Heroes of the plains, or, Lives and wonderful adventures of Wild Bill, Buffalo Bill, Kit Carson, Capt. Payne, Capt. Jack, Texas Jack, California Joe, and other celebrated Indian fighters, scouts, hunters and guides

Published in 1881 by N.D. Thompson, this volume emerged during the height of the dime novel era and the public's insatiable appetite for romanticized accounts of the American frontier. James W. Buel, a prolific author of the period, compiled these biographical sketches to capitalize on the national fascination with westward expansion and the larger-than-life figures who shaped the mythology of the era. The book serves as a quintessential artifact of late 19th-century frontier literature, blending historical record with the embellished storytelling techniques common to sensationalist publications of the time.

The design and production reflected the typical aesthetics of popular historical anthologies from the post-Civil War period, often featuring elaborate woodcut illustrations and decorative bindings intended to appeal to a broad, curious readership. These narratives sought to cement the reputations of scouts and Indian fighters as foundational heroes of the American identity. While modern historians frequently view these accounts as heavily stylized and dramatized, the work was received by contemporary audiences as an authoritative, if adventurous, survey of the people who navigated the changing landscapes of the Great Plains.