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A Bride Goes West
A Bride Goes West is new and fresh because it is impregnated with a just sense of values about life. When Nannie Tiffany of West Virginia married Walt Alderson, who'd already been on the cattle trail for years, in 1882, they went to Montana to start a little ranch. There's plenty about ranching in this book but what is most valuable is about life, about people in this ranch country.
273 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1942
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
September 19, 2019
The GR blurb for this book comes from the back cover. Here is the second paragraph:
Among hundreds of books written by and about range men, there are hardly a dozen valid ones concerning women. I pick A Bride Goes West and Agnes Morley Cleaveland's No Life For A Lady as the two best books pertaining to ranch life by women with a woman's point of view dominating. ~~ J. Frank Dobie
So let me connect some dots for a minute. J. Frank Dobie wrote many books about The West, including The Mustangs, which I own and have read many years ago. I also have the Cleaveland book he mentioned and read that many years ago too. I think I should maybe re-visit these two titles Someday!
Then one more dot showed up on page six of the book. Nannie Alderson is describing how her father was killed in the First Battle of Manassas and was believed to be the first Southern officer to die in the Civil War. Nannie was born September 14, 1860 (oh, I just realized, another Virgo like me!) and her mother remarried before Nannie was four years old. Nannie was raised by her grandmother, visiting her mother's new home only in summertime.
That is when she played with her new stepbrother and two stepsisters, both older than she was. Her stepbrother ...Andrew Rowan, was to gain fame in the Spanish-American War by carrying the message to Garcia.
And here is the dot (I didn't forget): I've read the book about this! A Message to Garcia, here is my review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Well, as you can see, by this time Nannie and I were old friends and I loved every minute of the rest of her book. Helena Huntington Smith, who collected Nannie's stories here, left them in Alderson's own words, calling her a natural storyteller. She was!!
She readily admits that she knew nothing of housekeeping, having been a Young Southern Lady all of her life. She knew how to make yeast rolls, but nothing else. But she learned, with the help of the cowboys and hired hands. There weren't any other women for miles around, and miles in those days really meant miles!
The book tells of her marriage, her moving to Montana, the life and hard luck on the ranch, the arrival of the children, her fears and philosophies over the years. It was a wonderful book to read, and I am sure Nannie would have been a fun person to sit and visit with. This book is the next best thing.
Among hundreds of books written by and about range men, there are hardly a dozen valid ones concerning women. I pick A Bride Goes West and Agnes Morley Cleaveland's No Life For A Lady as the two best books pertaining to ranch life by women with a woman's point of view dominating. ~~ J. Frank Dobie
So let me connect some dots for a minute. J. Frank Dobie wrote many books about The West, including The Mustangs, which I own and have read many years ago. I also have the Cleaveland book he mentioned and read that many years ago too. I think I should maybe re-visit these two titles Someday!
Then one more dot showed up on page six of the book. Nannie Alderson is describing how her father was killed in the First Battle of Manassas and was believed to be the first Southern officer to die in the Civil War. Nannie was born September 14, 1860 (oh, I just realized, another Virgo like me!) and her mother remarried before Nannie was four years old. Nannie was raised by her grandmother, visiting her mother's new home only in summertime.
That is when she played with her new stepbrother and two stepsisters, both older than she was. Her stepbrother ...Andrew Rowan, was to gain fame in the Spanish-American War by carrying the message to Garcia.
And here is the dot (I didn't forget): I've read the book about this! A Message to Garcia, here is my review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Well, as you can see, by this time Nannie and I were old friends and I loved every minute of the rest of her book. Helena Huntington Smith, who collected Nannie's stories here, left them in Alderson's own words, calling her a natural storyteller. She was!!
She readily admits that she knew nothing of housekeeping, having been a Young Southern Lady all of her life. She knew how to make yeast rolls, but nothing else. But she learned, with the help of the cowboys and hired hands. There weren't any other women for miles around, and miles in those days really meant miles!
The book tells of her marriage, her moving to Montana, the life and hard luck on the ranch, the arrival of the children, her fears and philosophies over the years. It was a wonderful book to read, and I am sure Nannie would have been a fun person to sit and visit with. This book is the next best thing.
August 3, 2011
Personal narrative of life in the west in the 1880's onwards. One thing that stood out to me was how the women were treated with such respect. There weren't many women out west, but the few that were received assistance, protection and care. They were valued very much. I would read this again.
Since this is written firsthand by the author, everything is historically accurate to the last detail. Nannie T. Alderson took care of herself and dressed in feminine clothing. The one instance where a woman wears trousers is frowned upon and looked at as very unusual (which it was at the time). The onlookers actually question whether the woman will be able to get married as the men didn't appreciate her masculine ways. Later, she is shown married but having gone back to a more feminine lifestyle. I always cringe when movies have female characters walking around in pants and present it as socially acceptable. It is now, but it was not then.
Since this is written firsthand by the author, everything is historically accurate to the last detail. Nannie T. Alderson took care of herself and dressed in feminine clothing. The one instance where a woman wears trousers is frowned upon and looked at as very unusual (which it was at the time). The onlookers actually question whether the woman will be able to get married as the men didn't appreciate her masculine ways. Later, she is shown married but having gone back to a more feminine lifestyle. I always cringe when movies have female characters walking around in pants and present it as socially acceptable. It is now, but it was not then.
September 16, 2017
In spite of the difficulties and occasional bouts of self-pity, Nannie's perseverance and hopefulness shine throughout the book. My husband enjoyed the book as much as I did, pronouncing it a "nourishing" read. Nannie writes about the ups and downs of marriage, misunderstandings with Indians and isolation. She tells of the elusiveness of riches and how they had to carve joy out of simple things. She never sugar-coats her life, but there is a sense of fierce determination to make things work out that is inspiring.
November 18, 2015
"Hot rolls, plus a vague understanding that petticoats ought to be plain, were my whole equipment for conquering the West."
Often, we think of Western women as those who were capable, but such was not always the case. Nannie Alderson describes her first years as a Western bride in a detailed, educational fashion; a bride who knew practically nothing about housekeeping was now 100 miles away from town with no neighbor women to whom she could turn for help.
Because of some details of a notorious woman, I would not hand this book to readers under 18--though it is not explicit.
Often, we think of Western women as those who were capable, but such was not always the case. Nannie Alderson describes her first years as a Western bride in a detailed, educational fashion; a bride who knew practically nothing about housekeeping was now 100 miles away from town with no neighbor women to whom she could turn for help.
Because of some details of a notorious woman, I would not hand this book to readers under 18--though it is not explicit.
January 17, 2022
Nannie Tiffany of West Virginia married Walt Alderson, a cowboy on the cattle trail for many years , in 1882. They went to Montana to start a little ranch, near Miles City.
Nannie was so hospitable, anyone stopping by the ranch would be invited in for a meal and sometimes spent the night. Indians in the area were no exception.
The family had many hardships, with the prices of cattle and horses never stable. Nannie was always a good sport, never a quitter.
They raised four children, all loving ranching.
The book was a great incite to living in that period of time.
Nannie was so hospitable, anyone stopping by the ranch would be invited in for a meal and sometimes spent the night. Indians in the area were no exception.
The family had many hardships, with the prices of cattle and horses never stable. Nannie was always a good sport, never a quitter.
They raised four children, all loving ranching.
The book was a great incite to living in that period of time.
February 24, 2016
Incredibly eye-opening account of the late 1800's out west, in this case, cattle ranching in Montana. Impressive how hard the life was--especially the ever present danger of the Cheyennes. They were so hopitable to them, always feeding them only to have them burn their house down due to one of heir foolish ranch hands. Then when they rebuilt their home 10 miles away from the first site, one of the Indians, who was in their home having dinner proudly told them he took part in the burning, expecting them to be happy to see him. Nevertheless, embracing forgiveness, their house was always open to the Cheyennes. Due to the demands of Western hospitality she had to feed and house any all strangers passing through. She said they often brought with them bed bugs, which were impossible to get rid of. There were no doctors or dentists for hundreds of miles, and she had constant toothaches. Her husband had to pull one of her teeth, and the only thing she had beforehand was some whiskey. Sad that she was left a widow to support her 4 kids, due to her husband getting kicked in the head by a horse.
October 14, 2016
This is a memoir from a woman who was brought to the west by her husband way back in the indian days. Truly, they were one of the first couples to help settle that part of Montana, so there is so much information in this book, about settlers and their relationship with the Indians and their few neighbors. Hard times and losses abound. This is a piece of history. Great read.
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April 5, 2010An excellent history of a genuine southern belle who left her Virginia home to marry a cowboy in 1883 and moved to Montana.
If you want to learn about the REAL west, this is the book.
If you want to learn about the REAL west, this is the book.
December 4, 2014
Review to follow one day, hopefully, after a re-read!
September 28, 2021
A quick, 'okay' read, nothing special.
There are a few comments about Native American Indians that came across as racist; not necessarily surprising given that the events took place mostly in the 1800s, but disappointing, nonetheless.
I much preferred Letters of a Woman Homesteader and Mollie: The Journal of Mollie Dorsey Sanford in Nebraska and Colorado Territories, 1857-1866, and would recommend those instead.
There are a few comments about Native American Indians that came across as racist; not necessarily surprising given that the events took place mostly in the 1800s, but disappointing, nonetheless.
I much preferred Letters of a Woman Homesteader and Mollie: The Journal of Mollie Dorsey Sanford in Nebraska and Colorado Territories, 1857-1866, and would recommend those instead.
May 12, 2013
I read this book perhaps twenty years ago, in a rougher, photocopied binding, and was glad to rediscover it. What a life Nannie T. Alderson lived! She tells most of her story chronologically, from her childhood in the South with a southern belle mother, to her discovery of "freedom" visiting an aunt in Kansas, to her marriage to a neighbor's son who had run away in his early teens to become a cowboy. Together, they travel to Montana in the mid-80s, a hundred miles from any doctor or any store, in hopes of cashing in on the beef bonanza.
And that's just the start of her story!
A great deal of the joy in reading this comes from the various details, from her not recognizing a prostitute (at the hotel she's staying at) for what she was, to how difficult it is to wash clothing with hard water, to the horror of constant toothaches in an age before sophisticated dentistry. Much of it is heart-warming, especially how kindly all the frontier men behaved around ladies such as her (the image of the cowboys putting on her skirt and riding her horse sidesaddle until it finished its morning bucking, before they'd let her mount it, still stays with me!) Some of it is heartbreaking, though she does a good job at foreshadowing the worst of it--this is a memoir, not a novel heavy on the happily-ever-after, although she clearly appreciated most of her long life, despite some tragedy. Although she bemoans her occasional descent into self-pity, her effort to stay positive against much of what she endured is a wonder.
Just as interesting and informative as what Alderson tells us is the WAY she tells us. She obviously loves her husband deeply, but she is a product of her time, and so doesn't let the reader in on kisses or embraces or anything more intimate than their nickname for each other (Pardsy)-- throughout the book, she refers to the love of her life and father of her children as "Mr. Alderson." As others have pointed out, the modern reader is sometimes taken aback by a rare but casual racism in some of her comments, not just about her black servants in Virginia but in her presentation of the Native Americans, about whom she becomes quickly disenchanted. And yet, the contrast between such comments, and the fact that she happily sewed a gown for a black woman she knew back in Virginia, or her pride in her oldest daughter speaking fluent Cheyenne, just shows how much more complex race relations must have been than we may want to believe.
Especially if you're researching the era of woman pioneers, consider looking at this eminently readable memoir, co-written by Helena Huntington Smith, who also co-wrote the cowboy memoir, WE POINTED THEM NORTH.
And that's just the start of her story!
A great deal of the joy in reading this comes from the various details, from her not recognizing a prostitute (at the hotel she's staying at) for what she was, to how difficult it is to wash clothing with hard water, to the horror of constant toothaches in an age before sophisticated dentistry. Much of it is heart-warming, especially how kindly all the frontier men behaved around ladies such as her (the image of the cowboys putting on her skirt and riding her horse sidesaddle until it finished its morning bucking, before they'd let her mount it, still stays with me!) Some of it is heartbreaking, though she does a good job at foreshadowing the worst of it--this is a memoir, not a novel heavy on the happily-ever-after, although she clearly appreciated most of her long life, despite some tragedy. Although she bemoans her occasional descent into self-pity, her effort to stay positive against much of what she endured is a wonder.
Just as interesting and informative as what Alderson tells us is the WAY she tells us. She obviously loves her husband deeply, but she is a product of her time, and so doesn't let the reader in on kisses or embraces or anything more intimate than their nickname for each other (Pardsy)-- throughout the book, she refers to the love of her life and father of her children as "Mr. Alderson." As others have pointed out, the modern reader is sometimes taken aback by a rare but casual racism in some of her comments, not just about her black servants in Virginia but in her presentation of the Native Americans, about whom she becomes quickly disenchanted. And yet, the contrast between such comments, and the fact that she happily sewed a gown for a black woman she knew back in Virginia, or her pride in her oldest daughter speaking fluent Cheyenne, just shows how much more complex race relations must have been than we may want to believe.
Especially if you're researching the era of woman pioneers, consider looking at this eminently readable memoir, co-written by Helena Huntington Smith, who also co-wrote the cowboy memoir, WE POINTED THEM NORTH.
January 22, 2009
This book was a quick read, and enjoyable. It tells the story of the married life of Nanny Alderson, who moved from West Virginia to Montana after her wedding in 1882 to a would-be rancher. She gives a first hand account of the "taming" of the West and the motivations that drove and sustained people who moved to the frontier in that era. Because this was written when she was in her 80s, the story can be hard to follow at times, as she jumps back and forth in time in any given chapter. In some ways, it adds a more intimate feel, like you are sitting in the room when she was telling the story, but it can also be confusing when she starts one story, and them jumps to another that happened years before or later.
Having just been to Montana for the first time this summer, I also found it interesting to think about my trip and what I saw and comparing it to what Alderson describes. In some places, the remoteness is still there, at least for this city girl. But it is beautiful.
Having just been to Montana for the first time this summer, I also found it interesting to think about my trip and what I saw and comparing it to what Alderson describes. In some places, the remoteness is still there, at least for this city girl. But it is beautiful.
December 24, 2012
A young bride travels to a Montana Cattle Ranch. It's always enlightening to read about pioneer life. It puts our easy, modern existence into perspective. Enjoyed reading this book. Would save the hard copy....
November 2, 2015
Interesting and refreshing.
May 8, 2019
Excellent memoir of a Montana ranch wife in late 1800s.
February 18, 2011
For a realistic snapshot of Montana ranch life in the late 1800s from a woman's point of view, the clear memory of a southern pioneer, Nannie Tiffany Alderson, brings it into clear focus. Born in West Virginia in 1860, Nannie traveled to Montana as a bride in l882; the book was published in 1942, when she was over eighty years old. The co-author, Helena Huntington Smith, writes, " She (Nannie) is a natural story-teller. For years she has been telling her tales of the cowboys and the children, the Indians, the Eastern visitors and the animals who peopled the domestic scene on a small Montana ranch; and these tales of hers have made the wild West seem a good deal less wild and more human. I have put the stories together for her in this book, but they are still told in her own words."
December 6, 2012
A Bride Goes West is an interesting account of Nannie Alderson's life as new bride who was raised in West Virginia in a plantation home, moving west with her husbanc to Montana in 1882. Learning how to cook, make do with much less, considering people as neighbors who are more than 6 miles from her home, Nammie tackles it all. It is a story told after the fact so you have to wonder how much of the story's hardships are colored by the passing of time. It is still a history of what a young bride could conquer and survive in rugged Montana in the late 1880's including child birth, raising children and eventually widowhood.
October 26, 2008
This is the true story of Nanny Alderson, born in the South in 1860, who married a cattleman in 1882 and traveled with him to Montana to start a little ranch. Though the reader will learn a lot about ranching, she will learn even more about the alues
of those who settled the ranch country during that period.
of those who settled the ranch country during that period.
July 2, 2014
Nannie Alderson seems to have had an interesting life. She lived in turn of the century Montana on a ranch and attempts to tell her life story in this book. I just wished she had better writing skills to tell about it. The stories jumped around, there were too many side characters mentioned and some of the more interesting parts could have used more details.
August 23, 2015
This is a first-hand account from a woman's perspective of ranch/ pioneer life in the 1880's. It gives you a real appreciation for the struggles/ realities of everyday life. Perhaps the most significant part of the story for me is that I am related to the protagonist, so I very much enjoyed a window into this part of the world (and my family.)
July 12, 2017
Easy to read, this book gives a true picture of pioneer ranching in the late 1880's. It challenges our consumer mentality, because we have so much and tend to want more, while she had so little, yet she appreciated what she had, cherished the people in her life, and worked hard with determined cheerfulness.
January 18, 2018
I can't point to one thing that makes this autobiography special, but by the end it seemed unique to me. Mrs. Alderson is a humble, self-deprecating, perceptive heroine who shares her loves, fears, and hardships generously. The contrast with my life is so striking that I can envision pulling this book off the shelf to refresh that perspective now and then.
March 12, 2010
Henry Babinsky got me to read this book. It is about settling in Montana from 1878 - 1917. I loved it so much. There is a lot of wisdom in the book. I loved the last line, "My friends tell me I led a hard life, perhaps - but I don't think an easy one is ever half so full."
March 31, 2012
I found this book very charming. The writing is simple and clear, and Nannie T. Alderson is refreshingly frank. The book is full of fascinating tidbits about life on the American frontier, such as that beaver tail soup was considered a delicacy.
August 30, 2012
Finally! Book about settling the West that is authentic and....readable (unlike Nothing Daunted, that I couldn't even finish). Published in 1942 when the author was 82, it is still good reading. Set in eastern Montana.
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March 12, 2009JF-YAAld
January 21, 2010
I have read this book during college..it was the best book I have ever read. I have not read it in a long time.
January 24, 2010
A sobering biography of womanhood during the pioneering West.
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March 12, 2010Read in class ("Women in America to 1900")
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August 3, 2010Very informative and entertaining about late 1800's.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews