Friday, June 24, 2016

Book Review—Land Of The Burnt Thigh by Ethel Eudora Kohl


One of my works in progress is set in 1867 Kansas and involves a homesteading family. I ‘m involved in ongoing research so I can build the best story world of what’s involved. I mentioned this fact at a recent writers’ meeting and received a recommendation for this memoir.


Although the setting is South Dakota in 1907-08, much of what was shared about the attitudes and emotions of the people involved could be applied to many time periods. The first paragraph has two sisters, both younger than twenty-one years, arriving on the vast, empty prairie from Chicago to claim the older sister’s plot. Ida Mary had been proud of the fact she’d chosen one with a house about thirty miles away from Pierre. Nothing in the land office informed them the “house” was a shack with tar paper for siding—a disappointment that sets the tone for the story.

The young women are dropped off by a man who makes his livelihood as a locator who drives homesteaders out to their purchased plots. Seeing how ill-prepared they are, he does leave them a jug of water. Otherwise, they are left to their own devices. What transpires in the mandatory time to gain their deed, described in prose that is almost lyrical at times, are the struggles the women endure to survive. Especially worthwhile was learning about the ways the women adapted and the community that is built when people share hardships together.

Often research is a bit dry, but this memoir was enjoyable and entertaining. A highly recommended read both as a research tool regarding homesteading but also as a tale of the human spirit determined to make a better life. The definition of a pioneer spirit.
(free for Kindle)

11 comments:

  1. Thank you for the new resource. Angela/Doris

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    1. Angela, Love sharing research with other historical authors.

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  2. Sounds interesting. The picture is scary. Typical of the Midwest.

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    1. I have a personal fascination with clouds. :) Thanks, Diane, for stopping by.

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  3. Sounds like an awesome book for your research that probably further inspired you. Thanks for sharing. It sounds really interesting. If I had been born during those times I probably would have been curled up in the fetal position crying for my mama!

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    1. MJ, we might surprise ourselves with what we could do. In many cases, your mama would have lived close by and could give you advice.

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  4. Interesting title...sounds like a good read.
    Good luck and God's blessings.
    PamT

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  5. Pamela, the title is the Brule Sioux tribe's name for that region. Makes it memorable. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

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  6. I love to read historical novels (though mostly Regency and Victorian), and appreciate the work authors do to make their stories accurate. Thanks for your research and dedication to portraying the era correctly! And best wishes for a completed work and sale -

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  7. Great review. Single women as homesteaders sounds very interesting.

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  8. The picture looks desolute. What a hard life those women faced. It reminds me of Little House on the Prairie. I loved reading those books when I was growing up. Great find. Thanks for sharing.

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