Includes bibliographical references (pages [283]-313) and index.

"On May 30, 1899, history was made when Pearl Hart, disguised as a man, held up a stagecoach in Arizona and robbed the passengers at gunpoint. A manhunt ensued as word of her heist spread, and Pearl Hart went on to become a media sensation and the most notorious female outlaw on the Western frontier. Her early life, family and fate after her later release from prison have long remained a mystery to scholars and historians - until now. Drawing on groundbreaking research into territorial records and genealogical data, John Boessenecker’s Wildcat is the first book to uncover the enigma of Pearl Hart. Hailed by many as 'The Bandit Queen,' her epic life of crime and legacy as a female trailblazer provide a crucial lens into the lives of the rare women who made their mark in the American West."--book jacket.