The Adventures of The Woman Homesteader: The Life and Letters of Elinore Pruitt Stewart

by Susanne K. George Bloomfield, Susanne K. George

Generations of readers have delighted in Elinore Pruitt Stewart's Letters of a Woman Homesteader (1914) and Letters on an Elk Hunt (1915), among the most engaging accounts of life in the American West. Stewart related her adventures on an isolated Wyoming homestead with such vividness, gusto, and sympathy that she has become the woman homesteader. Until now, however, little has been known about her except what she chose to reveal in her published letters. Old friends and new acquaintances alike will welcome this book combining Stewart's previously unpublished or uncollected letters with Susanne K. George's extensive research. Here is as full and candid a portrait as wella re ever likely to have of The Woman Homesteader: the illness, disappointments, and grinding hard work that lay behind her genial public persona; the family, neighbors, and correspondents who peopled her letter-stories and shared her life.

George has discovered in Elinore Pruitt Stewart a story fully as rewarding as any told by the Woman Homesteader herself. In an afterword George considers Stewart's use of fictional devices and her growth as a writer as well as her place in American letters.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Womens

218 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1992

Reviews

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'm in the minority here on this one. I'm conflicted with my thoughts. Stewart was an eternal optimist and often wrote so positive that it's unbelievable and seemed fictionalized at times. It was confusing of who she was writing letters to and if they really were true stories or the short stories she'd write for Eastern publications. She loved people but wanted to live in remote Wyoming and invited people to stay at their homestead. It was sad that she passed away young at 57. This is early 1900's, not the pioneer days of 1800's if that gives you perspective on a time period.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dearly love Elinore Pruitt Stewart's two collections of letters, "Letters of a Woman Homesteader" and "Letters on an Elk Hunt." They're flavorful and fascinating and fun. And the fact that they're mostly based in fact is just sooooooo cool to me.

Well, this is a combination biography of Stewart and a collection of MORE of her letters. It shows just how much care she put into crafting her writings, more than I'd realized, but also highlights her brave pioneer spirit. Yes, she consciously wrote many of her letters specifically to reach a wider audience than just the person the letter is addressed to. Yes, she mixed fiction with facts when recounting some things. Yes, I like her and her writing even more after learning more about her real self.

Stewart had an amazing, adventurous life. She chose to share that lifestyle with others through letters both public and private, and the fact that we can read those letters today fills me with joy.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the background to Elinore Stewart's books. Let's call it a giant depressing buzz kill. Where Elinore was maybe the most positive person alive, this book tells of all of the hardships of living in the frontier days. Like: if you get sick, it could be life threatening, it never seems to fully get better, it's never simple. Like: farm accidents happen all the time, and they are lethal. Like: your husband had a mental instability, but where medicine would solve it, she had to deal with years of unpredictable behavior. Things like that. But still interesting.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7

After reading the two books of letters by Pruitt, I wanted to know more about her, so was pleased when I came across this title. The letters that weren't included in the original books fill in some of the blanks about the 'woman homesteader.' I was pleasantly surprised to find more references to Colorado than I expected, especially the comments about Berthoud Pass (which she crossed in 1926 with horse and wagon), West Portal, and Rabbit Ears.

There is an index, but the topics I wanted to see were often not included, so I added them. The photos are a wonderful addition, but I wish there had been a picture of one of the letters.

from the preface, p xiii:
How Stewart interpreted her life, what she chose to tell, and what the facts of her life reveal present an interesting contrast [to the published collections] for her unfaltering optimism concealed a life of poverty, illness, and hard work.

p 47, re WWI years
She even raised sugar beets and attempted to make sugar. Since she had no way to separate the molasses from the sugar—to crystallize out the white sugar—the sugar was black.

p 87
... your sense of touch would tell you of the mountains; but there is still another feel as Opal of the understanding Heart would put it.
Great reference! Does Bloomfield know about Opal? If so, she didn't mention the connection, which is very appropriate. I imagine that EPS would have loved Opal's story.

p 158, in one of the story letters, a character says:
We had both found war to be, not the glorious thing we had thought, but a foolish, useless, filthy slaughter. Morals, decency, thrown to the winds.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting biography of Elinore Stewart, the most famous woman homesteader, thanks to the publication of letters she wrote from Wyoming in the early 1900s. Stewart was an unflagging optimist, making her life of hard work in harsh conditions sound like a glorious adventure. Susznne George helps separate some of the fact and fiction. The book includes many of her Stewart's unpublished letters in addition to excerpts from the works that made her famous.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letters of Elinore Pruitt Stewart outline the hardworking life as a woman homesteading with her family in Wyoming in the early 1900's. The love of exploring the desolate areas she lived in, taking off with an elderly neighbor to break up casks of moonshine hidden in the mountains; after helping to deliver a neighbor's baby, getting lost in a blizzard on her way home but surviving by her wits and her love of writing. A fascinating look at a strong woman of the early 1900's.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read Elinore’s book “Letters of a Woman Homesteader”, this book was interesting to read. I liked hearing more about her personally and getting some more insight into her life through some other letters she wrote. Occasionally it became cumbersome to read some parts just to glean what was interesting to me.

[Kathy Krieg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started of slow, different way of writing. Interesting story but would have liked more information.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it read in 1990s

[Amy Dance · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Linn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read but at times slow.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compilation of letters written by Elinor Stewart in the first third if the 20th century when she and her family homesteader in remote southwestern Wyoming.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts out slow, Almost gave up. SO GLAD I DIDN'T!!!! As time moves on, the stories told in the letters becomes so fun and interesting. Great history, great woman, great family. real and loving. So glad this history was preserved! Thank you, Susanne K. George

[Bonnie Dieffenbacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love this book, but it was ok. It bouced around and I didn't know which letters were true and which were made up. It wasn't really what I expected. I have read other true books about early pioneer women that were much better.

[Vikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book is the life and letters of Elinore Pruitt Stewart. This was in Wyoming in 1930- 1933. The loved adventures. I loved this book.

[Carolyn Di Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Little House on the Prairie all grown up!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this delightful book.

[Truitti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book written by a working woman in the 1900s. She wrote so beautifully. I bought this ebook from Amazon.

[Michelle]

Such an interesting book, and Pruitt Stewart sounds like quite a woman.