Helen Cody Wetmore (1850–1911)

well I have finished this book and have mixed feeling. Most of those mixed feelings come from our perception of the times when the west was being conquered and settled by the white man. Ms. Cody Wetmore is certainly proud of her brother Buffalo Bill she touts the praises of him at every page. It is interesting to see him progress fro a young boy of 8 years old to a showman carrying his shows of American West to Europe.

The descriptions of the "red man" are mixed... she shows respect for several chiefs and even suggests that much of the problems between white and red were caused by the American government of the time not honoring their treaties. But then she discusses the slaughter of hostiles. and praises General Custer as a family friend... so it is mixed... but then we are not living in those times and have the benefit of historical hindsight.

A decent read, You gain a different insight into Buffalo Bill Cody but also Wild Bill Hickok and other notables of the west... indian and white.... you also gain an insight of white America spreading civilization into a savage land... or that is how they see it anyway… (mer)