O Rugged Land of Gold

Rating:
Summary: Captivating!
Review: A friend loaned me this book and the minute I started reading it, it was difficult to put down. While going to southeastern Alaska for the first time myself this past summer to fish, I related to Helen's story in the total awesomeness of Alaska's remote beauty and ruggedness. What she handled as a woman from the east, truely amazed me. I was raised out west and consider myself a strong woman. But with her having her baby on her own and taking care of both herself and her baby was admirable in my eyes. A very well written book. I'm into her second book now.

Rating:
Summary: O Rugged Land of Gold
Review: Great story of perserverance and courage. It was loaned to me by a friend who had seen the made for cable movie. He had the book ordered for him. I have passed the book on twice since! It is great. How do I get to see the cable movie? What channel? Do you have any information on obtaining a copy of it? PLEASE.......

Rating:
Summary: Amazing, Wonderful, Magnetic!
Review: I just finished this book an hour ago and it is truely wonderful. I started it yesterday and stopped only to sleep and go to work. It is a truely captivating story. If you love the wilderness, strong women or tangible spirituality you can grab hold of...this is the book for you. I can't say I have enjoyed a book more in a very, very long time.

Rating:
Summary: Best book I ever read!
Review: I really have enjoyed this book. It is spell binding. Now I am reading her next book "Home in the Bear's Domain". I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Best book I ever read!
Review: If you want to truly feel the rugged Alaskan gold days, to sense the raw courage of survival and to be deeply inspired by success, Martha Martin won't disappoint. Her graphic journal of days spent alone in a gold mining camp is well written - it comes from the heart. You feel as though you are experiencing her experience. Many days I feel as though faced with insurmountable challenges - her attitude, her grace and courage have given me new perspectives. I have a grand desire to go to Alaska - her book will tie me over until I actually get there!

Rating:
Summary: More biography
Review: In response to the unnamed author of the expose of Martha Martin's history, here are a few more facts:

She was born Orphlia Hellen Mullen, to parents James Frank Mullen and Lillie Ann McMurray in Jasper co Illinois, on 3rd Oct 1896. This is consistent with the 1st edition flyleaf "Born in Indiana".

She Married Clyde Leonard Devol on 30th July 1914 in Pueblo co Colorado, producing a son Clyde Elmer Devol on 23rd May 1915. She was divorced on 9th July 1925.

She had a son, Laurence Bolyan, by her second husband George Bolyan on 27th March 1924 (ie before the divorce date to Devol! Risky stuff in the 1920's). Her second son, Dace Bolyan, was born on 9th November 1928. George Bolyan adopted the son from the previous marriage (Clyde Elmer Devol) on 4th September 1928 in Fairbanks Alaska, renaming him Clyde Bolyan.

So where does this leave us? The dates and ages of the children are consistent with a biographical element dating from the Winter of 1928. "Martin"s parents' names are Irish (Mullen and McMurray), as indeed is the pen-name of Martin - so the Irish immigrant Great-Grandfather is plausible. The Alaska connection is certainly there from the place of adoption of Clyde.

So I think that all told this is a semi-biographical tale, substantially padded out and linked together for book publication. Interestingly, my copy of the book is a First Edition Canadian printing, signed by Martin.

And did I enjoy the book - yes!

Rating:
Summary: Please: It's Fiction For Pete's Sake
Review: Not to burst anyones bubble but this book is a novel... and while many maintain it's based on the author's TRUE experiences I'm here to tell you that the big climax, the birth of her son, is totally bogus.

1.] Martha MARTIN is the pen name of Helen MULLEN. Helen isn't even her real name as she chose to drop her given name of Orpha Myrtle. She was the first wife of my grandfather, Clyde L DeVOL. They were married 30 July 1914 in Pueblo Co CO and divorced 7 September 1925 in Cook Co IL. They had lived apart apart since 1918. Clyde came home on a "surprise" leave from the navy [WWI] and, as he put it, "found her in bed" with another man.

2.] Their son Clyde E. DeVOL was indeed born in a log cabin but it was hardly in the "wilds" of Alaska. He was born 23 May 1915 at his grandfather's summer cabin in Iron Co MO. This nearly 10 years before his mother ever set foot in Alaska.

A well written and gripping NOVEL, perhaps. Based on reality, hardly.