One Thousand White Women
February 1999, St. Martin’s Griffin
Synopsis from Goodreads: One Thousand White Women is the story of May Dodd and a colorful assembly of pioneer women who, under the auspices of the U.S. government, travel to the western prairies in 1875 to intermarry among the Cheyenne Indians. The covert and controversial “Brides for Indians” program, launched by the administration of Ulysses S. Grant, is intended to help assimilate the Indians into the white man’s world. Toward that end May and her friends embark upon the adventure of their lifetime. Jim Fergus has so vividly depicted the American West that it is as if these diaries are a capsule in time.
My Thoughts: Buy it. Right now. Holy, wow that was amazing! Okay, first off, I love historical fiction. I also love Indians. I have Cherokee on both side of my family and personally inherited the dark hair, eyes, and olive skin from that ancestry. I love reading about Indians.
This story captivated me from the first page. The story was incredible. This was a well researched work of fiction although it could have fooled me. I had to keep reminding myself that it was indeed fiction and didn’t really happen. I fell in love with May Dodd and her bravery. Every woman wants to fight among the Indians and brave the wilderness, right? Duh.
Okay I would give this book 1,000 stars if I could. I feel like everyone should be required to read it. It is an instant favorite of mine and I am forever grateful to my MIL for loaning it to me, although I will definitely be going out to buy my own copy immediately.
There is really no more to be said other than GO BUY IT NOW. Okay? Thanks.
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