Calamity Jane

<p>Forget Doris Day singing on the stagecoach. Forget Robin Weigert's gritty portrayal on HBO's <em>Deadwood</em>. The real Calamity Jane was someone the likes of whom you've never encountered. That is until now.</p><p> This book is a definitive biography of Martha Canary the woman popularly known as Calamity Jane. Written by one of today's foremost authorities on this notorious character it is a meticulously researched account of how an alcoholic prostitute was transformed into a Wild West heroine.</p><p> Always on the move across the northern plains Martha was more camp follower than the scout of legend. A mother of two she often found employment as waitress laundress or dance hall girl and was more likely to be wearing a dress than buckskin. But she was hard to ignore when she'd had a few drinks and she exploited the aura of fame that dime novels created around her even selling her autobiography and photos to tourists.</p><p> Gun toting swearing hard drinking-Calamity Jane was all of these to be sure. But whatever her flaws or foibles James D. McLaird paints a compelling portrait of an unconventional woman who more than once turned the tables on those who sought to condemn or patronize her. He also includes dozens of photos-many never before seen-depicting Jane in her many guises. His book is a long-awaited biography of Martha Canary and the last word on Calamity Jane.</p>