Introduction(from the reader's guide) to One Thousand White Women
One Thousand White Women is the story of May Dodd and a colorful assembly of pioneer women who, under the auspices of the U.S. government, travel to the western prairies in 1875 to intermarry among the Cheyenne Indians. The covert and controversial "Brides for Indians" program, launched by the administration of Ulysses S. Grant, is intended to help assimilate the Indians into the white man's world. Toward that end May and her friends embark upon the adventure of their lifetime. Jim Fergus has so vividly depicted the American West that it is as if these diaries are a capsule in time.

This was a very interesting story and I enjoyed it very much. May Dodd's story is compelling from being put in an insane asylum for living with a man and bearing his children out of wedlock , to her decision to be one of the thousand brides for the Indians as a way to escape the asylum.
I found her to be a great strong woman far ahead of her time. The other women who were on this journey with her were a colorful assortment of characters. I loved the names some of these Indians and white women ended up with (Fact or Fiction who knows). Jim Fergus wrote this book with such detail that I almost felt like an observer to the events happening in May's life. I enjoyed the journal details and the colorful way May sometimes explained things, and I felt for her when she was missing her children but understood her reasoning behind not jumping off the train and going back to them.
The ending left me a little sad but still a great enjoyable book. ( )

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it with my book club while I was living in Colorado (near the author) and then suggested it to my new book club when I moved to the east coast a few years later. It is a book that gives the reader a lot to think about and lends itself to many interesting discussions. ( )

This was one of those books that you get totally envoloved emotionally in. I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud, and cried actual tears while reading a book. I don't know if it is because I have such a rich native american back ground, or that these stories touch me because of the history in and of itself. I loved the fact the this is one book that didn't leave you wondering what happened next, to everyone in the story, it was wrapped up all nice and neat. loved it and would tell anyone to read it. ( )

Brides sent to marry Indians. Very interesting premise with fact and fiction mingling. ( )

Why did it take me so long to know about this book???? I LOVED it! How can you NOT love a book about a white woman in 1875 agreeing to be a bride to an Indian for the Federal Government in exchange for her release from the insane asylum? Brilliant. Plus, at the beginning of the book the author notes that 5% of all profits benefit St. Labre (organization benefiting American Indians).

I finished this book a few days ago, and like a great meal or vacation, it just keeps getting better the more I remember it. The characters were all so individual, unique, and with different voices. It was amazing to think that a white man could capture voices of white women as well as Indian men and women in the 1800's so well. I honestly felt as if I was there with May Dodd...everything seemed so real.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the American West, Indian relations, or relationships between families, friends and adversaries. Such a lovely read. ( )