The Trials of Annie Oakley

THE TRAILS OF ANNIE OAKLEY               HOWARD KAZANJIAN

Long before the screen placed the face of Mary Pickford before the eyes of millions of Americans, this girl, born August 13, 1860 as Phoebe Anne Oakley Moses, had won the right to the title of "America's Sweetheart." Having grown up learning to shoot game to help support her family, Annie won first prize and met her future husband at a shooting match when she was fifteen years old. He convinced her to change her name to Annie Oakley and became her husband, manager, and number-one fan for the next fifty years. Annie quickly gained worldwide fame as an incredible crack shot, and could amaze audiences at her uncanny accuracy with nearly any rifle or pistol, whether aiming at stationary objects or shooting fast-flying targets from the cockpit of a moving airplane. Despite struggles with her health and even a long, drawn-out legal battle with media magnate William Randolph Hearst, Annie Oakley poured her energy into advocating for the U.S. military, encouraging women to engage in sport shooting, and supporting orphans.

PAT'S REVIEW

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 is a train accident that would leave her in consent pain and back problems, the second being a trail against the most powerful newspaperman 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. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com