The movie was based on two western novels written by Forrest Carter, Gone to Texas and The Vengeance Trail of Josey Wales. Carter had also written another book, The Education of Little Tree. Carter claimed to be Cherokee and the novel dealt with a young Indian boy. Oprah Winfrey had placed this book on her Book Club List however Carter was later found out to be a member of the KKK under his true name, Asa Earl Carter. Forrest Carter was his pen name. Winfrey subsequently removed the book from her list. The movie remained very true to the book unlike some Hollywood renditions of popular novels. It's been some years since I read the books, I'll have to dig it out and re read it now.