Calamity Jane: The Woman and the Legend

By: James D. McLaird

Narrated by: Todd Curless

Forget Doris Day singing on the stagecoach. Forget Robin Weigert’s gritty portrayal on HBO’s Deadwood. The real Calamity Jane was someone the likes of whom you’ve never encountered. That is, until now.

This book is a definitive biography of Martha Canary, the woman popularly known as Calamity Jane. Written by one of today’s foremost authorities on this notorious character, it is a meticulously researched account of how an alcoholic prostitute was transformed into a Wild West heroine.

Always on the move across the northern plains, Martha was more camp follower than the scout of legend. A mother of two, she often found employment as waitress, laundress, or dance hall girl and was more likely to be wearing a dress than buckskin. But she was hard to ignore when she’d had a few drinks, and she exploited the aura of fame that dime novels created around her, even selling her autobiography and photos to tourists.

Gun toting, swearing, hard drinking - Calamity Jane was all of these, to be sure. But whatever her flaws or foibles, James D. McLaird paints a compelling portrait of an unconventional woman who more than once turned the tables on those who sought to condemn or patronize her. His book is a long-awaited biography of Martha Canary and the last word on Calamity Jane.

The book is published by University of Oklahoma Press.

"The definitive biography of Martha Jane Canary." (L.A. Times)

©2005 University of Oklahoma Press (P)2019 Redwood Audiobooks

Long but interesting

VERY long book but it is interesting, Although the narrator is a bit wooden, the story moves along. It does jump between rumors, legends, and then finally the truth which is a bit unorthodox. Incredible details of Martha's life that is still quite a well-lived life even after taking out the hype.

Don’t waste your Credit on this!

Narrator is awful…he seems to just drone on, repeating possible rumors & “but this can’t be verified” every few minutes. This contains a number of women possibly named “Martha” are included, especially any woman who swears or drinks or both. (But, this can’t be verified) “It may be possible that Calamity”…this seems to compile all the “legends” but none of the facts one might expect from a “Biography”. “Martha may have tried to nurse Daniel Boone, but he died” WHAT? I am returning this to the junk pile…it’s not even good for putting you to sleep. I don’t want to hear “It may be possible that Martha…..” ever again!