an excellent job in using the video game "Red Dead Redemption II" as a vehicle through which to discuss the historical context of the "harnessing of the West," as he puts it. As a student and teacher of history, I found the book erudite, with primary sources and good ol' footnotes, embedded with various scenes and characters from the video game. As the author himself found out in his classes, using a video game to drive interest, discussion, and research into an academic subject is rewarding and fun. I enjoyed the read, and I hope that I can do something like this in my classes. Kudos!

My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity of an early read.

Well worth the read, as someone who does not often reach for historical non-fiction but found myself drawn to this book.

The story enlightened the era that defined Red Dead, and gave a unique insight on both how the West shaped the game and where the developers may have strayed from historical accuracy.

Both an informative and engaging read, I found the social and political narratives of the West was easy to digest through this author’s writing and comparisons to this modern day game.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Red Dead's History by Tore C. Olsson was received directly from the publisher and I chose to review it. I have never read this author or played this video game, though I did hear about it from a popular cartoon based television show. This book worked wonderfully taking the video game play and relating it to actual American history. I did not skim any of the book and will re-read it to pick up on items I may have missed the first go around. At first I was unsure of what to expect from this book but I am very glad I spent the time and effort reading it. It you, or someone you buys gifts for it a video gamer and may or may not be interested in American history, certainly get this book.

5 Stars

Talk about a well done and unique approach to delivering a history lesson in modern times! I found this book to be highly enjoyable. I’ve always be fond of history, be it American or otherwise, and this was such an engaging way to refresh some very key moments in U.S. History. The author ties in the connections and similarities in Red Dead Redemption 2 with such fluidity. He also tells us the little inconsistencies like timelines and such along with where certain parts of the game may have been influenced by. I would very much like to play the game while reading this one just to experience it again, RDR2 is by far the most advanced open play game I’ve seen and it’s amazing how well developed that game is, visually and conceptually speaking. Fully looking forward to listening to this book being narrated by non other than the man who portrays Arthur’s voice in the game.