Lady at the O.K. Corral: The True Story of Josephine Marcus Earp

by Ann Kirschner

Overview

Lady at the O.K. Corral: The True Story of Josephine Marcus Earp by Ann Kirschner is the definitive biography of a Jewish girl from New York who won the heart of Wyatt Earp.

For nearly fifty years, she was the common-law wife of Wyatt Earp: hero of the O.K. Corral and the most famous lawman of the Old West. Yet Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp has nearly been erased from Western lore. In this fascinating biography, Ann Kirschner, author of the acclaimed Sala's Gift, brings Josephine out of the shadows of history to tell her tale: a spirited and colorful tale of ambition, adventure, self-invention, and devotion. Reflective of America itself, her story brings us from the post–Civil War years to World War II, and from New York to the Arizona Territory to old Hollywood.

In Lady at the O.K. Corral, you’ll learn how this aspiring actress and dancer—a flamboyant, curvaceous Jewish girl with a persistent New York accent—landed in Tombstone, Arizona, and sustained a lifelong partnership with Wyatt Earp, a man of uncommon charisma and complex heroism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061864513
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/04/2014
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	480,432
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Ann Kirschner is university dean of Macaulay Honors College at the City University of New York. She began her career as a lecturer in Victorian literature at Princeton University, where she earned her PhD. A writer of wide-ranging interests, she is the author of Sala's Gift and an innovator in education, media, and technology. She lives in New York City with her family.

Table of Contents

Prologue: In Which I Land on Planet Earp 1

1 A Jewish Girl in Tombstone 13

2 The Fourth Mrs. Earp 69

3 The Greatest Mining Camp the World Has Ever Known 89

4 Waiting for Wyatt 135

5 Josephine's Last Trail 177

6 Planet Earp 221

Acknowledgments 239

Earpnotes 243

Notes 247

Sources 263

Photo Credits 271

Index 273

About the Author 290

What People are Saying About This

Jeff Guinn

“Thanks to Ann Kirschner’s brilliant Lady at the O.K. Corral, we finally have the definitive story of Josie Earp. . . . This is a must-read book for anyone who loves narrative nonfiction, or simply enjoys a hellaciously well-told tale.”

Abigail Pogrebin

“In this vivid tale of romance and high drama, Ann Kirschner reveals the dark secrets of Wyatt Earp’s past and Josephine’s Jewish immigrant family.”

Bruce J. Dinges

“In this remarkable feat of historical sleuthing, Lady at the O.K. Corral paints a vibrant portrait of an uncommon couple whose love for one another and shared thirst for adventure took them to the farthest reaches of the Wild West during its blustery boom times.”

Hasia R. Diner

“A great piece of historical detection, Kirschner brings to life a woman who had previously been just a footnote, just an oddity. This book brims with the vibrancy of the Arizona Territory.”

David S. Ferriero

“A tour de force in the detective work of biography Ann Kirschner writes Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp back into American history. . . . A thoughtful and entertaining addition to the history of the American West, Jews in America, and the role of women in society.”

Julie Salamon

“Ann Kirschner brings a fresh, lively perspective to one of the great stories of the American frontier. Lady at the OK Corral reveals a fascinating intersection of Jewish history and the Wild West; its engaging narrative both celebrates and demystifies a legendary time and place.”

Harriet Rochlin

“With a passion for research and an engaging flair for prose, Ann Kirschner has composed a biography of Josephine Marcus Earp that is a pleasure to read.”

Thane Rosenbaum

“The story of Josephine Earp proves that even the best lawman in the Wild West needed a good woman to stand beside him, as improbable as their romance was, and as riveting a read as this book most certainly is.”

Stephen Aron

“Engrossing. . . . The life of Josephine that unfolds so vividly in these pages is as colorful and complicated as that of Wyatt and hers, the reader will discover, was the more remarkable journey.”

Editorial Reviews

Ann Kirschner has cleverly identified a parallel story buried under the debris of history: that of Josephine Marcus, for early 50 years Earp’s common-law wife and a valiant frontierswoman in her own right.” — New York Times Book Review

“Scrumptious is the only word to describe Lady at the O.K. Corral. This quick-paced biography has it all going on: sex, beauty, blood, guns, bad men and wild girls.” — USA Today

“Splendid.” — Wall Street Journal

“Lady is as engaging as a novel. She has provided a delightful, thoughtful account of a little-known woman who shared a half-century of devotion with a legend.” — American Jewish World

“Ann Kirschner’s well-researched Lady at the O.K. Corral exposes what many never knew about Earp and his times, but also significantly repositions what we did know with a commanding narrative.” — Express Milwaukee

“Highly recommended for Old West enthusiasts and scholars, high school and up.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Kirschner restores Josephine to her rightful historical place.” — The Forward

“An admiring and vivacious biography. . . . Kirschner’s fascinating profile captures the restless spirit of the frontier as deftly as it does Josephine’s energy, affection, and limitless appetite for adventure.” — Publishers Weekly

“Well-researched. . . . [An] engaging biography.” — Washington Independent Review of Books

“With vividness and certainty, Kirschner lays her story to rest at last. Tragedy, adventure, romance and scholarly investigation come together like pioneers to a boomtown, with something for Earp worshipers and casual readers alike.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Ann Kirschner brings a fresh, lively perspective to one of the great stories of the American frontier. Lady at the OK Corral reveals a fascinating intersection of Jewish history and the Wild West; its engaging narrative both celebrates and demystifies a legendary time and place.” — Julie Salamon, author of Wendy and the Lost Boys

“The story of Josephine Earp proves that even the best lawman in the Wild West needed a good woman to stand beside him, as improbable as their romance was, and as riveting a read as this book most certainly is.” — Thane Rosenbaum, author of The Golems of Gotham and Payback: The Case for Revenge

“Thanks to Ann Kirschner’s brilliant Lady at the O.K. Corral, we finally have the definitive story of Josie Earp. . . . This is a must-read book for anyone who loves narrative nonfiction, or simply enjoys a hellaciously well-told tale.” — Jeff Guinn, author of The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral - And How It Changed the American West

“In this remarkable feat of historical sleuthing, Lady at the O.K. Corral paints a vibrant portrait of an uncommon couple whose love for one another and shared thirst for adventure took them to the farthest reaches of the Wild West during its blustery boom times.” — Bruce J. Dinges, Arizona Historical Society

“A tour de force in the detective work of biography Ann Kirschner writes Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp back into American history. . . . A thoughtful and entertaining addition to the history of the American West, Jews in America, and the role of women in society.” — David S. Ferriero, Former Director of the New York Public Libraries

“Engrossing. . . . The life of Josephine that unfolds so vividly in these pages is as colorful and complicated as that of Wyatt and hers, the reader will discover, was the more remarkable journey.” — Stephen Aron, UCLA and Autry National Center

“With a passion for research and an engaging flair for prose, Ann Kirschner has composed a biography of Josephine Marcus Earp that is a pleasure to read.” — Harriet Rochlin, author of Pioneer Jews: A New Life in the Far West

“In this vivid tale of romance and high drama, Ann Kirschner reveals the dark secrets of Wyatt Earp’s past and Josephine’s Jewish immigrant family.” — Abigail Pogrebin, author of Stars of David

“A great piece of historical detection, Kirschner brings to life a woman who had previously been just a footnote, just an oddity. This book brims with the vibrancy of the Arizona Territory.” — Hasia R. Diner, author of A Time for Gathering

“Kirschner brings Josephine out of the shadows to at last tell her story, a colorful and spirited tale of ambition, grit, adventure and self-invention, all set against the exciting backdrop of the panorama of the West.” — King's Features Review

“A colorful tale of ambition, adventure, self-invention and romance.” — Bismarck Tribune

From the Publisher

Splendid.

Wall Street Journal

Ann Kirschner has cleverly identified a parallel story buried under the debris of history: that of Josephine Marcus, for early 50 years Earp’s common-law wife and a valiant frontierswoman in her own right.

New York Times Book Review

Ann Kirschner’s well-researched Lady at the O.K. Corral exposes what many never knew about Earp and his times, but also significantly repositions what we did know with a commanding narrative.

Express Milwaukee

Scrumptious is the only word to describe Lady at the O.K. Corral. This quick-paced biography has it all going on: sex, beauty, blood, guns, bad men and wild girls.

USA Today

Lady is as engaging as a novel. She has provided a delightful, thoughtful account of a little-known woman who shared a half-century of devotion with a legend.

American Jewish World

Well-researched. . . . [An] engaging biography.

Washington Independent Review of Books

Kirschner restores Josephine to her rightful historical place.

The Forward

A colorful tale of ambition, adventure, self-invention and romance.

Bismarck Tribune

In this remarkable feat of historical sleuthing, Lady at the O.K. Corral paints a vibrant portrait of an uncommon couple whose love for one another and shared thirst for adventure took them to the farthest reaches of the Wild West during its blustery boom times.

Bruce J. Dinges

With a passion for research and an engaging flair for prose, Ann Kirschner has composed a biography of Josephine Marcus Earp that is a pleasure to read.

Harriet Rochlin

In this vivid tale of romance and high drama, Ann Kirschner reveals the dark secrets of Wyatt Earp’s past and Josephine’s Jewish immigrant family.

Abigail Pogrebin

A tour de force in the detective work of biography Ann Kirschner writes Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp back into American history. . . . A thoughtful and entertaining addition to the history of the American West, Jews in America, and the role of women in society.

David S. Ferriero

A great piece of historical detection, Kirschner brings to life a woman who had previously been just a footnote, just an oddity. This book brims with the vibrancy of the Arizona Territory.

Hasia R. Diner

Thanks to Ann Kirschner’s brilliant Lady at the O.K. Corral, we finally have the definitive story of Josie Earp. . . . This is a must-read book for anyone who loves narrative nonfiction, or simply enjoys a hellaciously well-told tale.

Jeff Guinn

Kirschner brings Josephine out of the shadows to at last tell her story, a colorful and spirited tale of ambition, grit, adventure and self-invention, all set against the exciting backdrop of the panorama of the West.

King's Features Review

The story of Josephine Earp proves that even the best lawman in the Wild West needed a good woman to stand beside him, as improbable as their romance was, and as riveting a read as this book most certainly is.

Thane Rosenbaum

Ann Kirschner brings a fresh, lively perspective to one of the great stories of the American frontier. Lady at the OK Corral reveals a fascinating intersection of Jewish history and the Wild West; its engaging narrative both celebrates and demystifies a legendary time and place.

Julie Salamon

Engrossing. . . . The life of Josephine that unfolds so vividly in these pages is as colorful and complicated as that of Wyatt and hers, the reader will discover, was the more remarkable journey.

Stephen Aron

Scrumptious is the only word to describe Lady at the O.K. Corral. This quick-paced biography has it all going on: sex, beauty, blood, guns, bad men and wild girls.

USA Today

Splendid.

Wall Street Journal

On an October afternoon in 1881, Wyatt Earp and his brothers, along with Doc Holliday, confronted a group of outlaws "in an open lot near the O.K. Corral" in Arizona Territory; the ensuing barrage of gunfire became the stuff of legend. The Earps and Holliday emerged as heroes, but standing in the shadows was Wyatt's fourth and final wife, Josephine, who, until now, was a specter of history. In this admiring and vivacious biography, Kirschner (Sala's Gift) brings the frontierswoman into the limelight. Born in New York City to Prussian Jews, Josephine (1860–1944) was a rebellious and lively young lady who disliked school but became "infatuated with the stage" after the family moved to San Francisco; there the aspiring thespian saw a performance of HMS Pinafore, and promptly joined a traveling acting troupe. By the time she was 20, Josephine had rolled into Tombstone, Arizona Territory, and met Wyatt Earp. The story follows the couple in search of new opportunities, from running a saloon in Alaska to getting in on the booming film industry in Hollywood. Kirschner's fascinating profile captures the restless spirit of the frontier as deftly as it does Josephine's energy, affection, and limitless appetite for adventure. 8-page b&w photo insert. Agent: Flip Brophy, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

From the dusty trails of the Old West emerges the story that Wyatt Earp's wife never wanted told: her own. A simple question from a friend about why Earp was buried in a Jewish cemetery prompted Kirschner (Dean of Macaulay Honors College at CUNY; Sala's Gift: My Mother's Holocaust Story, 2006) to uncover the truth of Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp, the fourth wife and most constant companion of the famed frontier hero. The author mines letters, archives and manuscripts to tell Josephine's story, panning for gold in a very muddy family history. After the showdown at the O.K. Corral and long before his death, newspapers and local lore had already made a legend of Wyatt and his family, with plenty of controversy and inconsistencies to fuel it further. To make matters more complicated, beautiful and theatrical Josephine was hard at work on her own self-made myth, burying her poor, Jewish origins and obscuring the more tragic, scandalous and, consequently, interesting periods of her life. From Tombstone to Nome to Los Angeles, Josephine created a maze of challenges for her future biographers, all of which Kirschner handles skillfully. Even with all of the rootless couple's many adventures to recount, nearly half the book is an untangling of the drama that began just a few years before Wyatt's death in 1929 and continued through the rest of Josephine's life and into the next century. With vividness and certainty, Kirschner lays her story to rest at last. Tragedy, adventure, romance and scholarly investigation come together like pioneers to a boomtown, with something for Earp worshipers and casual readers alike.

Kirkus Reviews