Fearless: A Novel of Sarah Bowman (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "What appeared to be stacks of driftwood on the horizon turned into something like houses when Sarah and her little caravan got close enough to..." (more)
Key Phrases: mesquite limbs, artillery carriages, horse pickets, General Taylor, George Lincoln, Rio Grande (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When you're an imposing flame-haired beauty, standing six feet or better with a heart as big as Texas and a Tennessee wit to match, your life will be filled with adventure. At least if you're Sarah Bowman, the larger-than-life heroine of this dashing western romance from popular novelist Robson (Mary's Land). Basing her protagonist on the historical figure who was dubbed the Great Western by her beloved army boys in the 1840s, Robson creates a lively narrative as Sarah loves and loses men, makes and loses fortunes, saves and succors friends, foils terrorists, all the while mothering (and laundering and cooking for) Zachary Taylor's troops during the Mexican war. Robson's period details are vivid: one can almost feel the hot brass of the cannon and the hunger of the poor Mexicans and smell the Army mules and their drivers. Sarah herself has no mean gift for daily conversation and lyrical expression. With its tough-and-tender Amazon lifted from the history books, this tall tale towers in appeal and skill over most western historicals.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-Awaiting the arrival of her husband who is aboard the ship Dayton, Sarah Borginnis signs on as laundress with the American Army led by Zachary Taylor. Instead of greeting him, however, she watches as his ship blows up. Dealing with her grief, she begins to renew her inner strength through what she does best, helping others. Her kindness becomes as integral a part of her legend as does her height of six feet and her Amazonian fighting ability. She survives battles with the Mexicans, both as a substitute gunner and on personal fronts. The American Army marches onward, and Sarah follows as it pursues the Mexican Army further west. Enter Albert Bowman, the man Sarah will live with for most of the rest of her life. Robson re-creates the wild, unruly desert of Mexico, conjuring up the dramatic forces of dust, wind, and climate. Danger always lurks, especially in the constant threat of the renegade Mexican, Aguila, who is out to kill Sarah and her friend Cruz. Hardly does one episode end before the next one begins. Vivid accounts of battle scenes do much to reduce the glory of war to its true gore. A memorable story of survival, love, and perseverance.
Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st Printing edition (September 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345397703
• ISBN-13: 978-0345397706
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #731,686 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sarah Bowman is fearless hero!, March 13, 2002

By	Busy Mom (Ohio) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Amazon Verified Purchase

If you think your life is hard, just wait till you read this book by Lucia St. Clair Robson ~~ it is so vividly written that I can't believe I didn't rush to the store to buy it after finishing Ride the Wind!!

Sarah Bowman is not your typical heroine nor is she your stereotypical woman. She is fearless ~~ takes no mess from any man nor woman. She rides with the army boys deep into Mexico to fight in the Mexican war. After her husband was killed, she stayed with the army knowing no other life. She started out as a laundress as she had done in the Florida Seminole wars. However, as a favor to an old friend, she started to be the officers' cook and laundress ~~ and was well rewarded with her efforts.

Through lovers, death and victory, Sarah remains with her intergrity as a human being intact. She defends the helpless every chance she can get. She has a bawdy sense of humor ~~ the officers' wives can't help but look at her with disdain. She shows a gentle side of her when needed ~~ she is a remarkable woman in every sense of the word!!

This is a brillantly written book. You won't be disappointed there with Robeson's writing. She writes so vividly that you think you better get a drink of water before the scorching Texas sun kills you. She also writes of a different Texas than the one that the Comanches ruled. It is just a fine story ~~ and it's a quick read. You can't help but be drawn into the story. And you can't help but admire Sarah and wish she was still around. But Texas and Mexico has claimed her as theirs.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly good writing, especially interesting woman, December 25, 2001

By	A reader in Texas - See all my reviews

I average reading about 30 history or biographies a year and about the same number of historical novels. I am a reasonably serious student in the field. I also write a good deal in my profession, so I also pay attention to the quality of an author's writing. I cannot recall when I have been so thoroughly impressed with all aspects (historical research, really interesting person/subject, and pure beauty in the writing itself) of an author's work.

This is a great historical novel. The author not only tells the story of her subject, Sarah Bowman, she also tells about the mountainous problems overcome by Zachary Taylor's army in the war against Mexico (1848). At this time it was still common for some women to follow an army and serve as cooks, washer women, wives, or prostitutes. Sarah Bowman liked soldiers and was happy to cook, wash, and at times marry-up with them, but she was entirely her own woman and woe to the man who misunderstood that! For instance, she stands down a group of Mexican bandits with the warning that "The Irish say there are three things no man can rule: a mule, a pig, and a woman." The bandits wisely understand, and so will any reader lucky enough to pick up this book.

By the way, it is a book about a strong woman, and certainly a book any woman will enjoy, but it is most definitely not a "woman's book" in the sense of a book a man would not enjoy. The only caveat I would give for this book is that the women in it do at times sleep with men. That is not done in the sort of specific detail which seems to be required for publication these days, but I would not want a daughter to read it until she is mature enough to at least know that adults do not always restrict their sexual conduct to marriage. The book is actually pretty reserved in its descriptions of sexual conduct, much more than most mass market novels today. I just mention this in case someone thinks a book about a strong woman would be good reading for a young lady. It is, just know that there is some discussion of sex in it.

If you like honest stories about interesting people, do yourself a great favor and read this novel. Once you do you will find yourself ordering Robson's other books.

One final tip: be sure and read her dedication of this book. That alone will tell you why you want, need, to read something written by her.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a glimpse into the life of another strong frontier woman, March 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fearless: A Novel of Sarah Bowman (Hardcover)

Lucia St Clair Robson portrays the lives of strong, frontier woman in well researched historical settings. Once again, she has plucked another figure from our American west whose life is often overlooked but whose story is fascinating.Sarah Bowman followed the troops through Texas and Mexico during the Mexican-American War with a wide variety of characters floating in and out of her life combined with the well written day to day routines of military life was great reading. Her story may be familiar to Texans but it was new to this 'northerner'. The descriptions of the countryside, the weather and the hardships of living and traveling through south Texas and northern Mexico were so vivid, it left you dry and thirsty and glad for the comforts of modern travel. I only wish the author had not stopped the story so soon, Sarah Bowman lived another 15 or so years and I would have enoyed following her adventures.Camp followers are usuallygiven only sparse words of coverage in our history books...and never given much credit for the critical support they provided for our troops.Read the story of Sarah Bowman and you will gain a new appreciation this overlooked group and meet a wonderful character from our past.