These is My Words: The Dairy of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881 – 1901 by Nancy E. Turner is an exceptional novel of depth and inspiration that takes place in the Arizona Territories.
Sarah Prine is seventeen when her family decides to leave their home to find a better life. Sarah, her mother and father, two older brothers, and two younger brothers set out with a wagon train. Sarah begins a diary and although her grammar lacks refinement, her strength of character shines through.
At one point in their travels, they are escorted by soldiers, led by Captain Jack Elliot, a bigger than life cavalry officer.
The grinding life of living out of a wagon and the endless hardships vividly show the determination of our country’s early settlers. When the family, minus the two who meet untimely deaths, find their place to call home, the hard work really begins.
These is My Words captures the strength of Sarah’s character over a twenty-year period. Sarah does what she needs to do to support and protect her family, with a husband whose duties often call him away from home. Sarah forges ahead in a harsh and unforgiving land, braced by the love of an equally strong, but often absent, husband.
I loved this story that embraces the life of Sarah Prine from adolescent, to young woman, to loving mother as she lives her life through turbulent events, both joyous and tragic. These is My Words is a story I’ll remember.
My autographed copy of THESE IS MY WORDS is one of my most valued books about women in the West. Nancy Turner’s other books to follow are an equal treasure. Happy to see the review, Mary!
It is wonderful, isn’t it? This was a Christmas present from my husband and I treasure it, too. Did you attend some kind of event to get the autographed copy?
I’m sure it was at a Women Writing the West conference. Nancy was a member. The date on my copy, October 22, 1999. Denver, Colorado. She inscribed, “For Irene, Best wishes and ‘Keep your eyes on the horizon…'”
It’s just a great book!
I wasn’t sure but I thought she was a member of WWW. I attended that conference, too.