Deadwood’S Al Swearingen: Manifest Evil in the Gem Theatre

Jerry L. Bryant · Barbara Fifer

Farcountry Press

About this ebook

 You’ve followed his wicked misdeeds and cuss-filled rants on the HBO series Deadwood (as played by Ian McShane), now go inside the life—and death—of the real Al Swearingen with Farcountry Press’ newest release, Deadwood’s Al Swearingen: Manifest Evil in the Gem Theatre. Meticulous research and lively writing by Deadwood historian and HBO consultant Jerry L. Bryant and co-author Barbara Fifer shed new light on Al’s scandalized childhood in Oskaloosa, Iowa, his nefarious dealings at his saloon and brothel in gold-rush-era Deadwood, and his brutal death (was he murdered?) in a Denver rail yard.

About the author

The late Jerry L. Bryant, a member of Registered Professional Archaeologists, was a historian with a passion for solving the riddles of Deadwood's past and preserving the Black Hills' historic sites and stories. As one of the foremost authorities in the life of Al Swearingen (collateral descendants prefer this spelling), Bryant was honored by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his work on the HBO series Deadwood. Bryant held a bachelor's degree in anthropology and a master's in cultural resources management, working in that capacity for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Adams Museum in Deadwood. He was also a decorated Navy veteran. 

Barbara Fifer was a freelance writer and editor in Helena, Montana. She is the author and co-author of popular histories and geographies for adults and children, including five books on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.