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One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd Audiobook
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Publisher Description
Based on an actual historical event, this is the story of May Dodd—a remarkable woman who, in 1875, travels through the American West to marry the chief of the Cheyenne Nation.
One Thousand White Women begins with May Dodd’s journey into an unknown world. Having been committed to an insane asylum by her blue-blood family for the crime of loving a man beneath her station, May finds that her only hope for freedom and redemption is to participate in a secret government program whereby women from “civilized” society become the brides of Cheyenne warriors. What follows is a series of breathtaking adventures—May’s brief, passionate romance with the gallant young army captain John Bourke; her marriage to the great chief Little Wolf; and her conflict of being caught between loving two men and living two completely different lives.
“Fergus portrays the perceptions and emotions of women…with tremendous insight and sensitivity.”—Booklist
“A superb tale of sorrow, suspense, exultation, and triumph.” —Winston Groom, author of Forrest Gump
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"Not a major history buff myself, there was enough historical reference to trigger vague memories of recognition--although I couldn't tell you how accurate most of it was. The character development was what hooked me in. Each character had their own reason for "volunteering" as well as their own personality shine throughout the book. It was a hard book to put down--even after the last word was read."
— Leslie (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Jim Fergus knows his country in a way that’s evocative Dee Brown and all the other great writers of the American West and its native peoples. But One Thousand White Women is more than a chronicle of the Old West. It’s a superb tale of sorrow, suspense, exultation, and triumph that leaves the reader waiting to turn the page and wonderfully wrung out at the end.”
— Winston Groom, New York Times bestselling author -
“A rich, imaginative harvest of historical detail.”
— San Antonio Express -
“Jim Fergus so skillfully envelopes us in the heart and mind and skin of his main character…that we weep when she mourns…and our hearts pound when she is in danger.”
— Colorado Springs Gazette -
“Fergus is gifted in his ability to portray the perceptions and emotions of women. He writes with tremendous insight and sensitivity…This book is artistically rendered with meticulous attention to details that bring to life the daily concerns of a group of hardly souls at a pivotal time in US history.”
— Booklist -
“An impressive historical, terse, convincing, and affecting.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“A most impressive novel that melds the physical world to the spiritual. One Thousand White Women is engaging, entertaining, well-written, and well-told. It will be widely read for a long time, as will the rest of Jim Fergus’s work.”
— Rick Bass, author of Where the Sea Used to Be
One Thousand White Women Listener Reviews
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MJ, 12/19/2023
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Carolyn Emonson, 4/8/2023
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" Struggled to finish this. Mostly because of the cliched characters and an unbelieveable lead character. Oh, the historical inaccuracies soured me as well. Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra in 1874? Um, no. Not for another almost twenty years. If one is going to write historical fiction, then get the facts straight! "
— Jen, 2/8/2014 -
" Im enjoying it very much, cant wait to get a bit deeper into the story and characters. "
— Shandon, 2/4/2014 -
" Powerful and haunting fiction based in one of my favorite historical periods - the settling of America. Written with intelligence and insight, this is a dark and somewhat ghastly tale of "what if". Feminist in spirit, the author depicts the harsh and dark reality of the era. Not for the faint-hearted. There are some very graphic moments. "
— Sharon, 1/23/2014 -
" Great book - so well written, and descriptive. Not a topic I thought would interest me but I couldn't put it down. "
— Danielle, 1/21/2014 -
" Harlequin romance crossed with cowboys and Indians. Struggled thru it. "
— Donna, 1/20/2014 -
" If I didn't know this was historical fiction, I would have thought, for sure, that it was nonfiction. It is told much like a nonfictional piece, but has the story elements of fiction. I loved the story of May and what all she endured after volunteering to be traded to the Native Americans for horses. Great story. "
— Molly, 1/6/2014 -
" It seems many of the reviews are poor because there is a sad ending, but honestly this is an excellent work. I loved getting a first person view from the writer May, and while the ending was sad, unfortunately that's life sometimes. Overall, it was a good read. "
— Lindsey, 1/5/2014 -
" fictional journal of fictional event: US govt arranging for the marriage of white women to Cheyanne men. The women spent nine months on the plains learning the lives of the Indians. They come to respect most of way of live of the Indians but there are some practices that shock them. Give it takes place in 1875 you know it "aint goina end well" "
— Victoria, 12/31/2013 -
" Didn't like so I didn't finish. "
— Trona, 12/29/2013 -
" Wonderful historical fiction that is informative, spiritual and totally engrossing. First book I've read in a long time that I wish was a little longer. "
— Glenn, 11/14/2013 -
" I really liked this book a lot. Would definitely recommend it. "
— Brenda, 10/14/2013 -
" LOVED this story. Fergus does an extraordinary job bringing his characters to life. At the end of the book I felt that May, Martha, Helen and even Dirty Gertie were my very close friends! "
— Marci, 9/24/2013 -
" If you like western books about the old west you will like this read. "
— Bonnie, 9/10/2013 -
" I thought it was a very interesting premise. I do however, think that the author did not do the best of looking at life through female eyes. "
— Jessi, 9/8/2013 -
" This was a phenomenal book, the best work of historical fiction I have read in a long time. "
— Sue, 8/11/2013 -
" I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down, and I talked about it for weeks. It reads more like a true story than a novel, and everyone who reads it wonders if it really was based on a true story, but supposedly it is not. "
— Glenda, 7/29/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book. I appreciated the colorful characters and the story, albeit fiction, I know is likely close to what was the reality for the native american people in that time. "
— Cindy, 6/4/2013 -
" We read this for bookclub and had a very good discussion "
— Kathleen, 4/28/2013 -
" An improbably tale fostered by a true situation. Captivating. I loved it; the characters work their ways into your heart. "
— Stephen, 4/24/2013 -
" Hard time reading negative reviews on this book... Great historical fiction... Well written.. "
— Meghan, 11/15/2012 -
" A very good story that makes me sad to think of the way the American Indians were treated. This is a very interesting story. Even though it is entirely fiction, this story is so believable. "
— Amy, 10/2/2012 -
" I loved this story, I really liked the diary style format and the follow up with other family in the story. I really enjoyed this book! "
— A, 9/25/2012 -
" Loved the premise of " what if this really happened?" Good story telling. "
— Ronda, 3/30/2012 -
" I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it! "
— Amberwalstad, 12/18/2011 -
" Not what I expected but enjoyed! "
— Savannah, 12/9/2011 -
" An intriguing premise, and a fascinating look at everyday life with the Cheyenne. "
— Amber, 10/5/2011 -
" This was such a beautiful, brilliant book. I will read this one again, and again, and again. "
— Jenna, 8/30/2011 -
" Love, love!! "
— Rene, 8/13/2011 -
" This was a really interesting concept and the main character is very likable even with her obvious flaws. I loved all the quirky women characters too. My only complaint was that it dragged on in the middle. "
— Mandy, 7/28/2011 -
" Learned a lot about the lives of American Indians under attack by the US government who were determined to control and emasculate the Cheyenne Tribes. Brutality exists on both fronts. Fascinating account but a little saccharine at times. "
— Pat, 5/23/2011 -
" couldn't finish this, it creeped me out! "
— Carla, 5/20/2011 -
" So far, just so so..... "
— Sheila, 5/17/2011 -
" Thousand women sold to US Government during late 1800's for thousand horses. Very enjoyable - loved learning a little history with this novel. "
— Ellen, 5/17/2011 -
" Liked it very much. Good insight into Native American life. "
— Donna, 5/15/2011 -
" Read as book on CD. Loved having it read to me. Made me look forward to driving. Not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if traditionally read. But on CD it was great. "
— Lisa, 5/12/2011 -
" Interesting. Thought-provoking. Not great, but good. "
— Julianne, 5/11/2011 -
" I give this book out to people all the time to read. Love it. "
— Sharon, 5/11/2011 -
" Would I have had the courage...or the circumstance, if I had been born in another time? "
— Connie, 5/10/2011 -
" This is fiction,but the original idea actually is based on history.<br/> "
— Lynn, 5/5/2011 -
" What would have happened if the government had sent 1000 white women to marry the Indians? Excellent novel with a lot of truth. "
— Sidnaw, 5/4/2011 -
" I really enjoy the read! "
— Louette, 5/3/2011
About Jim Fergus
Jim Fergus is an author whose first novel, One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd, won the 1999 Fiction of the Year Award from the Mountains & Plains Booksellers Association and has become a favorite selection of reading groups across the country. An international bestseller, One Thousand White Women was also on the French bestseller list for fifty-seven weeks and has sold well over 400,000 copies in that country. His articles, essays, interviews, and profiles have appeared in a wide variety of national magazines and newspapers.
About Laura Hicks
Laura Hicks is an Obie Award–winning actress who has appeared on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater, film, and television. A native New Yorker and a Juilliard graduate, she has performed throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Australia, Austria, Italy, and Ireland.