O Rugged Land of Gold

by Martha Martin

In O Rugged Land of Gold share the triumph of a woman -- alone, injured, pregnant -- on a remote Alaskan island in winter.

 

"I was furious.  If I had a gun, I'd have shot them dead.  Those lazy, stupid men kept right on going and left me alone.  Not once had they looked in my direction, and me needing help so bad.  I was so mad at them that I cussed.  I screamed cusses at them until I was hoarse.  I said all the bad words I had ever heard in all my life, and I invented some new ones, too.  I wished the tow-line would break and they would lose every last log; wished their old logs would go to China.  I stood up and shook my fist at the disappearing boat.

   When it had gone from sight, I dropped down and cried.  I shed tears of helpless rage and of utter defeat."

...

 

"An old bear came and sniffed me.  He really did.  It was in the first gray of dawn.  I had dozed, and the sound of him coming roused me.  I kept perfectly still, hardly breathing, and straining my ears and eyes to learn what and where the sound was.  Then I smelled him and knew for certain it was a bear.  All the primitive instincts of fear within me were aroused.  My heart pounded in my throat, and I could feel my flesh creep.  I drew myself up and made myself little and tight.  I kept still as death."

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Survival, Biography, Memoir, Adventure, Womens Studies

226 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It's out of print, but you may be able to find it online, and I think it would be worth it. It was an excellent read.
This book is an odd mix of fiction and memoir. It was written by Heather Bolyan sometime around the 1940s and is set in the early 1920s in Alaska. It's written as a journal by Martha Martin, who is Bolyan's roman a clef. It's unclear how much of the events really happened to Bolyan and how much is fictionalized.
The story is gripping and inspiring. Martin is stranded on a remote Alaskan island, six months pregnant and with winter fast approaching. Oh yeah, and she's badly injured in a mudslide. Her resourcefulness and courage is amazing. I loved the pacing of this novel, from gripping scenes of bear encounters and raging storms to well-timed flashbacks of prospecting with her husband and son. She also takes time to appreciate God's goodness and to delight over the wildlife and natural beauty around her. Her voice is so real and likable. Uncertain enough to be human, while strong enough to be heroic. And as she awaits the birth of her baby, and potential rescue, the end of the book is definitely a page turner.

[Sandra The Old Woman in a Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross Call of the Wild with Call the Midwife and you get O Rugged Land of Gold. Written in the mid 1950’s this memoir is the story of a pregnant woman stranded overwinter in a cabin on the Alaskan Seashore. I enjoyed every moment. I also learned a huge amount about early Alaska, how prospectors really lived, and so much more.

This book is billed as a memoir, and was apparently authored by a woman who did experience most of the events. When I read more about the book online I discovered some elements were created for the book at the request of editors. Whether truth or fiction it is a super survival story. It should be a movie. Reese needs to snatch up these film rights.

Apparently this book was made i to a movie, but it’s only available on DVD (https://www.amazon.com/Rugged-Gold-Ar... ). and I can only stream. Also, from the blurb it looks like they changed a lot from the book. Reese - I want you to film a do-over.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book over and over - a real adventure starring a woman! I first read it in my early teens but have gone back to it because of her quiet strength and courage. It is a bit folksy, a bit religious and just flat out engrossing. While classified as fiction, it is based in fact; written in the 1940s and set in the 1920s. A pregnant woman is standed alone in Alaska for the winter. If you can find a copy, it is worth the read!

[Geneva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable what someone can live through - that is one tough lady

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this while I read it- as it’s written like a journal I assumed it was a true story and was amazed! But then I found out that it is fiction and just based loosely on some of the author’s experiences and I was pretty disappointed.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful story! Based on the true experiences of a woman stranded alone in the Alaskan bush, pregnant and wounded. Martha Martin may have fictionalized this story somewhat, but it reads like a journal of her experiences. What a strong woman she was! It was fortunate for her that she had the two cabins and a boat full of supplies to help, but even then it took every ounce of her courage and ingenuity to see her through an Alaskan winter. She must tend her wounds, keep her fire going, prepare for the birth of her baby, and all alone, alone. It is engrossing reading. I found myself coming back to this book every time I had a moment to read, despite having 6 other books in various stages of being read. This is an old book - written in 1952 and is out of print, but I found it through inter-library loan. Good thing, because it costs a bundle on Amazon.

My interest was originally piqued by watching the movie Rugged Gold. But after reading the book, I am disappointed in the portrayal by the movie (when are we not?) because it skews what really happened almost out of recognition, as though the actual story itself is not exciting enough. But it did make me want to read the book, so there's that. And the book did not disappoint.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to stop feeling guilty about giving something a 3-star review. Three stars mean I liked it, even if I didn't love it. I found O Rugged Land of Gold to be an interesting story, which is probably why I bought it at some point in time. The book is about a woman stranded in the harsh Alaskan winter, which lasts much longer than what I'm used to and likely brutal in terms of snow, wind and darkness.

Based on a true story this book and written in the 1940’s while taking place in the 1920’s. It's written in journal format, which I enjoyed, but I wish there were added dates included to give a better sense of the passage of time.

This is a story of survival and determination. Martha stayed focused on reuniting with her husband and son, as well as the child she is carrying. That's what keeps her going.

I think adding maps and illustrations would have made the story even more captivation. It would have been nice to visualize where she was and the conditions she endured.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fascinating and awe-inspiring true account of a woman trapped alone in the Alaska wilderness by winter, injured by a landslide, and six-months pregnant. She wrote the book based on the diary she kept while she was all alone.

The most remarkable thing about the story is the drive for survival she exhibited, plus her ingenuity in devising tools and comforts out of the limited materials available. However, she ends the story abruptly with her rescue. We've become quite familiar with her absent family throughout the book, but she gives us no details of her re-entry into her family, and that's the main reason I give this story only three stars.

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband's Mother read this book every year, and I've tried to do the same. It's a fascinating, true and scary story of a pregnant woman's survival in the wilds of Alaska. Her husband is away, and their very isolated. She is a truly strong woman, and a pioneer, trying to make do until her husband returns. There is a movie that is based on the book, its called, "Rugged Gold". The woman is played by the actress Jill Eikenberry (2010) and on sale at Amazon for $5.99. The movie is good, but you have to read the book. It was written in 1953.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 minutes later:
The last of the books in my grandmothers collection. A not quite true story that still drew me in and made me care about and gave me a sense of empathy to the (orriginal) author in her trials and drive to survive being stranded in an alaskan winter.

It was short enough that it certainly didnt overstay its welcome and I really enjoyed it.

That said ill be more than happy to not read another story in or around the klondike gold rush for a good long time.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended and given to me by a friend, it took me a while to get to, but once I did I found it gripping from the beginning. Martha Martin is the pen name of Helen Boylan, who actually lived many of the adventures described in the book, which take place in SE Alaska in the late 1920’s or 1930’s. Follow along as Martha unexpectedly needs to figure out how to manage on her own in the Alaskan wilderness!

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a woman who lives in Alaska with her husband and son while they mine for gold. Her son goes off to school, and her husband gets in a boat wreck leaving her all alone in the winter, isolated, and pregnant. She manages to get hurt in a landslide, almost starves to death, and has to have the baby on her own. Very good read.

[Kristin Meyerback · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible story about a pregnant woman surviving alone in remote Alaska during the winter. This is not a book that I would normally pick to read, but my uncle gave it to me and I’m so glad he did! It was fascinating! I want to re-read it and look up the vocabulary that I didn’t know. I learned a great deal from this book!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner - trip into a wilderness life gone by for most.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unique tale of a woman's grit and ingenuity surviving injury alone in Alaska. Told as a journal she wrote to keep herself company, and based loosely, it seems, on the author's experiences.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her resourcefulness is impressive. Her attitude and fortitude is inspiring. I loved looking into this world.

[Mary Nesfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story!

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An adventure of a pregnant woman alone in the Alaskan wilderness. It's written in a folksy voice. I enjoyed it under the pretense of non fiction, but then learned it's fiction, which made it less enjoyable.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as an 'of the place' book for forthcoming trip. Great fiction/partial memoir of a woman using her own resources. Interesting read from a modern feminist perspective. Intermixing of memories with what she is currently surviving. Enjoyable.

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really disappointed to learn that this book was a work of fiction. The way that it was set up, it was easy to believe that it was a true story. Even so, it was a wonderfully entertaining read.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

fictional diary of a woman stranded in Alaska during the gold rush

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book about the endurance of the human spirit. It is the diary of a woman who is injured, pregnant and alone in Alaska.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of perserverance and thanksgiving. I enjoyed it for sure.

[Win · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Alaskan adventure story. Both Eddie and I loved it.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unbelievable story of survival

[Denna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was fascinating, mostly because it is true. What an incredible experience, and then to survive it!

[Lebohang Lebtopz]

So much strength in a women,remarkable

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The question is: fiction or non-fiction?

[Kirstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the portrayal of old Alaska and the resourcefulness of Martha.