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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Fantastic book! I was hooked from the beginning. I thought it was well written and the story flowed well. I was engaged from start to finish. I am a history buff and this book was right up my ally. I will definitely be recommending this book to others and I will buy a copy for myself as well.

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.

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.

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,

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.