Doc Holliday's Woman

I first learned about the book -DOC HOLLIDAY'S WOMAN- from an article in the June '05 The Writer magazine. Titled "At Home On The Range," Jerry Airth's article about Jane Candia Coleman fascinated me. Among other things his text assured me that Ms. Coleman takes great care to give her work (over 22 books so far) an "authentic voice," and that her research and attention to detail is remarkable. Because of this impressive recommendation I read -DOC HOLLIDAY'S WOMAN-and am delighted to report that everything Mr. Airth said about Ms. Coleman rings true. I enjoyed this book not only because it's an excellent page turner, but also because, thanks to the impeccable research, I now have a clearer understanding of life for women in the Old West.

Even after reading the Reviews,I was surprised how good this book really is.Anyone who has any interest in the "Wild West" knows something about Doc Holliday,Wyatt Earp,Tombstone,Dodge,and even a bit about Kate Elder will find this an excellent account of the people,places and events. The one big thing about reading about the "Wild West" is trying to sort out the truth from fiction. Coleman uses the interviews carried out with Kate Elder herself in the 1930's by Prof.Bork and Glenn Boyer ,the world authority on Wyatt Earp, as sources of her information. In reading reviews I found a companion book "Doc.Holliday- A Family Portrait" by Karen Holliday Tanner & Robert Dearmont.In the reviews for that book you will see a review by [email protected],who is mentioned in the Acknowledgments to Colemns book.These reviews attest to the validity of the material.Hey,I'M convinced. What Coleman does is tell us the real personalities behind these people. After all,these were real people,real times and real events. An excellent read, and in my humble opinion more of a Biography than a Novel.

I enjoyed this book as I have few others. The story of Kate had me completely captivated and I could not put it down. I knew little of this fascinating woman before reading the book, but Jane Candia Coleman makes her live. She makes it so believable and real that I could almost feel myself on the trail to Dodge with Kate and Doc. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history.

Jane Coleman has written a wonderful book on Kate Elder. Most importantly, even though the book is clearly labeled historical fiction, Jane's sources and research makes even the fiction ring true, and presents new facts as it goes. I normally don't read fiction but could not put down Doc Holliday's Woman. George Laughead Jr., President, Ford County Historical Society, Dodge City, KS (it goes without saying that Karen Holliday Tanner's book, Doc Holliday: A Family Portrait, is also a must-read for anyone interested in the Old West--but everyone else has already said that!)

Jane Candia Coleman's fictional story about a Kate Elder, aka (Big Nose Kate), brings to life someone who was just a brief footnote in history.(She was Doc Hollidays woman). The book created a warm living flesh and blood person in the minds eye and tugs at the heart strings over the events surounding this womans life. Jane has the ability to make you feel as if you are really there witnessing and feeling what Kate saw, felt, and lived through. Kate Elder and John Holliday are no longer just footnotes in some dusty history tome, but still live in the minds eye.