1000 WHITE WOMEN

I am a steady book reader but only on occasion do I get a book I want to pass on. Generally, I enjoy most of what I read but sometimes, I am struck by a really fascinating book. The only other ones I ranted about on my blog were "The Host" and "The Hiding Place." There have been many memorable books I have read but they occurred before I met you so you were spared the details. Below is just a few that have moved me in the past.

Pillars of the Earth-- by Ken Follett-- One of those very long books that you are just so sad to have end. It is 983 pages about a church builder in 12th century England. Sounds like it wouldn't hold you interest for one chapter but it grabs hold and won't let go.

The Last Whales-- by Lloyd Abbey--A difficult read as there is absolutely no dialogue. It sometimes dragged but the story, through the eyes of a whale as the man destroys this world, haunts me today.

Watership Down-- by Richard Adams-- A heroic fantasy novel about a small group of rabbits. For a while, between the covers of that book, you are a rabbit.

All Over But The Shoutin-- by Rick Bragg--A story about his working class (though he refers to them as White Trash) family. This Pulitzer Prize winner is a wonderful writer. He could write cookie recipes and I would rave. He puts words together in a way that startles yet pleases greatly. This man can turn a phrase. Thanks Carol.

But today I am talking about 1000 White Women by Jim Fergus which was recommended by my sister Charlene who rarely steers me wrong on a book. She is not an avid reader like I am, but a selective reader. When Charlene speaks, I listen.



In reality, in 1875, one of the chiefs of a Cheyenne tribe, Little Wolf comes to Washington and suggests to President Grant that peace between the Whites and Cheyenne could be established if the Cheyenne were given 1000 white women as wives. The tribe would agree to raise the children from such unions as a way to integrate the two cultures.


Grant refused the notion but author Jim Fergus takes us on the fictional journey of what might have happened had Grant actually agreed to the strange proposition. Thus his novel of the journals of May Dodd. The book is so well written that it is hard to believe it is not an actual journey through a part of history.

May Dodd is a very young, well to do woman who broke with her parents to live in sin with a man they greatly disapproved of. After her second child, they had her committed to an insane asylum for her actions, though she was not insane.



She learns of the program to send 1000 women volunteers out West to be brides of the Indians. In exchange, after two years spent as a bride and producing a child of the "savages", she will be free to go where she pleases, free of the asylum. May is willing to do anything to get out of the horrors of the insane asylum and signs up.

May keeps a journal about the adjustments she and the first group of women must undergo to live with the so called "savages". If you liked Dances With Wolves, you should like this book also. As with DWW, you will at times be ashamed to be white and if you have some Indian blood like some of my blog buddies, you will find reason to smile but to also be very angry. She sometimes aggravated me, sometimes horrified me, sometimes tickled me but always interested me.

May has a sense of humor and you will enjoy her portrayal of her fellow "brides" and their Indian husbands. The book received mostly raves but also some complete thumbs down. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground. As it is written in journal form, it is an easy, fast paced read.

I feel a loss for a way of life of the American Indian that WE decided was not suitable and through force, altered it beyond recognition. Sadly, we found no way for the two very different cultures to co-exist without severely damaging one. They had what we wanted and we took it-- the land.

Man is always convinced his way is the "only" way and the guy with the most weapons and most force wins. You would think we would have thought of a better way by now. It made me wonder just who was the "savage."

If you have read it , let me know what you thought, and if not I hope you consider giving it a shot. I don't think you will be disappointed.


Thanks Charlene.