A Woman who went to Alaska

by May Kellogg Sullivan

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, History

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1902

Reviews

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this woman had a lot of spunk to travel alone to Alaska in 1900. This was more of a day to day diary than a 'novel'. She did whatever work she could find to keep her fed & housed. She held a variety of jobs. She never complained of the conditions. Her style of writing (back in the 1900's) was plain and the story lacked a 'story line' other than her own day to day adventures. It was not an action packed story like we would read written today but I found it terribly interesting. It was not the type of read that had a 'plot'.

However she was married, and it made me wonder how she could be away for 2 yrs! Never was she met at the dock by her husband at the end of her 2 journeys from Alaska.This was never explained.

It was written in simple language just explaining what she did from day to day. If it was not so interesting to me one could find it a bit boring as days to quite often the same with little changing, but when it did change it sure did change. The wording used (in 1900) made to stop & try to figure out exactly what she meant at times.

She went from a passenger on a nice cruiser to a dish washer where some of the passengers snubbing her when she'd taken a job dishwashing upon arriving in Nome. Then she took a job as a cook at a gold mine, then later on as a teacher/nanny. She was resourceful and did what she had to do. I found it really interesting how many different living accomodations she found her self in.

I really enjoyed this book as well as the "tales of a sourdough' written in the same style in 1910.

[E Haag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical novel Alaska

Good read. Definitely literate, easy to picture what the author was describing. I recommend this book to take you away.

[Ebook Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. The e-book version can be found at:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-wo...

[Paula Schumm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook in preparation for a trip to Alaska. This is May Sullivan’s memoir of her trip to Alaska at the turn of the twentieth century.

[LS · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book everywhere during my own month-long Alaskan expedition and was pleased to find it listed on Librivox. After trying to make it through the last couple of sad-sack diaries viz. Tchaikovsky and Forten-Grimke, I figured this was the best way to make it savory. Fortunately, it was read by a woman with a delightful gee-whiz-willikers type of voice and Sullivan had sworn to keep a positive mental attitude during her trip. As a fearless go getter, she keeps the reader updated on the weather, the time of the sunrises/sunsets, the sights, her impressions and a few stories of others' experiences. Thoughout the book she maintains an atmosphere of awe and appreciation for the natural beauty of Alaska--and a little melodramatic suspense. I was a bit tickled at the way she always kept a running count on the number of persons of each ethnicity who were around at any given time. I suppose that way she would always know if there were enough people present to divide up into a quick game of soccer!

A one point she was almost feeling smug about not being harassed by any men during her trip. She wondered what all the fuss was about. Then Sullivan was badgered with a vengence, yet ever quick thinking and resourceful she makes her way home safely. In retrospect, it seemed as though her stay was over in no time. _Three Years of Arctic Service_ might offer more depth.

[Jennifer Zartman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the armchair adventure aspects of this book, and the spunk and determination of the author, though some parts moved very slowly, and some lacked clarity. In keeping with the style of the day, she occasionally alluded to a situation or an emotion but refrained from spelling out the details that might cause her to look indelicate. For example, she mentioned that she was glad to find a piano in one of the houses she stayed in. She talked about other ladies taking a lesson and about singing around the organ in the evenings, but it took a number of pages for me to figure out that SHE gave the lessons and played for the sing along. Perhaps she sought to avoid conceit, but it confused me. About half way through the book she referred to herself as Mrs. Sullivan, which also surprised me. I had to go back and re-read the introduction to verify her married state. She never mentioned her husband in the narrative, which struck me as strange, and I wondered at a married woman leaving home for 18 months at a stretch. I concluded that her marriage didn't bring either party satisfaction, so they lived separate lives. These aspects give an interesting look at the social mores and expectations of the time and the changes in our society over the last 110 years, and I liked reading a first hand account of life in Alaska.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing that a woman in the 1899-1900 time period would travel alone to Alaska, be involved in the gold rush, take on a variety of jobs and live in uncomfortable conditions and maintain her safety and integrity. I have to admire her courage.

[Karen Winbourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun to read especially if you are traveling in or returned from Alaska.

[Velvetink]

epub version

[GoldenGerbera · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice peek in to women lifes in Alaska. With few retold exciting stories :)