The author comes west from Chicago to Wyoming to be a housekeeper. She is a widow with a small child. Within 6 weeks she is married to Mr. Stewart whom she really does not know. Mr. Stewart is a kind older rancher who allows Elinor to hike and travel with her eventual 3 children if her work is done. She quickly makes women friends and is happily traveling all over and documenting her experiences. This a true story of an energetic young woman who makes the best of traveling as the wife of a prosperous Wyoming rancher. This is a fantastic book about the settling of Wyoming about 1915. The conditions at best were primitive. Great read. I found this book at a Western Museum in utah close to the Wyoming border.

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I read a lot of books about American women in history, especially in early American history. While some are interesting, most are riveting. This one was just absolutely wonderful.

Elinore Stewart was a remarkable woman who was also a wonderful story teller. What a shame she didn't write a novel. Then, when someone would ask a friend, "Have you read 'Anne of Green Gables' or 'Small House on the Prairie?', the friend might reply, "Yes, but my favorite is still Elinore Stewart's '[insert title here.]'"

But Elinore wrote something better than a novel. She wrote letters to a friend about her life on the prairie and the people she came to know and love. This book contains a selection of those letters. How I wish I could read all her letters.

It's obvious there were more letters written as, although the letters are arranged chronologically, she mentions things in more than one letter that make you ask, "What? When did that happen?"

Although much was changed by the blankly-blank Hollywood screenwriters, the critically acclaimed 1980 film "Heartland" was based on her letters and journals. You can watch the movie for free on Youtube, by searching for "Heartland Movie." Don't be confused by the Canadian TV series of the same name.

And check out her page on Wikipedia.

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The book is written in letters from Elinore to her former employer, and she is a natural storyteller. Enjoy!

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Certainly a good story of a plucky woman. I was looking for something a bit further back in time, but enjoyed her adventures just the same.

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