Soiled Doves: Prostitution in the Early West Book

I read this book some years ago and have an autographed copy on my shelf. I picked it up when I lived in Montana, along with several other, similar, books about women in the west, including "High-Spirited Women of the West," also by Anne Seagraves. Both books were published by Wesanne Publications. I found this book to be interesting, loved the old photographs. It's been a keeper on my research shelf.

Rather than dry, scholarly recitation, I thought each of the stories surrounding specific women felt personal and the writing captured the essence of the hard times for women of this era, especially in the west.

I've had the occasion to visit Virginia City, where Julia Bulette lived and died--or rather was murdered. Have also had the occasion to visit the site of what is now a ghost town in Montana, a mining town by the name of Gilt Edge, in the mountains outside of Lewistown. The remains of two buildings still stood at the time I visited - the jail and the house of ill repute. It's said the rather infamous Calamity Jane once stayed in Gilt Edge. Both these women are portrayed in "Soiled Doves." History always means just that little bit more, I think, when one has an opportunity to visit a place where these people walked.

This book is a good overview of the times and conditions under which these women had to survive and it is written in an engaging and informative manner.