Embrace of the Wild

Author(s): Linda Ballou

Location(s): Hawai'i, The Rocky Mountains

Genre(s): Historical, Fiction

Era(s): 1873

Embrace of the Wild is the story of how one woman overcame social barriers, botched surgeries, and early overdosing, to lift herself from the invalid’s bed and become the best-loved travel writer of her day. (1831-1904) Isabella Bird spent six transformative months in Hawai’i where she regained her strength in the healing climate. Then she then ventured on to ride 800 miles solo in the Rocky Mountains. Isabella Bird’s vivid descriptions of Estes Park and the Front Range in her book A Ladies Life in the Rockies put the region on the map drawing tourists from around the globe. A rumored love affair with ruffian Rocky Mountain Jim, adds a tinge of romance to her story. She continued explorations around the world to off the beatenpath destinations in China, Korea and Japan. She gave inspiring talks about her travels and became the first woman inducted into the Scottish Geographical Society.

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