The wife of notorious William Henry Handy Plumer--the Bannack sheriff hanged by Vigilantes, Electa Bryan Plumer has much to offer readers. This incredibly detailed and fast-moving historical novel presents a portion of Electa's life just prior to meeting Plumer, her courtship with Plumer, and the short period of time she was Plumer's wife. This is a love story from a woman's perspective, set in the early 1860s Gold Rush West, and deeply entrenched in Idaho Territory (Montana) history and lore. The events of the Civil War and the "settling" of the frontier West are just two of the fascinating historical threads working their way through Electa's incredible personal saga of exploration, adventure, love, and loss.
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Editorial Reviews
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"This novel brings us to the heart of one of the most intriguing mysteries of the Western frontier--the guilt or innocence of an early lawman hanged by Montana vigilantes. This compelling story from America's past is beautifully written. The author's meticulous research has unearthed colorful details which re-create daily life during the gold-rush era. A delightful, rewarding read!"
--Western historian R. E. Mather
--Western historian R. E. Mather
"By providing her schoolteacher protagonist with a portable writing desk, the poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the novels of George Eliot, and the notion that 'the observations of a woman' traveling west along the Missouri should be
'no less interesting than those of Clark and Lewis,' novelist Diane Elliott has made Electa Bryan a credible narrator whose decision 'to record the whole of it' affords readers a new perspective on one of the most famous--or infamous--incidents in Montana history. Rich in the details of everyday living--riverboat travel in the midst of the Civil War, women's work on the Sun River government farm, married life in Bannock's Yankee Flats--and sprinkled with the comings and goings of such familiar figures as Granville Stuart, Johnny Grant, and Sidney Edgerton, Strength of Stone invites a willing suspension of disbelief and serves as a strong reminder that life, love--and even history--are all a matter of perspective."
¿Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, Women in Waiting in the Westward Movement
'no less interesting than those of Clark and Lewis,' novelist Diane Elliott has made Electa Bryan a credible narrator whose decision 'to record the whole of it' affords readers a new perspective on one of the most famous--or infamous--incidents in Montana history. Rich in the details of everyday living--riverboat travel in the midst of the Civil War, women's work on the Sun River government farm, married life in Bannock's Yankee Flats--and sprinkled with the comings and goings of such familiar figures as Granville Stuart, Johnny Grant, and Sidney Edgerton, Strength of Stone invites a willing suspension of disbelief and serves as a strong reminder that life, love--and even history--are all a matter of perspective."
¿Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, Women in Waiting in the Westward Movement
From the Back Cover
As the Civil War rages on, the gold fields and open valleys of the frontier Rocky Mountains fill with treasure seekers, fugitives, and missionaries. Twenty-year-old schoolteacher and adventurer Electa Bryan finds her way to the Sun River Government Farm to "civilize" the Blackfeet and help her married sister with family life. She also finds herself becoming entangled with the notorious Bannack, Montana, sheriff William Henry Handy Plumer, whose true character and how he meets his fate are but two of the mysteries unraveled in this beautifully imagined, meticulously researched historical novel.
Based on real-life Montana characters, Strength of Stone is a love story told through journal entries and letters that bring vividly to life Electa's experience of adventure, love, and loss.
Based on real-life Montana characters, Strength of Stone is a love story told through journal entries and letters that bring vividly to life Electa's experience of adventure, love, and loss.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant take on an extraordinary time in Western history,
By
This review is from: Strength of Stone: The Pioneer Journal of Electa Bryan Plumer, 1862-1864 (Paperback)
Diane Elliott has so completely captured the experience of settling Montana in the 1860s as seen through the eyes of Electa that it is hard to believe this is fiction, and not a true diary. She reminds us of the incredible hardships families endured, the fear and deprivations experienced by these pioneers, and the everyday threat of violence under which they lived. All this is twined around the short and intense romance and marriage of Henry and Electa. The book leave you wanting more of Electa, and lets you draw your own conclusions about the mysterious and complex Plumer--misunderstood hero, notorious road agent, brilliant sociopath, or something of each. I couldn't put this down until I finished it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put it down,
By alwayseaton "alwayseaton" (Agoura,, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Strength of Stone: The Pioneer Journal of Electa Bryan Plumer, 1862-1864 (Paperback)
Loved it!!! Diane Elliott brings her characters and settings vividly to life without belaboring descriptions. The book moves at a delightful pace and you will think about these characters long after your reading is complete. If you are a lover of historical fiction you'll really enjoy how well so many aspects and details of the period are captured. The characters are individuals that really lived much of this experience. In the Afterword the author provides many of her sources which would make excellent follow up reading. Also included are photos pertinent to the period. The book really takes you back in time to 150 years ago. The contrast between present day and the life experience and social expectations of such a short time ago in our history will not be lost on you. Highly recommend!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Strength of Stone,
By Darrell Christoffers (KALISPELL, MT, US) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Strength of Stone: The Pioneer Journal of Electa Bryan Plumer, 1862-1864 (Paperback)
This is an excellent "historical novel" about Electa Bryan with much insight by Elliot. Living in Montana, I have walked the streets of Bannack and been to the Sun River crossing (where Electa first lived in Washinging territory, later Montana territory), and its certainly is interesting to know what took place there and what people were thinking in those days. I highly recommend this book to any Montana history buff.
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