A Frontier Lady: Recollections of the Gold Rush and Early California [Paperback]

Sarah Royce (Author), Ralph Henry Gabriel (Editor), Katharine Royce (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1977

Since it was first published in 1932, A Frontier Lady has held a high and special place in the literature of Americas westward migration. Written in the 1880s at the request of her son, the philosopher and educator Josiah Royce, Sarah Royce's narrative of the family odyssey across the continent and of their early years in California is also the portrait of a remarkable woman. In the words of her daughter-in-law, "Wherever she was, she made civilization, even when it seemed that she had little indeed from which to make it."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A graphic and moving picture of the gold rush to California."—New York Times

(New York Times )

"Accounts have been written of many early journeys across the plains by those who accomplished them and California is rich in personal literature of the gold rush. Few of those memoirs have the drama and classic quality of that written from her ''pilgrimage diary'' by Sarah Royce. Characteristic events seem to have lain deep in her memory there to be transformed by something more than personal emotion into generic portraiture. . . . The remembrances maintain a bold and natural outline to the end, with the unconscious achievement of style."—New Republic

(New Republic )

"Has the double interest of an adventure story and of history."—New York Evening Post

(New York Evening Post )

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Bison Books (March 1, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803258569
• ISBN-13: 978-0803258563
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #402,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Woman of Faith, April 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Frontier Lady: Recollections of the Gold Rush and Early California (Paperback)

I selected this book from a list given in my college English class. The list of books were all nonfiction so I knew it would be a book based on fact. I knew nothing more. As I read, I could not put this book down. The story takes place beginning in Iowa the year 1849. "Gold fever" was born. The Royce family was on the move from their home to the great golden state of California. Sarah has more passion, faith, and drive than I've ever seen in a book. She is an example indeed of strength and inner peace throughout many challenges in a small amount of time. I was so grateful to see this book is still in print! It was first published in 1932 never meant to be a book at all. It was Sarah's gift to her son. She wrote about her journey using her journal she kept as they traveled. I will buy this book not only for my children, but for gifts as well. By the way, Sarah and her family end up living here, in the Sierra Foothills, and that is where I live! I've never read a story about the Gold Rush or the 49er's. I always thought it would be too depressing. There are sad times in this book, but as you read you can't help but believe with Sarah that they will beat all the odds.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True story of Sarah and family going to California in 1849., May 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Frontier Lady: Recollections of the Gold Rush and Early California (Paperback)

Sarah with husband and daughter, Mary, move to California in 1849. Trusting the God of the Bible, the Royces experience life (and almost death) on the trail to California. Second to the last party to complete the trip into northern California before winter, they eventually settle in Grass Valley. Her son, Josiah Royce, becomes the famous Harvard historian and philospher with new ideas (Royce Hall of UCLA), but his mother, Sarah, retains her faith in the God of the Bible. First hand look at San Francisco and northern California in the 1850's. Sarah is my great-great grandmother and Mary, the little girl in the story, is my great-grandmother. Easy reading and great book to take on a plane. We buy and give these books to many guests at our company ...they are very popular.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Social History, an enjoyable read, August 1, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Pipestone, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Frontier Lady: Recollections of the Gold Rush and Early California (Paperback)

This little gem of a book should be on the shelves at every library. Aside from the likable Sarah, the wonderful social history is very absorbing for those interested in women's lives during the 1850's. Even if you are not particularly interested in the Gold Rush, you will be interested in the experiences of one of our formothers. Buy this as a gift for your daughters.

Joy Melcher, Civil War Lady Magazine