Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1433263 in Books
• Published on: 1990-01-01
• Binding: Hardcover
• 351 pages

Customer Reviews

Saddle Up With Calamity Jane Once More ...It's A Wonderful Ride
I found "Buffalo Girls" to be a most enjoyable read. Although it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, I loved the characters and hated to leave them when the book was finished. I liked it enough though, that somewhere down the line, I will read to it again.

This novel interweaves famous historical figures, places and events with stories of great friendships and life at a time when the Wild West was becoming a bit more civilized. Calamity Jane, more subdued in her mid-life years, writes letters to her daughter Jane about her colorful life, pals and travels. Her friend Dora DuFran runs a brothel, but always has a room ready and waiting for her beloved Calamity. Their friendship is long and true. They consider themselves, probably the last of the "Buffalo Girls". Calamity also reminisces of her love for Wild Bill(dead for sometime now), adventures with traveling buddies, Jim Ragg (who's love for hunting beaver is his main focus on life), Bartle Bone and "No Ears" an old Indian with great foresight. Now all in their older years(and Calamity on a long drinking binge), they join up with Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley and Sitting Bull, and head to England on a great ship to perform in Cody's Wild West Show, the last great adventure of their lives.

I have always enjoyed stories of the Wild West and the legends that lived it. Calamity has been one of my favorites, and there have been so many different interpertations of this woman who defied the expectations of womanhood in the 19th century. Most recently I have come to love the Calamity on "Deadwood", and have a feeling, that that Jane comes closest to the real deal. If you have seen it , you know she is not exactly glorified.That is the "Martha Jane" I pictured here in this read.

I was expecting a little more of an adventurous storline. But I have to say, considering the fact the this Jane is older, maybe a litttle tired, and more reflective of life, author Larry McMurtry's take was an excellent one on that time of her life. And the storyline as well was one more of the love between these friends, and the strong bonds developed over the years.There are also some great touches of humor sure to bring a smile. The ending is totally unexpected, but this is afterall a novel, and you wouldn't want it to be totally predictable.

There is also a marvelous audio edition of this book read by Betty Buckley:Buffalo Girls.

So I would say if you are looking for an action-adventure packed type of Western, you should probably pass this one by. But if you love tales of these legendary, bigger then life figures, and want a new take on them, this book is perfect.

Saddle Up with Calamity Jane once more, Happy Trails, and enjoy the read....Laurie

sad and lovely
One of my favourite books, and my favourite LM novel. No matter how often I revisit it, it always gets a tear.