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For most, the image of the American West has been male dominated, focusing on characters ranging from Jesse James to John Wayne. In the hardscrabble West of the nineteenth century, however, women played prominent and influential roles, helping to shape the evolution of not only the region but the nation as a whole.
In this lively and informative book, ten noted historians explore the lives of eleven women, from the "Wild West" performer Annie Oakley and the notorious Calamity Jane to the entrepreneur Mary Ellen Pleasant and the reformer Abigail Scott Dunaway. By telling the fascinating tales of these women, this accessible and thoroughly researched collection not only enlightens us but also serves to secure a place in history for these remarkable women.
About the author
Professor Emeritus of History at the University of New Mexico, Richard W. Etulain specializes in the history and literature of the American West. He is the author or editor of more than 40 books. Among his recent volumes are The Hollywood West, New Mexican Lives, Cesar Chavez: A Brief Biography, and Western Lives. Glenda Riley is the Alexander M. Bracken Professor of History at Ball State University in Indiana, where she specializes in women's history, especially women in the American West. President-elect of the Western History Association, Glenda has received many awards, including a Distinguished Fulbright and membership in the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame. She lives in Muncie, Indiana.
