Customer Reviews

An Ordinary Woman: A Dramatized Biography of Nancy Kelsey

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In 1841 Ben Kelsey, his teenage wife Nancy, and their infant leave Missouri for California. Instead of heading southwest down the Santa Fe trail, the Kelsey trio takes the shortest route, a straight line through the Plains, the Rockies, the Great Western Desert, and the Sierra Nevada range. This path happens to be the most dangerous between the threat of Indians and hostile climate.

However, Nancy's arrival frightens the Spanish Dons who control much of California. They realize a woman with a baby crossed the desert and mountainous barrier that previosuly isolated them from the Americans and their Manifest Destiny propaganda. Over the next few years more Americans arrive until a rebellion breaks out with the Anglo newcomers rallying around the Bear Flag (made from Nancy's petticoats). California is about to start a new destiny led by intrepid settlers like Nancy.

AN ORDINARY WOMAN is an extraordinary historical fictionalized biography that is must reading by fans of the sub-genre. Internationally renowned for her historical novels, Cecilia Holland scribes what will be acknowledged as one of her best works in what is clearly an incredible career. Using real accounts including the heroine's own letters, Ms. Holland paints a picture of an era in flux. Though the obvious worship of the real Nancy by the author becomes a bit overbearing, all the characters seem genuine as their motives and lifestyles bring depth to the tale. This fabulous recounting of a period in American History will provide much acclaim to Ms. Holland.

Harriet Klausner

The first two-thirds of this book tells of the overland journey of a young woman, Nancy Kelsey, and a group of pioneers who leave Missouri heading for California. Their journey is exciting and full of danger and hardship. It is the story of a specific group of people, and their story is unique in many ways. But, in other ways, it is a familiar story that we have come to know from books and movies over the years. What I found most interesting about this book, is the final one-third of the story. After arriving in California, rather than finding themselves in a land of paradise, Nancy and her family instead find themselves caught up in an extremely turbulent time in California history. Anyone familiar with California history will recognize the names of the extraordinary men this "ordinary woman" comes across: Vallejo, Barryessa, Sutter, Fremont and Bidwell, to name a few. Many of these men come across as a little less stellar than what is written about them in the school books. And the violent actions of Nancy's husband, his brother and several of the other settlers were disturbing to read about. A very interesting, very informative, and very well-written story.

This book is about my great grandmother
so it is endearing to me. Family history
published in a real book.
Nothing like it.

A fabulous retelling of pioneer history without the unnecessary dramatization. Story created from actual journals written by the pioneers. Shows what real pioneer women were made of. Can't recommend it enough.