Calamity Jane and the Lady Wildcats

"Fifty years ago...a book by Duncan Aikman, editorial writer for The El Paso Times, is stirring up a literary controversy. The book 'Calamity Jane and the Lady Wildcats,' scorches many myths that have grown up around the women of the Southwest." -El Paso Times, Jan. 1, 1968

"A book published ten years ago, 'Calamity Jane and the Lady Wildcats,' presents her in the worst light possible." -Argus-Leader, Nov. 7, 1937

"The new book by Duncan Aikman, 'Calamity Jane and the Lady Wildcats,' devotes a chapter to Lola, shedding new light upon this eccentric figure...gives her a definite account of her horsewhipping of the Grass Valley editor." -Sacramento Bee, Dec. 17, 1927

"In this volume Aikman has brought together a dozen of the vociferous viragoes, who have helped make the West what it is...a rip-roaring assortment they are, brought together for the first time between the covers of a book." -San Francisco Examiner, Dec. 25, 1927

"Many critics applaud Aikman for his truthful presentation of the women of whom he has written, others condemn him for willfully destroying romance, and with needlessly detracting from the glamor of the heroines." -El Paso Times, Jan. 1, 1928

What are the true hidden stories behind the mythical and most notorious women of the Wild West days, including Calamity Jane, Cattle Kate, Belle Starr, Lola Montez, Pearl Hart, Madame Moustache, Carrie Nation, and Bridget Grant?

In his 1927 book, "Calamity Jane and the Lady Wildcats," journalist Duncan Aikman (1889-1955) through meticulous research has uncovered the often amazing hidden stories behind the glamorous myths of these matrons of the Old West. It is this book of 210 pages that has been republished here for the convenience of the interested reader.

About the author:

Duncan Aikman (1889-1955) was a journalist and author who worked for the Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican, the El Paso Times, and served in varying editorial capacities for the Los Angeles Daily News. In 1935, he became a free-lance writer, and in the early 1940's he helped to organize the newspaper PM. His books include Calamity Jane and the Lady Wildcats, The Taming of the Frontier, The All American Front, and The Turning Stream.