Calamity Jane

Children's Literature

There are few women that fit the mold of Wild West characters, but one of the best known is Calamity Jane. Little is known about the woman and her penchant for embellishing her life history makes it even more difficult to find accurate information on that life. What is known for certain is that Calamity Jane led an adventurous life in a time when women were expected to stay home and raise a family. The author presents Calamity Jane with all of her faults as well as in her glory, detailing her addiction to alcohol and her inability to establish a stable life for herself. Black-and-white illustrations of her era and area where Calamity Jane lived appear throughout, as well as images of other Wild West personalities that Calamity Jane met. Brief asides appear throughout the text and provide information about the places that Calamity Jane visited and the famous people with whom she interacted. The author mentions several times throughout the text that Calamity Jane—and others—greatly embellished her life story, but the legend of Calamity Jane is a fascinating look at the settlement of the western United States and one of the few women who earned a place beside the famous men of the "Wild West." This title is part of the "Legends of the West" series. 2006, Creative Education, Ages 9 to 12.
—Danielle Williams