Idaho Librarian

Reviews

Susan Cummins Miller grew up in the West and has explored the West as a geologist, paleontologist and anthropologist. Now, a historian and full-time writer, Miller looks to women writers of the West for inspiration. Through her exploration, she uncovered a time period, 1800-1922, where “women’s voices fell without a sound”. Miller has compiled a well-researched anthology of the written record of women writers that gives us a women’s perspective of life during the settlement years of the American frontier. 

Arranged chronologically, this carefully selected collection of women’s writings includes compositions originally published during the settlement years.  Works by these 34 authors include essays, short stories, poetry, journals, novels, children’s literature, as well as published letters and diaries. Often overlooked women’s voices of Native American, Chinese, and Hispanic ethnicity are included in this anthology.  Selections are representative of each author’s work best depicting the frontier era, although Miller recognizes that this anthology contains work from educated women; most were professional writers and “represent only a small percentage of the women of the frontier.”

Readers of this compilation will enjoy a detailed historical, perceptive, brief introduction, preceding each author’s chosen work. Through these mini-biographies, readers are given a chance to connect with the author’s thinking, understand where the writing came from, and discover the role women played in settling the West. The introductions add much more depth to the reading of each author’s works and place the chosen work in context with the time period, lending more significance to each piece.  For further connection to the readings and authors, photographs of each author would have been a wonderful addition to the collection. At just over four hundred pages, this thoughtfully arranged collection may be read one or two authors at a time yet derive great enjoyment and meaning.

Miller’s scientific background lends valuable insight and interpretations, thus contrasting with similar compilations. This anthology is a valuable contribution to women’s literature, pioneer and frontier literature, Native American literature, and literary collections of the American West. Recommended for special collections of academic libraries and general collections of academic and large public libraries. Includes bibliographical references with further reading suggestions, an extensive general resources listing with similar anthologies, and an index.

Look for new mystery title by Susan Cummins Miller:  Death Assemblage, due 3/02.