The Whip is a multi-award winning novel inspired by the true story of Charlotte Charley Parkhurst (1812-1879) who lived most of her extraordinary life as a man in the Old West.
As a young woman in Rhode Island, she fell in love with a runaway slave and had his child. He was lynched, her baby killed. The destruction of her family drove her west to California, dressed as a man, to track the killer.
Charley became a renowned stagecoach driver for Wells Fargo. She killed a famous outlaw, had a secret love affair, and lived with a housekeeper who, unaware of her true sex, fell in love with her.
Charley was the first known woman to vote in America in 1868 (as a man). Her grave lies in Watsonville, California.
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"charlie parkherst was a real person. he lived in california, and was the best stagecoach driver(or whip) that wells fargo had. he was a crack shot, saved the coach from highwaymen, and was a hard drinking, tobacco chewing, rough cussing, well known character of the area. he died of throat cancer in his 70's, and when the doctor did the post mortum, discovered charlie was a woman! this is all fully documented. what the author of the whip did was reverse imagine what charlie's life muight have been to lead him to live most of his life as a man. and she did a remarkable job of it, if you cared to ask me. written at a fast pace, but with a real feel for the era, it's a great read. this would make a great movie."
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Paula (4 out of 5 stars)