A Lady’s Ranch Life in Montana (Volume 67)

by Isabel F. Randall, Richard L. Saunders, Shirley A. Leckie (Foreword)

"A faithful and unvarnished Record of a Settler’s Life" is how Isabel Randall described her letters when they were first published in 1887. Many foreign travelers published accounts of their visits to the American West, but Randall was one of the few European women to write about the western experience from the inside. In 1884 Randall and her husband settled on a ranch in Montana hoping to make their fortune in the livestock boom. Randall’s letters home to England describe the practical affairs of daily life, rural social interactions, and the natural world around her. Her letters are cheerful, but they also suggest why the Randalls ultimately failed to achieve financial success. In this new edition of A Lady’s Ranch Life in Montana , Richard L. Saunders supplements Randall’s letters with notes and an extensive introduction drawn from a wealth of primary sources. He sketches the Randalls’ lives before and after their western adventure, describes the stock industry that drew them to Montana, places Isabel’s letters in the context of English attitudes toward Americans, and discusses her neighbors’ reactions to her criticisms of local society.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Qt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this collection of letters was historically interesting but also charmingly written. Considering Isabel's background and the location, it was a bit different from other viewpoints I'd read, which was great. I would have loved more photos but I can certainly understand why there are so few!

[Raquel A.]

It was interesting learning about what a women did on a ranch without a lot of other women close by.