The
Leadville Herald
Democrat
by Marcia Martinek
Herald Editor
With
the many
events
surrounding
the library's "One
Book, One
Community," we
figured the
least we could
do was read "Leaden
Skies," the
most recent
book in the
series by
Ann Parker,
set in Leadville.
Under normal
circumstances,
we might venture
a full-fledged
review of
the book,
but since
it will be
the topic
of upcoming
discussions,
we don't want
to spoil anything
for the other
readers.
We do have
a couple of
safe comments.
Parker has
said that
she writes
with a map
of old-time
Leadville
on her wall
so that she
can steer
her characters
in the right
directions.
We really
appreciate
this. When
you know the
town, there's
nothing so
disconcerting
as having
the characters
head off to
a landmark
and go across
the wrong
street.
Much of the
action in
Parker's books
- there are
now three
in the series
- takes place
on the infamous
State Street,
home of saloons,
gambling palaces
and brothels.
The main character,
Inez Stannert,
runs a saloon
there, and
Parker probably
sets the scene
pretty accurately.
In fact we
were left
thinking that
perhaps it's
time to change
the name from
2nd Street
back to State
Street. It
was clearly
an important
part of our
history, although
the street
is hardly
the same as
it was back
in 1880.
Think
we could
launch
a "Bring
back State
Street" campaign
without running
into controversy?
One fascinating
part of the
book was the
way in which
H.A.W. Tabor
is portrayed.
You know how
Leadville
likes to take
sides, and
we've all
likely made
our choice
between Baby
Doe and Augusta.
Likewise people
seem to have
conflicting
opinions of
Tabor. Parker
has decided
that he's
a lecher.
Augusta appears
in the book,
but there
is a clear
estrangement
between the
couple, and
she is mostly
living in
Denver. Baby
Doe is not
mentioned,
but she is
likely tucked
away in her
suite at the
Clarendon
Hotel.
It's an interesting
portrayal
of Leadville's
main man.
At the Herald,
we aren't
really Tabor
fans. We know
from reading
C.C. Davis'
book that
Tabor once
owned the
Herald and
used it to
further his
political
ambitions.
In the process
he almost
put Davis
out of business
by discounting
the ads and
other schemes.
Davis who,
at the time,
owned the
Leadville
Chronicle,
finally tricked
Tabor into
selling him
the Herald
which was
subsequently
combined with
the Democrat.
It's a good
story.
We have to
take Davis'
side in this
whole thing
as he's Herald
Democrat family.
Slightly mad,
of course,
as are most
journalists.
About the
only complaint
we have regarding
Parker's book,
and she likely
knows this
is coming,
is the ending,
which is a
cliff hanger.
C'mon Ann,
do we really
have to wait
a few more
years to find
out what happens?
Parker is
going to be
in Leadville
around Boom
Days, appearing
twice at the
Book Mine
and once at
the library.
We'll be tracking
her down with
a few subtle
questions
about book
#4. Off the
record, of
course.
|
