One major theme in Fury is the fact that all the MacGregor siblings are named after the Earp family. This was inspired by the excellent Netflix docudrama Wyatt Earp and The Cowboy War, which I highly recommend. I was mulling over Fury before writing it when I watched this programme and thought how fun it would be to name the siblings after this legendary family, particularly as I find the history so fascinating. In Fury, the patriarch, Jimmy, was obsessed with The Wild West, particularly the infamous shootout at the OK Corral, so much so he named all his children after the brothers.
There are more siblings in the Earp family than just the well-known Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan. In Fury, Virgil, although he isn’t the oldest brother, has to lead the family after Jimmy’s death, his quick wits and air of authority making him perfect for the job, even though he doesn’t want it. The oldest brother, Newton, named after the Earp brothers’ little-known half-brother, resents him for this, creating a rivalry between the two. James, the second oldest brother, is just like his namesake. He is calmer than his brothers and holds Virgil no ill will for the position he holds in the family.
Wyatt MacGregor struggles with being named after such a legend and the most famous of the Earp brothers. Referring to his illustrious namesake only as him, any comparison with or reference to Wyatt Earp makes him tick and twitch like a bomb about to explode.
Another little-known Earp brother was Warren. Although the youngest, he was said to be the most violent of them all. He was shot to death by a man he’d had a long-standing rivalry with.
The history of the Earp family is fascinating. They are truly the stuff of legends with films and TV programmes made about them to this day. Tombstone starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer is one of my absolute favourite films.
One day I hope to visit Tombstone, Arizona and perhaps see the ghostly presences of Virgil and Morgan Earp, who are said to haunt the town to this very day. Morgan has been seen in what used to the billiard parlour where he died, chasing out after dark anyone he considers to be an intruder. Virgil haunts The Crystal Palace Saloon and he still assumes a protective role, dealing unpleasantly with customers who make nuisances of themselves. He has also been spotted making his way to the OK Corral, site of the infamous shootout, in his trademark long black coat and wide-brimmed hat. Wyatt, it seems, rests in peace.
Whether these hauntings are genuine or the products of overexcited imaginations, real legends can never truly die.
Start reading Fury here: https://mybook.to/FuryBook