This book while somewhat adequately covering the life of Annie Oakley is disappointing in that a major portion of the book has copies of articles from newspapers of that era and journal entries and notes from Annie. It is a short book to begin with (making it a very quick read), but it truly lacks the depth of what I would expect in a biography of anyone.

I recomend this book only for those looking for a quick overview on the life of Annie Oakley.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook and Twitter pages.

The author takes you through Annie Oakley’s life. Childhood when her father died and began shooting to put food on the table, to one day watching an exhibition of trick shooting, to then competing against the man who would later become her husband. She won the completion and would go on to win many, many more. The author also weaves the love story of the two people and how two events would change her life. One being a train accident that would leave her in consent pain and back problems, the second being a trail against the most powerful newspaper man in America William Rudolph Hearst. I had always thought it was one trail but really it was 55, and could have been more but other newspaper settled with her out of court. Here is the thing after the very first trail that it was proven that the papers were wrong and she won and they were order to print a retraction. Hearst did so in small print towards the back page, while her original story made front page headlines she felt that she should have the retraction on the front page. Hearst did not agree, and did not like to be told what to do. He also did not think she would travel around fighting each and every one of the cases. He was wrong on both accounts and every time he went to jury he lost. Her case is still taught today in law school amazing. The papers that settled and print a retraction paid a small fee to a local orphanage in town. What most people did not know is that she help many different charities until she passed. This story also talks about her time with the Wild West show and traveling to Europe. Also goes into their love for one another and how they passed away within weeks of each other. A very good book about a fascinating women.

This was a ton of information that I just didn't know. I've loved Annie Oakley since I first saw the Musical as a kid. And from that point on I did know stuff like the fact that in real life Frank didn't win against Annie, but married her aside from who won and who lost. But, there was cool new stuff in here like the fact that they met and married before they started traveling with Cody.

I hadn't known she was an actress either, that was really cool info to find out, and the book had a lot of that in there. All her life after Cody's show was super interesting. She seemed very committed to teaching women (and men to a lesser degree) how to properly shoot and seemed totally obsessed with making every one in the country a trap shooter.

I also hadn't known about how she went up against Hearst and his burgeoning empire in a ton of libel lawsuits and that changed the US too.

I wonder if not for Joel Sayre and John Twist (first movie with Barbara Stanwyk) about Annie and then Rodgers and Hammerstein then would we all know more about this great lady. The former writers took away the fact that Annie won and Frank married her, and then Rodgers and Hammerstein totally destroyed their characters. And this book did a good job revealing the real (and awesome) Annie Oakley.

Also, one of my favorite parts of the book was the pictures. They were totally awesome.

I was given this ARC by Netgalley on behalf of TwoDot.

This is a biography that can be enjoyed by all ages

I am definitely one of those who knew of Annie Oakley only for her gun touting Wild West time with Buffalo Bill Cody. But she was so much more than that. A devoted wife and champion of charities; a advocate women owning guns and being in the military; the victim and fighter of yellow jacket journalism; an actress; and the list goes on and on. (Interestingly, she was against woman’s suffrage.)

Annie came from a poor family and started shooting game as a way to provide. Eventually meeting and beating her future husband, Frank, at a shooting competition sparked the start of her career.

However, an issue I had with this biography was that so much of it seemed excerpted from newspapers back then. It’s a short book and the amount used seemed equivalent to what a hefty bio would have. There were also many passages from journals and letters. I have nothing against using sources this way, but it became a little excessive.

Very interesting account of the life of Annie Oakley. The books documents her life from her meager beginnings in Ohio to her rise to fame as the premier woman sharpshooter of the west. I was very interested in learning about the legal proceedings against newspapers reporting what turned out to be fake news about Annie and her life ater Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. She was a true American folk hero.

I really enjoyed this biography. Even though it was short, it contained a lot of content. I learned a lot about Annie Oakley. She became a real person instead of just a Wild West Legend. Recommend to all readers who like to read biographies!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to read The Trials of Annie Oakley. This is my honest review.

I already knew quite a bit about Annie Oakley from learning about her and admiring her growing up. I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is a lot of information for the length, but it never feels like facts are just being thrown at you. It kept my attention and was very easy to read.

I think this could be enjoyed by people who know a bit about Annie Oakley just as well as those who don't! I would especially recommend it to those fascinated by Wild West stories and by those interested in learning more about notable women in history.

The Trials of Annie Oakley

by Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss

Rowman & Littlefield

TwoDot



Biographies & Memoirs , Nonfiction (Adult)

Pub Date 01 Oct 2017

I am reviewing a copy of The Trials Of Annie Oakley Through Rowman & Littlefield and Netgalley:

Annie Oakley fell in love and married the first man she defeated in a riffle match. Frank E Butler was one of most noted marksmen in the west and he and Annie Oakley were married for fifty years.

Annie Oakley was a combination of dainty famine charms and lead bullets. Annie Oakley is also known as America’s first sweetheart after winning first prize at a shooting match as a teenager. She quickly earned world wide fame as a crack shot.

Annie Oakley was born Phoebe Ann Moses on August.13.1860. She was born in Darke County, Ohio. One of seven children her family struggled with poverty. After her Father died when she was around six years old Annie learned to use the gun her Father left behind to hunt to provide food for the family.

Annie Oakley began her career with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show in 1885.

On August.18.1908 Annie Oakley’s Mom passed away at seventy six, and was laid to rest at Mendehall Cemetery in Yorkshire, Darke County Ohio. She was of course heartbroken but spurred on to Pennsylvania for shooting matches in the following month.

Annie Oakley believed that children should be taught how to shoot properly. In 1901 the markswoman would become paralyzed.

By the end of 1926 Annie and Frank were both in failing health. And on November.03.1926 she succumbed to the illness, she was sixty six. On November.21.1926 Frank too would die, never recovering from the loss of his wife.

I give The Trials Of Annie Oakley five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!