Martha Canary better known as Calamity Jane is one of the more intriguing figures to emerge from the already colorful history of the Old West. Her rough-and-ready nature lent itself well to her environment: She drank hard and smoked cigars, took nonsense from no one, loved to brag about her adventures, and was not afraid to wear men's clothing if it made it easier to drive a mule train or ride a horse. While precious little evidence exists to prove some of her more outlandish claims, Calamity Jane has nonetheless remained an enduring legend of the Wild West. This new biography delves into what is known about Calamity Jane and her legacy as part of the Old West landscape.
