More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Arizona Women

More than Petticoats

by Wynne Brown

Discover 13 extraordinary women from Arizona's past, including healer and preacher Teresa Urrea; Apache warrior Lozen; rancher and writer Mary Kidder Rak; photographer Carmen Lee; and stagecoach robber Pearl Hart.

Genres: History, Biography

151 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up on vacation in Arizona a few years ago. After reading These is My Words, a work of fiction inspired by the author's pioneering Arizona great-grandmother, I decided to give the real thing a try. Though I always enjoy biography, especially of the little known and unsung, these short histories of "remarkable" women were so simply written that I wondered if the series was intended for children. (Okay, precocious children, but still -- children.) I will probably buy more books in the series as I wander into local bookstores on vacations to come, but if you are a serious student of women's history, I would look elsewhere.

[Amy Morales Baum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as someone who has deep familial roots as an Arizonan. The times were so different and yet the struggles of women bore similarities of what we deal with today. My family was even mentioned in the chapters with Luisa Ronstadt Espinel.

[Shelly Dabbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some really interesting woman written about in here. I know there is many more that would have been more recognized but for me, this series isn't about the lesser known women who helped forge a part of our country. These women came from all kind of backgrounds, pushing forward to change history.

[Christine Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was twelve short essays about women who helped settle Arizona. It was good but I would probably like longer stories about one or two women. It did introduce me to some women I might like to more know about.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

More Than Petticoats is a fun, entertaining vacation read; something to pick up as a tourist in Jerome or Sedona. However, for an overview of truly remarkable Arizona women it misses the mark. The majority of the women profiled were role models who left an enduring legacy, however, several of the women included in the book seem to be there either for pure entertainment value (Pearl Hart - female train robber) or to promote diversity (Carmen Lee Ban - Asian business owner). While all of the women included were outstanding in many ways, there are hundreds of others with even more noteworthy accomplishments that could have easily had a chapter devoted to them. Wynne Brown is an engaging writer, with a true gift for storytelling. I do wish she had looked a little further, and perhaps had been a little less politically correct in her effort to be so inclusive. Having said all this, I *do* recommend the book as an introduction to the rugged, pioneering women who helped shape the amazing state of Arizona.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all the books in this series, a good read about women pioneers in the state of Arizona. The last story was about an ancester of Linda Ronstadt. Included several great quotes from Polingaysi Qoyawayma, a Hopi Indian, regarding the conflict students may feel between supporting their culture or getting an education. Also learned about a ruin, Elden Pueblo, that is still being studied today. Over all a fun, quick read.