I found this quite tedious to read. Were it not for the book club I'm in, I would not have finished it. Too many references to promiscuity in the book. ( )

Every time I skimmed past this book I thought it would be interesting to read some day. Some day finally arrived and I was sorely disappointed. I had assumed it was based on actual diaries, if not that of the title. It was made clear in the author's note, however, that this was a complete fiction. As such, it is a man's attempt to mimic the stilted writing of a cultured woman in the late 1800's and his grasping at straws for subject matter that would be unique.[return]After reading the first third, I skimmed a little, jumped ahead to the last couple of chapters, and didn't think I would be missing much by discarding it. Another romance fantasy, stereotyping Native Americans, and making caricatures of a number of female stereotypes. I suppose there was a little bit of character development, but not worth more time invested. ( )

Excellent portrayal of the madness of the time. Heartbreaking - but satisfying to know how some people fought back... what it felt like to be on the other side. ( )

An entertaining immersion to this historic time, however, the language and writing does not fit the period. ( )

I really enjoyed this one and found myself thinking about the characters even when I was not reading the book. Entertaining and I enjoyed the premise and alternate universe that was presented. Reminds me of some OSC novels where an alternate America is the setting. ( )

Every time I skimmed past this book I thought it would be interesting to read some day. Some day finally arrived and I was sorely disappointed. I had assumed it was based on actual diaries, if not that of the title. It was made clear in the author's note, however, that this was a complete fiction. As such, it is a man's attempt to mimic the stilted writing of a cultured woman in the late 1800's and his grasping at straws for subject matter that would be unique.
After reading the first third, I skimmed a little, jumped ahead to the last couple of chapters, and didn't think I would be missing much by discarding it. Another romance fantasy, stereotyping Native Americans, and making caricatures of a number of female stereotypes. I suppose there was a little bit of character development, but not worth more time invested. ( )

3.5 stars

In 1875, the US Government made a deal with the Cheyenne to provide them with 1000 white women to marry (according to the author’s note, this was a real request, but it was never agreed to… except for purposes of this book). They would have the indigenous men’s children, then raise them in a white world, thereby being a bridge between the two cultures. The women would also help to assimilate/convert the indigenous peoples. The women were to be volunteers.

May Dodd (along with some others), had been living in an asylum. She had children with a man who wasn’t her husband; they lived together and were very happy. But this made her promiscuous, according to her family, and therefore insane so she should live the rest of her life in an asylum. This deal to be a wife to a Cheyenne man provided May a way out of the asylum. Other women also agreed to this, some from asylums, others who might have been incarcerated. Some maybe just wanted the adventure.

This was told mostly in diary form, with a few letters, as well. It started off pretty slow for me, but got better once the women were living with the Cheyenne. I quite liked many of the characters and the friendships that developed between them. I also think the book did a good job of showing the culture shock, and the women trying to fit in to this new culture.

The tension increased with a big event toward the end of the book, and I did like the way it ended with a couple of external voices to the main part of the story. I wasn’t sure at first, but I ended up liking it enough to read the sequel. I almost increased my rating just slightly, but decided to keep it at “good”, as that’s where it sat for the bulk of the book. ( )

I tend not to rest my estimation of the quality of a book on unsavory elements included, understanding that violence is sometimes necessary for realism, plot, theme or character development. However, in this case, Fergus abandoned realism and character integrity early on, stretching his historic setting with unrealistic and misplaced values (which I hesitate to call feminism, for reasons that I'll get to.) Therefore, there is little excuse for the repeated sexual assault scenes, especially given that Fergus seemed to expect the reader to casually forgive the assailants as easily as his protagonists did. (So easily that the narrator, who was expected to be a reliable, sympathetic narrator, refers to the rape of another character as "nonconsensual" in scare quotes.)

Similarly, there is little excuse for Fergus' rampant use of the N-word. It's supposed to be a historic piece? Thanks, I got that without the casual slurs. I don't agree with censoring (or self-censoring) literature, but if you're going to be throwing around loaded words/scenarios, do it for a reason.

Fantastic idea. Execution lacking. ( )

It was a great story! Learned alot! ( )

Purported historical fiction, but too much heartache/violence against women/children to be a pleasurable read.
I listened to the audiobook and found the various character voices of the band of women to be amusing. You also get to hear French (but some very offensive swear words), and the Cheyenne language. I was rooting for most of the women, not to succeed in the program to help resettle the Cheyenne on to reservations, but to just survive. ( )

I loved this book. I loved the "voice". I loved the story. Excellent! ( )

Historical fiction and alternate history based upon an actual request, in the mid-1800s, by Chief Little Wolf to President Grant for 1000 white women to be delivered to the Cheyenne as wives for their warriors, in exchange for horses, to help them assimilate into the Caucasian culture. The Cheyenne are a matrilineal society, so in their culture, the children would become part of white society. If the reader is capable of suspending disbelief as to the U.S. government agreeing to such a trade, I thought the author did a good job of speculating what might have happened if this program were created. In the end, a figure much less than 1000 would be conveyed, in keeping with the less than forthright treatment of the tribes, and many of these brides would be recruited from lunatic asylums, workhouses, brothels, prisons, and liberated mixed-race former slaves. These women would agree to exchange a life of almost certain misery for liberty.

The protagonist of the story, May Dodd, from a prominent Chicago family, fell in love with a man her family considered beneath her. She refused to marry him and gave birth to two children, so her family had her committed to an asylum (which apparently was not-uncommon in those days). She joined the clandestine “Brides for Indians” program to gain her freedom and the possibility of reuniting with her children one day. May Dodd is a strong, opinionated, and unconventional woman, attempting to adjust to an unfamiliar life on the frontier. The book documents her experiences in the form of a journal.

Jim Fergus has obviously done extensive research of the period as evidenced by the extensive bibliography, and I felt an authenticity to his descriptions of the Cheyenne way life and Nebraska territory in the mid-1870s. It depicts the Cheyenne as a complex people and sheds light on the hypocrisy of the so-called “civilized people” in their treatment of the “savages.” The shortcomings, for me, were a few repetitive sections and the use of several modern terms in the journal. It moved along at a moderate pace until the ending, which picked up considerably. Recommended to readers that are willing to accept the premise in exchange for a vivid description of Cheyenne customs, values, and beliefs of the time-period. Contains racism, rape, sex, and graphic violence.

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway, with a request to provide a candid review.
( )

So well crafted that it was hard to remember it was not a real journal of the time, but fictional.

A gift from K. ( )

I would recommend this book ( )

A compelling story of a white woman who, after being condemned to an asylum for loving the wrong man, journeys west to marry a Native American chief as part of a fictional government program in the late 19th century. I wasn't certain about this novel, but it hooked me and drew me into a tale I typically wouldn't pick up. A very interesting read and recommended for those interested in cultural exchanges between white and native peoples. ( )

This book was surprisingly good, although the description and some of the reviewers have it wrong. This program, to marry white women to Native Americans was proposed by the Cheyennes to President Grant, but it did not actually happen. This is a fictional account of what could have happened. ( )

Blown away!

A reader friend recommended the book knowing I enjoy reading historical fiction. I downloaded the title without even reading the blurb. From the first pages of the "Introduction" written by J. Will Dodd, great-grandson of May Dodd and onward to the "Prologue" I was transported back in time to the mid-1870's. Due to a presentation gap of American history in my own education experience I have received no formal education/training of the time period between the end of the Civil War and personal awareness of American history that began on November 22, 2963, identifying that I have only a minuscule knowledge of the creation of American Indian reservations. Reading this book opened a window to the past and as with all historical fiction illuminates humanity or the lack thereof not merely the events listed in a nonfiction book.

With unparalleled creativity Jim Fergus presents a tale in journal format of the treatment by the government of indigenous people focusing on a Cheyenne tribe. I was riveted and immersed in the storyline that evoked a roller coaster of emotions that was at different twists haunting, blunt, heartbreaking, sensitive, scary, intriguing, humorous, and tear-jerking.

Blown away all over again in absolute shock at the reveal in the "Author's Note." Even recognizing the author’s disclosure the book brings to light pivotal history of the American West that some would prefer to stay in the past and for some eliminate as though it is not true. ( )

Based on an actual historical event. An amazing read. Recommended.

FROM AMAZON: One Thousand White Women is the story of May Dodd and a colorful assembly of pioneer women who, under the auspices of the U.S. government, travel to the Western prairies in 1875 to intermarry among the Cheyenne Indians.
The covert and controversial "Brides for Indians" program, launched by the administration of Ulysses S. Grant, is intended to help assimilate the Indians into the white man's world.

Toward that end, May and her friends embark upon the adventure of their lifetimes.

Author Jim Fergus has so vividly depicted the American West that it is as if these diaries are a capsule in time. ( )

Premise held promise, but inevitably, that promise was broken. ( )

I stumbled on this 1st book in a series of 3 and am thrilled! I couldn't put it down. I had never heard of this part of our history and the fact that the author sought out information on it because of his family stories is wonderful! I just loved it! I already have the next one to curl up with. ( )

Bookclub July 2021 ( )

This is my second reading of this novel and I loved it as much the 2nd time as I did the first. I love the diary/letter format and the characters are so rich in personality. The author does an excellent job of capturing life with the "savages" from a female point of view that you forget the book is written by a male. I would highly recommend this book. ( )

Thoroughly enjoyed. Lots of history and realism. ( )

Thoroughly enjoyed. Lots of history and realism. ( )

I received a free copy of One Thousand White Women by Colorado author Jim Fergus, and recommended it to my neighborhood book club. It is a strange read. The cover made me think I’d be reading something like the recent retelling of the Little House series through Ma’s eyes, Caroline, by Sarah Miller. Not quite.

The premise of White Women is based in fact: a few years after the Civil War, a Cheyenne chief proposed that his tribe should exchange one thousand horses for one thousand white brides, so that they would bear his tribe’s children and raise them in the white culture. This, of course, never came to pass, but Fergus asks, what if it had?

Our heroine, May Dodd, joins the band of white women (which ends up counting only about fifty women, not a thousand) in order to escape the asylum where she has been confined against her will for promiscuity. She meets a motley crew of other women who make up a blatantly stereotypical microcosm. It is as if Fergus gave these two-dimensional characters the most obvious names as placeholders while he wrote, then forgot to go back and change them. We have the brazen Irish twins, who share the last name Kelly; the impoverished and jilted Southern belle, Daisy; the stout Swiss maid, Gretchen; the proud, strong ex-slave Phemie; etc., etc.

The women meet and marry their braves and quite quickly (perhaps implausibly so) become enamored of their new culture. Like “Dances with Wolves,” White Women presents a mostly positive portrait of the “noble savage.” U.S. policy certainly deserves the critique, but the delivery is not what one might call nuanced.

( )