The Whip by Karen Kondazian

Anyone who has heard the expression "I am woman; hear me roar" has to admit that the 20th century part of this chapter of history is not really the whole story.  We of the 20th/21st centuries know that women have been fighting for equality in the work arena, in political situations and in relationships for a long, long time.  We have only to look back in history to see the underpinnings of these cultural problem.  Women have for all time, it seems, been fighting for freedom and recognition.  We have luckily always had historical figures, who have been immortalized and regaled, to study as forerunners of the liberation movement.  One fascinating era that produced many memorable women who we all heard about was the "Wild West."  Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane are two of the more colorful women who made a name for themselves in a predominately male environment.  They thrived where many failed.  In the book, The Whip, Kondazian uncovers a story based on historical fact about Charlotte Parkhurst the first woman to drive a stagecoach during the California Gold Rush era and the first woman to ever vote in national elections in the United States.  Kondazian embellished and added to the true story of  Charlotte "Charlie" Parkhurst with a details about her life as an orphan, raised in the cold reality of the 18th century charity home.  Characters were added to the life of this woman that were amalgams of real people who could have played a part in the life of Charlie.  The tragedies of her life were true however to those that many women faced during this era.  The important difference was that Charlie chose to heed the advice of her one true parental figure, Jonas, who said, "Life's going to ... upset your wagon, not just once but many times.  And you got to choose (what are you going to do)..."  Charlie chose to make a life of her own.  She chose to be true to her own nature and not cower to the norms of society.  It was not an easy life she chose to be sure, but she was free and independent and able to make a difference in the lives around her without betraying her true self.  This was a really interesting story and knowing that it is based on a factual character only added to the impact.  The Whip is a wonderful historical fiction novel and this lead character deserves some of the adulation that is bestowed on the more famous Wild West women. History teaches us much and this story is a piece of history we can all learn from and use as a lesson of survival and growth.