The Whip: Inspired by the story of Charley Parkhurst

By: Karen Kondazian

Narrated by: Robin Weigert

• Best Western, 2013 International Book Awards
• 2013 National Indie Excellence Awards winner, Western fiction category
• Gold Prize in Historical Fiction & Best Western Fiction - 2013 Global Ebook Awards
• Award-Winner in the 'Fiction: Historical' category of The 2012 USA Best Book Awards

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.

"I would have done that," Ms. Kondazian said in a telephone interview. "I would have probably put on men’s clothes, to be free like a man." (New York Times interview of Karen Kondazian - from “Overlooked No More: Charley Parkhurst, Gold Rush Legend With a Hidden Identity”, by Tim Arango, December 5, 2018)

©2012 Karen Kondazian (P)2012 Karen Kondazian

Sad it's over!

This was a book for book group. I probably wouldn't have read it otherwise, but I'm so glad that I did. It reminded me how strong women can be and how determination and mind power can get you through anything. I cried when I finished.

Great Subject for Historical Fiction - Reccomend

What a fantastic and interesting subject. It was a treat to be presented with the story of Charlie Pankhurst. Great performance.

a work of art

I have read many novels,but in 50 yrs no novels has kept my attention as this one has ! story line was absolutely fantastic, never have I wanted to reach into a story and hurt someone as I have in this, it was so real ! that I actually hurt for the person ! as for the author, please write more stories !

Very Entertaining

I loved this saga of a strong woman. Even more so because it was based on a true story. This is an amazing read.

Great story. Great performance.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I thoroughly enjoyed this and have recommended it to a friend in a book club. The performance was superb and the story was intriguing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Obviously, Charlotte, right as she decided to become Charley. This story is a great deal of supposition based on fact, but it was so interesting, that I wish it had ALL been true. I live in Santa Cruz County and travel daily on the roads that Charley road on. S/he has become a personal hero/ine to me.

What about Robin Weigert’s performance did you like?

Robin seemed to effortlessly juggle 3 personas back and forth in the same scenes with different dialects and different accents. Her voice even demonstrated the characters as they aged throughout the years.

If you could rename The Whip: Inspired by the story of Charley Parkhurst, what would you call it?

One-eyed Charley; Truth or Dare

Any additional comments?

Waiting for the screenplay to be picked up by Amazon, Netflix, HBO or Comcast. Come on folks, get with the program!