An Army of One

摘要

The promise of "pockets full of money" and a carefree life in the wide-open spaces motivated thousands to pull up stakes and head out to the untamed West. Many were "reluctant pioneers." women bidding sorrowful farewells to friends and family in orderto dutifully follow their husbands. Unfortunately, for most, the arrival to this land of promise only added to their regrets. "An Army of One" attempts to capture and relive the experiences of these courageous female settlers. These first-hand accountsreveal the sorrow of caring for a husband who has been badly burned; finding one's spouse's frozen corpse; losing a child to illness; watching one's home succumb to floodwaters; and more. They faced fire, wild beast, drought, and "hail as big as eggs." But they persevered and transformed the Canadian West, paving the way for this region to become the success story that it is today.