This book is a conclusive biography of Martha Canary, the woman who was most popularly known as Calamity Jane. Written by one of today's foremost authorities on this infamous character, James D. McLaird, it is a flawlessly detailed account of how an alcoholic prostitute was transformed into a heroine of the Wild West.

Always moving across the northern plains, Martha was more a follower than the scout of legend. A mother of two, she often searched for employment wherever it could be found as waitress, laundress or dance hall girl. She was more likely to be wearing a dress than buckskin, but she was hard to overlook when she'd had a few to many drinks, and she exploited the illusion of fame that dime novels created around her, even selling her autobiography and photos to tourists. McLaird paints a unique portrait of this gun toting, swearing, hard drinking Calamity Jane. Photos, most of which, that have never been seen of Jane in her many guises.

Enjoy this well-written novel about a most fascinating woman, who made a name for herself as the one and only, Calamity Jane.