Red Dead's History

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This was such a great overall feel to this book, it was a unique concept of a historical nonfiction book. It worked well with the Red Dead’s concept and does a great job in connecting the history and game together. Tore C. Olsson has a great writing style and it felt like a well done researched book.

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.