A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains (Volume 14) (The Western Frontier Library Series)

It is 1873. A 41 year old woman has enjoyed six months in Hawaii's summerland. On her way home to England, she decides to take in Colorado's celebrated mountain scenery. This being her habit, every night she writes the story of her day's adventures in a letter to her sister. "A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains" brings together these vivid, often touching, and almost always exciting letters of high adventure from way high----between 6,000 and 14,000 feet---in the Rockies.Isabella Lucy Bird could hardly have chosen a worse time for a visit. First, she arrived in September, staying only three months in Colorado's bitterly cold, deeply snowy weather. Second, the banks were in a financial crisis and she could not cash a letter of credit; at one time, she was down to less than 50 cents which had to last her mote than three weeks. Her and her horse, Birdie, that is. Third, at the time travelers had to rely on the kindness of strangers, dropping in unannounced to houses perhaps 10 to 20 miles apart on the rough trails, often inhabited in winter by a few men paid to look after the cattle. Now-and-then, a settler's house could be found, though the desperately hard-scrabble life made for less-than-warmest welcomes.To the lonely men who were unfailingly chivalrous, Isabella may have looked mighty appealing. At any rate, Isabella knew how to make herself welcomed. She could cook, clean, sing, join prayers, and was particularly sought as a cowhand able to ride hard, fast, and wrangle cattle. Like a Shaharizade, she had hundreds of stories to tell of her travels & exploits. Even better, she was a sympathetic listener, including listening to the life story of one desperado, Mountain Jim, he of the buff physique, gentlemanly manners, literary aspirations, and long golden curls.She tells us with zest of her exploits (a favorite word) riding miles alone at night wolves howling around her, of falling into icy rivers when her exhausted horse stumbles, of purple mountains' majesty, and of people living hard lives indeed. She does not stint on adjectives:"Every tree was silvered and the fir-tufts of needles looked like white chrysanthemums. The snow lay a foot deep in the gulches...Ice bridges had formed across streams and I crossed them without knowing when. Gulches looked fathomless abysses, with clouds boiling out of them, and shaggy mountain summits, half seen for a moment through the eddies, as quickly vanished. Everything looked vast and indefinite..."In the end, again on her way, she writes of her last view of Colorado:"...I saw 'Mountain Jim," his golden hair yellow in the sunshine slowly leading the beautiful mare over the snowy plains to Estes Park, equipped with the saddle on which I had ridden 800 miles."This is a fine read for the armchair traveler, the time traveler, the admirer of intrepid women, those intrigued by pioneering days, and devotees of the practice of chutzpah. (As a reader alert, Isabella disparges Native Americans among other people, admiring what most closely resembles a fine English lady or gentleman---attitudes not unique to her or her time. Her outrage at the devastation of the land, however, is eloquent, consistent, and insightful.)"A Lady's Life" is a most excellent value new and even better used at one cent a copy. This well-presented edition comes with an introductory essay by historian Daniel Boostin, an outstanding map of Isabella's tour, and a usable index, etchings of glorious scenery and on the cover, a painting of the Glacier Point view with half-dome in Yosemite. This is probably the go-to edition. The book would be a fine gift to a friend about to visit Colorado or as a treat for oneself.Well-done, Isabella Lucy. Readers for over 150 years have been enjoying your tales of winter in the Rockies----me too! And I really liked the excellent features of this edition, particularly the essay and the map.

The book arrived in a timely fashion in excellent condition

I've now read Isabella Bird's writings in Hawaii, Japan and am almost through with the journey through Tibet. This one on the Rocky Mountains is fantastic; capturing a time gone by yet we can still enjoy the landscape and places she saw more than a century ago. The book on Hawaii was especially great as I grew up in Hawaii and knew exactly where she was traveling.

I have vacationed in Colorado one time, so the book was doubly interesting to me. I recommend it to anyone my age (Sr.) or younger who would like to read about the beauty of the land and the character of the people whom she met while traveling. The author had a keen eye for detail, and painted a beautiful, accurate picture of the Colorado of her time, especially Estes Park where I had stayed.

An excellent look into the 19th century in America.

I originally bought this book for a friend who moved out to California. Flash forward three years later and I picked it off my bookshelf, dusted it off, and started reading. For a woman travel solo through the Rocky Mountain wilderness in the late 1800s was so incredibly inspiring, and exciting to read about. Not only was it interesting in how she detailed her daily life, but I loved her descriptions of the pristine nature she was immersed in. Not to mention the people she encountered.The writing reminded me more of a sociological text, in that its more observational than intrinsic. The book is presented in letters to her sister.I highly recommend.

Not sure her story is entirely accurate. She may have been spinning some tales on the weather severity and her clothing to impress her sister. But, a very interesting account none the less. Very impressive woman and clearly not lacking in courage and fortitude.

I was very happy with this purchase. after a vacation to Colorado and seeing the Rocky Mountains I am in awe of Isabella Bird. Her story is very interesting and gives a great picture of how difficult it must have been in the west especially as a woman.

Incredibly inspiring story. How people coped with such experiences is beyond me! I could feel the cold and hunger and hardships described. Great book which makes you feel grateful for your home comforts!