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Articles by Tom Clavin
The Cost of Custer’s Last Stand
A new book reveals the breathtaking toll of the bloody 1876 battle between the U.S. military and the Sioux-Cheyenne coalition, which devastated families on both sides When Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and over 210 members of his Seventh Cavalry died at the Battle of the Little Bighorn 150 years ago, it was a stunning national tragedy. The “Boy General,” as he was known because of his Civil War exploits, was by June 1876 the most famous and successful commanding officer on the frontier.
The First to Go West: A Guest Post by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
The First to Go West: A Guest Post by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin From the authors of Blood and Treasure comes a sweeping portrait of the American West, including its ambition, violence and the people who lived through its making. Read on for an exclusive essay from Bob Drury and Tom Clavin on writing The First to Go West. Paperback $20.00 By Tom Clavin , Bob Drury In Stock Online Paperback $20.00 Please enable javascript to add items to the cart.
White House Confidential
There has been some consternation expressed about changes that the Trump administration is making to the White House, including the East Wing demolition, paving over the Rose Garden, and plans for a grand ballroom. Let’s put some historical perspective on this: The first president to occupy the White House, John Adams, did so 225 years ago last month, and the building and grounds have been undergoing change ever since.
Running Deep: Bravery, Survival, and the True Story of the Deadliest Submarine in World War II
I love that Tom Clavin name-checks his sources in RUNNING DEEP. By that, I don’t mean that he lists them in the endnotes. He actually names the authors and their books within the narrative or in footnotes. If you’re an avid reader, it’s always nice to get a good literary recommendation. One of the books mentioned here that I read is UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand, an excellent World War II biography about Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner turned Army lieutenant turned prisoner of war.
Library Journal
. Oct. 2025. 320p. ISBN 9781250374479. $30. MILITARY HISTORY COPY ISBN Bestselling historian Clavin’s ( Bandit Heaven) new work exemplifies outstanding literary quality, combining taut, evocative storytelling with rigorous research. The narrative plunges readers into the harrowing World War II exploits of the USS Tang submarine and its commander, Richard O’Kane, capturing both the technical complexity of submarine warfare and its psychological tolls.
Running Deep: Bravery, Survival, and the True Story of the Deadliest Submarine in World War II
Running Deep: Bravery, Survival, and the True Story of the Deadliest Submarine in World War II Bestseller Clavin (Bandit Heaven) offers a lively rendition of the storied career of the USS Tang and its captain, Richard Hetherington O’Kane.
The Legendary Old West Outlaws That Ran Bandit Heaven
Stories about the Wild West, like those passed down by the ancient Greeks, often focus on heroes. We are warmed by the tales of the men — and some women — in white hats. Thankfully, for those of us who make a living writing such stories featuring Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok, Bat Masterson, Buffalo Bill Cody, Heck Thomas, Charlie Siringo, and others, there is an endless fascination with their legendary exploits. But let us give credit to the outlaws.
Review: ‘Bandit Heaven’ brings wild, wild West back to life Original
Theoretically, “Bandit Heaven” is about three bandit havens— Robbers Roost, Brown’s Hole and Hole in the Wall — in Wyoming and Utah. Canyons with only one way in, easily guarded by a few men from perches high above any approaches, they provided refuge for criminals on the run. According to author Tom Clavin, these three were the most important in a series of hideouts along what was known as the Outlaw Trail, which stretched from Canada to Mexico.
'Bandit Heaven' brings wild, wild West back to life
Theoretically, "Bandit Heaven" is about three bandit havens- Robbers Roost, Brown's Hole and Hole in the Wall - in Wyoming and Utah. Canyons with only one way in, easily guarded by a few men from perches high above any approaches, they provided refuge for criminals on the run. According to author Tom Clavin, these three were the most important in a series of hideouts along what was known as the Outlaw Trail, which stretched from Canada to Mexico.
Bandit Heaven: The Hole-in-the-Wall Gangs and the Final Chapter of the Wild West
In BANDIT HEAVEN, bestselling author Tom Clavin explores the backroads and twisted pathways of the American West during the heyday of cowboy wrangling and cattle rustling. In the 1880s and ’90s, a man could make himself known for ranching and the wealth that implied, as cross-country rail lines created possibilities for fortunes. But because cattle strayed, and some men were not drawn to steady work under harsh conditions, stealing a cow here and there became an attractive possibility.
'Bandit Heaven' looks back at the Wild West, and three hideouts that stood between outlaws and capture
Theoretically, “Bandit Heaven” is about three bandit havens — Robbers Roost, Brown’s Hole and Hole in the Wall — in Wyoming and Utah. Canyons with only one way in, easily guarded by a few men from perches high above any approaches, they provided refuge for criminals on the run. According to author Tom Clavin, these three were the most important in a series of hideouts along what was known as the Outlaw Trail, which stretched from Canada to Mexico.
The Making of the American West’s Last Great Outlaw Hideouts
There would ultimately be three main hideouts, and they would be connected by what came to be known as the Outlaw Trail. It extended from Canada to Mexico, and unlike other such trails elsewhere in the U.S., this one, according to Charles Kelly, “was provided with better hideouts, was used by more outlaws, and continued in use for a longer time than any other.
Bookworm
You're home now, safe. Shut the door. Lock it behind you. The world is entirely outside your four walls but you can pretend that it's not. All the danger, all the worries that send you scurrying are far away. Everything you need is home but as in the new book, "Bandit Heaven" by Tom Clavin, you can only hide there for just so long. Under normal circumstances, John Chapman was an easy-going man.
How a Hidden Corner of the American West Became a Refuge For Outlaws
There were three main hideouts in what we now think of as they “Wild West,” and they were connected by what came to be known as the Outlaw Trail. It extended from Canada to Mexico, and unlike other such trails elsewhere in the US, this one, according to Charles Kelly, “was provided with better hideouts, was used by more outlaws, and continued in use for a longer time than any other.
THE STRATEGISTS | Kirkus Reviews
Buffs of the Old West will enjoy Clavin’s careful research and vivid writing. Rootin’-tootin’ history of the dry-gulchers, horn-swogglers, and outright killers who populated the Wild West’s wildest city in the late 19th century. The stories of Wyatt Earp and company, the shootout at the O.K. Corral, and Geronimo and the Apache Wars are all well known.
New library books
These works of exploration and adventure are newly available through the Allen County Public Library.
Rylander Library Book Review
Body Throne of Grace: A Mountain Man, and Epic Adventure, and the Bloody Conquest of the American West by Tom Clavin - Amazon review: The explosive true saga of the legendary adventurer Jedediah Smith and the Mountain Men who explored the American frontier, written by New York Times bestselling authors of Blood and Treasure Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. It is the early 19th century, and the land recently purchased by President Thomas Jefferson stretches west for thousands of miles.
THE DRAGON FROM CHICAGO
A fascinating portrait of a trailblazing reporter who was an eyewitness to history. A biography of Sigrid Schultz (1893-1980), who reported from Germany from the 1920s to the end of World War II. Toler, a translator and author of Heroines of Mercy Street, provides an adept, engaging portrait of her subject. Schultz was born in Chicago, the daughter of a Norwegian painter and his German-born wife.
WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE
A timely reminder of the cost of war, as well as the bravery of those who stormed the beaches all those decades ago. A sprawling history of D-Day from the point of view of participants on both sides. “There have only been a handful of days since the beginning of time on which the direction the world was taking has been changed for the better in one 24-hour period by an act of man. June 6th, 1944, was one of them.” So recalled Andy Rooney, then a war correspondent.
Feathered Fighters
67 years ago, the U.S. Army Pigeon Service closed. You might think that couldn’t have been much of a big deal. But it was. Also known as the Signal Pigeon Corps, it was a unit of the U.S. Army during World Wars I and II. Its assignment was the training and usage of homing pigeons for communication and even spying purposes. During World War II, the force consisted of 3,150 soldiers and 54,000 “war pigeons,” which were considered an undetectable method of communication.
The Last Outlaws: The Desperate Final Days of the Dalton Gang
I visit Tucson, Arizona, every March for the Tucson Festival of Books, a wonderful two-day extravaganza of books and authors. The discussions range far and wide, but one subject I always enjoy exploring is the history of the American West. Studying the West requires separating heroes from villains and myth from reality. But it is genuinely an important aspect of American culture as it continues to influence much of our contemporary life.
THE LAST SHIPS FROM HAMBURG
A capable history that explains much about modern American demographics. A history of the cooperative effort that helped make the U.S. a second Jewish homeland.
The Dalton Gang’s Final, Doomed Heists in the Twilight of the Old West Original
In February 1891, hoping to help his brothers find steady work, Bill Dalton wrote a letter to the superintendent of the nearby Muller and Lux Ranch, having heard it was hiring. After that was confirmed, Bill borrowed a horse and saddle from one of his hired men for Grat and two saddles from his neighbors for Bob and Emmett. The three left, telling Bill they were headed to their new jobs at the ranch.
THE DICTIONARY PEOPLE
If the authors are serious, this is a silly, distasteful book. If they are not, it’s a brilliant satire. The authors have created a sort of anti-Book of Virtues in this encyclopedic compendium of the ways and means of power. Everyone wants power and everyone is in a constant duplicitous game to gain more power at the expense of others, according to Greene, a screenwriter and former editor at Esquire (Elffers, a book packager, designed the volume, with its attractive marginalia).
High Noon in Coffeyville
The following is an excerpt from The Last Outlaws: The Desperate Final Days of the Dalton Gang, which is to be published on November 7. On October 5, 1892, the notorious Dalton brothers—Bob, Grat, and Emmett—were seeking one last big score by robbing not one but two banks simultaneously in Coffeyville, Kansas. They and two accomplices had the elements of surprise and firepower at first . . . then the scenario began to go south.
Duking It Out on the Big Screen: Boxing Films With Heart
For those who might wonder why The Church in Sag Harbor chose the Sweet Science as the subject of a film series and exhibition titled “Strike Fast, Dance Lightly: Artists... more You May Also Like: Vocalist and Composer Sarah Elizabeth Charles Performs at Jazz Fest Hamptons Jazz Fest continues its concert series at The Church with vocalist/composer Sarah Elizabeth Charles ...
THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL
If the authors are serious, this is a silly, distasteful book. If they are not, it’s a brilliant satire. The authors have created a sort of anti-Book of Virtues in this encyclopedic compendium of the ways and means of power. Everyone wants power and everyone is in a constant duplicitous game to gain more power at the expense of others, according to Greene, a screenwriter and former editor at Esquire (Elffers, a book packager, designed the volume, with its attractive marginalia).
WAR AND PUNISHMENT
An award-winning writer explains the cultural background to Putin’s ill-fated invasion of Ukraine. As an independent journalist, Zygar, author of The Empire Must Die and All the Kremlin’s Men, has long been an outspoken critic of Putin and especially his invasion of Ukraine. After the Kremlin made opposition to the war illegal, the author fled his native Russia and went into exile in Germany, where he continues to work as a columnist.
More Murder, She Wrote
East Hampton Press / Southampton Press / Column / Sag Harbor Express / Column / 2121663 The Road Yet Taken Publication: East Hampton Press Published on: Mar 27, 2023 Columnist: Tom Clavin I have been friends with Randye Lordon for a number of years, and for most of them she has not had a book published. That was a shame, because I... more More Posts from Tom Clavin Kind and Generous I am trying to work out why I cannot stop thinking about Pedro Moreno. One ... What New Year?
A World War II Story of Survival" by Tom Clavin
Recommended Citation Clavin, Tom (2022) "Book Review: A World War II Story of Survival," Swiss American Historical Society Review: Vol. 58: No. 3, Article 6. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/sahs_review/vol58/iss3/6
Battle for Hill 400 and Gateway Into Germany
The title refers to Hill 400, which is just inside Germany. The day is December 7, 1944, and to penetrate any deeper into the Fatherland the hill must be taken from the elite German forces who occupy it. Thus far, entire regiments have tried and failed. General Eisenhower and his commanders have called in the battle-scarred 2nd Ranger Battalion.
So What Happens Now?
East Hampton Press / Southampton Press / Column / Sag Harbor Express / Column / 2053309 The Road Yet Taken Publication: East Hampton Press Published on: Nov 14, 2022 Columnist: Tom Clavin There are still races around the country that remain undecided, but with the Democrats keeping the Senate seats in Arizona and Nevada, they will retain control of the Senate. This...
Alliance Day
On May 6, 1778, General George Washington gathered his army on the Grand Parade at Valley Forge to celebrate the recently formed alliance with France. Having lost Philadelphia, the seat of the Continental Congress, to British forces as well as a series of battles the previous fall, Washington’s army welcomed the news of their alliance with pomp and parade. That morning, at 11:00 am, the rumble of drums and musketry echoed through the army camp at Valley Forge in celebration.
Valley Forge in American Memory
It’s a gripping story – the Continental army, on the brink of defeat, huddled together to survive the winter of 1777-1778 while Philadelphia, the American capital, lay in British hands. The encampment at Valley Forge is unsurprisingly an enduring tale in American mythos. It has inspired the subject matter of artists and authors, while scores of soldiers in America’s subsequent wars have related to the harsh winter and sacrifices made there.
We're In Hot Water
East Hampton Press / Southampton Press / Column / Sag Harbor Express / Column / 2014912 The Road Yet Taken Publication: East Hampton Press Published on: Aug 22, 2022 Columnist: Tom Clavin A story in Newsday last week that probably flew under the radar of most eastern Long Island readers was about a proposed $2 billion project to allow Nassau County to... more More Posts from Tom Clavin Death, Be Not Proud One time before, we thought we had lost a child. It was in January 1987 ...
Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
True Public Power “Nothing short of a triumph for Long Islanders,” declared State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. about the inclusion in the new state budget of the creation of a Legislative Commission on the Future of the Long Island Power Authority — to perform a study that could lead to LIPA becoming a fully public utility.
The Extraordinary Hunt for the Confederacy's Most Dreaded Ship
Beginning in the summer of 1862, the CSS Alabama, a Confederate ship captained by Raphael Semmes, roamed the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans to find, capture, and burn Union Navy ships. In this endeavor, the Southern ship was wildly successful. Sailing 75,000 miles around the globe and back again, “that pirate Semmes,” as the newspapers called him, sent over 60 ships to the bottom of the ocean. Their precious cargos would never support the North’s military campaigns.
Tom Clavin - The Daily Beast
Tom Clavin is the author of 18 nonfiction books and has worked as a newspaper and web site editor, magazine writer, TV and radio commentator, and a reporter for the New York Times covering entertainment, sports, and the environment. His latest book, Dodge City: Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and the Wickedest Town in the American West became an immediate New York Times and national bestseller.
Phil Keith - The Daily Beast
Phil Keith (1946-2021) was the author of six books, including Blackhorse Riders, which won the 2012 award from USA Book News for Best Military Non-Fiction, was a finalist for the 2013 Colby Award, and earned a 2013 silver medal from Military Writers Society of America. He held a degree in history from Harvard and was a former Navy aviator.
The Most Trusted Man In America
Ahead Of His Time In coming days, structures that were added to Nikola Tesla’s laboratory in Shoreham will be taken down in what is to be a return of the historic laboratory to “its original state when Tesla worked there,” says Jane Alcorn. “Within the next two years,” she said, her hope is that the laboratory is restored to what it was when Tesla was there.
Bookworm: ‘Rock Concert’ will light up your eyes
“Rock Concert: An Oral History as Told by The Artists, Backstage Insiders, and Fans Who Were There” By Marc Myers c. 2021, Grove Press $30, higher in Canada; 400 pages You barely made a sound until the lights were up. And then you roared. Your favorite band was about to come onstage and you, plus 14,999 of your best friends, were makin’ some noise, ready to sing along and dance, ready to feel the bass. Read “Rock Concert” by Marc Myers, and you’ll remember the days ...
Book review: "Lightning Down"
Terri Schlichenmeyer leaves her review of "Lightning Down: A World War II Story of Survival" by Tom Clavin The storm's a-coming. You can smell it in the air: rain's on the way, maybe thunder, maybe more, but the high winds are what you hate. They make you run for shelter and pray hard. The storm's a-coming, and in "Lightning Down" by Tom Clavin, it's never as mild as you hope it'd be.
So Long To Saloons
The news circulated about 10 days ago that Simon Smith had passed away. He died in his sleep six years, to the day, after his wife, Janet Palmer, had gone....
THE LAST SLAVE SHIP
This moving, potent testament might have been titled “Black Lives Matter.” Or: “An American Tragedy.” Awards & Accolades Likes 20 Our Verdict GET IT Kirkus Reviews' Best Books Of 2015 New York Times Bestseller National Book Award Winner The powerful story of a father’s past and a son’s future.
Podcast: Dan Talks with Tom Clavin, American Author
Author Tom Clavin Gordon M. Grant Photo Get our Hamptons Insider newsletters delivered direct to you. In each episode of the “Who’s Here in the Hamptons” podcast, Dan’s Papers founder Dan Rattiner introduces you to a new guest, some well known, others with interesting careers and stories, authors, musicians, restaurateurs, some characters and some behind-the-scenes people who live, work and play in the summer paradise of the rich and famous.
Remembering the 70th Anniversary of the Pelican Tragedy
The Pelican heading off on her last voyage in 1951. Photo by Bill Morris/Outdoor Life By Tom Clavin For a few hardy souls who remember, next week will mark the 70th anniversary of the capsizing of the Montauk fishing boat Pelican.
Bookworm: ‘Blue Star’ will put you on the edge of your seat
“The Woman with the Blue Star” By Pam Jenoff c. 2021, Park Row Books $17.99, $22.99 Canada; 336 pages Unthinkable. That’s what this situation is: unthinkable, with a line you won’t cross no matter what. You’ve thought about it, considered all possible solutions, studied this whole thing from many angles and in the end, there’s just no way. But as in the new novel, “The Woman with the Blue Star” by Pam Jenoff, never say “never.” At eighteen years old, Sadie Gault was hardly a child anymore.
For The Love Of Canio's: Memorable Moments (and a Fire) as Sag Harbor's Beloved Literary Landmark turns 40
Walt Whitman lookalike and impersonator Darrel Blaine Ford listens intently as John Dagney reads a passage during a marathon reading of Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" at Canio's Books during the Sag Harbor Cultural Festival on Saturday, 5/21/16. Michael Heller photo. By Tom Clavin I wish I could remember the first time I stepped into Canio’s Books, which would have been in the spring of 1982.
Delve into the Wild West with Tom Clavin's 'Tombstone'
The cover of "Tombstone," Tom Clavin's latest book. By Joan Baum You know the expression, attributed to Aristotle — the whole being greater than, or different from, the sum of its parts — meaning that the way individual items combine can often affect the overall result. In the case of journalist and best-selling author Tom Clavin’s latest historical exploration of the Wild West called “Tombstone,” readers should pay attention to the parts.
When Doc Met Wyatt
Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp became fast friends, which puzzled some of Earp’s pals, especially Bat Masterson, who objected to Holliday’s sometimes appalling behavior. – All photos True West archives/Illustrations by Bob Boze Bell – John Henry “Doc” Holliday had a restless year in 1877. The dentist-turned-gambler had spent time in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and in Denver, Colorado. Then, though never to be mistaken for a family man, he had visited an aunt in Kansas. The next stop was Texas.
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