The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America
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- Create Date：2022-06-18 03:19:39
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Elizabeth Letts
- ISBN：0525619348
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Summary
The triumphant true story of a woman who rode her horse across America in the 1950s， fulfilling her dying wish to see the Pacific Ocean， from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Horse and The Eighty-Dollar Champion
"The gift Elizabeth Letts has is that she makes you feel you are the one taking this trip。 This is a book we can enjoy always but especially need now。"--Elizabeth Berg， author of The Story of Arthur Truluv
In 1954， sixty-three-year-old Maine farmer Annie Wilkins embarked on an impossible journey。 She had no money and no family， she had just lost her farm， and her doctor had given her only two years to live。 But Annie wanted to see the Pacific Ocean before she died。 She ignored her doctor's advice to move into the county charity home。 Instead， she bought a cast-off brown gelding named Tarzan， donned men's dungarees， and headed south in mid-November， hoping to beat the snow。 Annie had little idea what to expect beyond her rural crossroads; she didn't even have a map。 But she did have her ex-racehorse， her faithful mutt， and her own unfailing belief that Americans would treat a stranger with kindness。
Annie， Tarzan， and her dog， Depeche Toi， rode straight into a world transformed by the rapid construction of modern highways。 Between 1954 and 1956， the three travelers pushed through blizzards， forded rivers， climbed mountains， and clung to the narrow shoulder as cars whipped by them at terrifying speeds。 Annie rode more than four thousand miles， through America's big cities and small towns。 Along the way， she met ordinary people and celebrities--from Andrew Wyeth （who sketched Tarzan） to Art Linkletter and Groucho Marx。 She received many offers--a permanent home at a riding stable in New Jersey， a job at a gas station in rural Kentucky， even a marriage proposal from a Wyoming rancher。 In a decade when car ownership nearly tripled， when television's influence was expanding fast， when homeowners began locking their doors， Annie and her four-footed companions inspired an outpouring of neighborliness in a rapidly changing world。
"The gift Elizabeth Letts has is that she makes you feel you are the one taking this trip。 This is a book we can enjoy always but especially need now。"--Elizabeth Berg， author of The Story of Arthur Truluv
In 1954， sixty-three-year-old Maine farmer Annie Wilkins embarked on an impossible journey。 She had no money and no family， she had just lost her farm， and her doctor had given her only two years to live。 But Annie wanted to see the Pacific Ocean before she died。 She ignored her doctor's advice to move into the county charity home。 Instead， she bought a cast-off brown gelding named Tarzan， donned men's dungarees， and headed south in mid-November， hoping to beat the snow。 Annie had little idea what to expect beyond her rural crossroads; she didn't even have a map。 But she did have her ex-racehorse， her faithful mutt， and her own unfailing belief that Americans would treat a stranger with kindness。
Annie， Tarzan， and her dog， Depeche Toi， rode straight into a world transformed by the rapid construction of modern highways。 Between 1954 and 1956， the three travelers pushed through blizzards， forded rivers， climbed mountains， and clung to the narrow shoulder as cars whipped by them at terrifying speeds。 Annie rode more than four thousand miles， through America's big cities and small towns。 Along the way， she met ordinary people and celebrities--from Andrew Wyeth （who sketched Tarzan） to Art Linkletter and Groucho Marx。 She received many offers--a permanent home at a riding stable in New Jersey， a job at a gas station in rural Kentucky， even a marriage proposal from a Wyoming rancher。 In a decade when car ownership nearly tripled， when television's influence was expanding fast， when homeowners began locking their doors， Annie and her four-footed companions inspired an outpouring of neighborliness in a rapidly changing world。
Reviews
Marion Irwin
，
Here's what I loved about this book - 1） Annie Wilkins， herself， strong willed and adventurous 62 year old who decided to ride a horse to California when all other paths seemed to have closed on her。 2） The interesting map she traveled to get there， complete with helpful hosts， jail bunks she stayed at， and events she attended。 3） Historical context - 1954-55 in the US。 What a different world to today！ Only the beginning of TV， super highways and social security had not yet been secured。That bei Here's what I loved about this book - 1） Annie Wilkins， herself， strong willed and adventurous 62 year old who decided to ride a horse to California when all other paths seemed to have closed on her。 2） The interesting map she traveled to get there， complete with helpful hosts， jail bunks she stayed at， and events she attended。 3） Historical context - 1954-55 in the US。 What a different world to today！ Only the beginning of TV， super highways and social security had not yet been secured。That being said， this book is not as well written as the 80 Dollar Champion， and at times I felt it dragged a bit。 Still， once I got underway， I definitely wanted to finish it。 。。。more
Nancy
，
I enjoyed this book， but the reader was extremely breathy and somewhat overdramatic。 It is the story of Annie， a woman whose home was recalled by the bank for back taxes in Maine。 She decided after working very hard and having a doctor tell her she had only 2 to 6 years left to live， that she would take a ride across America to see the pacific ocean which was her dream。 This is the story of meeting people， beautiful countryside， her animals Dash – two horses and a dog， and her quiet life’s philo I enjoyed this book， but the reader was extremely breathy and somewhat overdramatic。 It is the story of Annie， a woman whose home was recalled by the bank for back taxes in Maine。 She decided after working very hard and having a doctor tell her she had only 2 to 6 years left to live， that she would take a ride across America to see the pacific ocean which was her dream。 This is the story of meeting people， beautiful countryside， her animals Dash – two horses and a dog， and her quiet life’s philosophy。 。。。more
Steve Barney
，
More like 3。8 stars。 Another well written book by Elizabeth Letts。 This one recounts the journey of Annie Wilkins。 A 63 year old woman from Minot， Maine。 Having lost her family， and about to lose her farm， Annie decides she want to see the Pacific Ocean and have an adventure。 With the money she gets for selling the farm （just a little left over from what it was worth for the back taxes owned）， she buys a horse， Tarzan， and she， her little dog Depeche-Toi and Tarzan set off for a ride to Californ More like 3。8 stars。 Another well written book by Elizabeth Letts。 This one recounts the journey of Annie Wilkins。 A 63 year old woman from Minot， Maine。 Having lost her family， and about to lose her farm， Annie decides she want to see the Pacific Ocean and have an adventure。 With the money she gets for selling the farm （just a little left over from what it was worth for the back taxes owned）， she buys a horse， Tarzan， and she， her little dog Depeche-Toi and Tarzan set off for a ride to California。 This is in 1955-56 and with $54 in her pocket！ Along the way of her 7000 mile journey， Annie receives the friendship of various people in the many towns she would travel through。 Ever willing to put her and her two horses （she’s given another horse， Rex， in Tennessee） and her dog up for the night。 Whether that’s at a farm， a ranch， or a jail， she finds the meaning of good neighbors across the country。 The press gets word of her travels， and the nation follows her journey that eventually leads to Hollywood， California （and an appearance on Art Linkletter’s TV show。） She see’s a nation in transition in the 50’s， but one that is ultimately friendly， certainly to “the last of the saddle tramps”。 。。。more
Jan
，
InspirationalAnnie and all of her four adopted friends were amazing。 This is a great story of adventure， courage， tenacity and determination。 I loved Annie's devotion to her animals。 The story and all of the descriptions were enlightening and fascinating。 InspirationalAnnie and all of her four adopted friends were amazing。 This is a great story of adventure， courage， tenacity and determination。 I loved Annie's devotion to her animals。 The story and all of the descriptions were enlightening and fascinating。 。。。more
Linda
，
Another book club book that I did not expect to like but ended up quite enjoying。 Maybe a 3 1/2 but you can’t do that， so 4。
Trish Paparone
，
This book was very well written and very interesting all the way to the end。 I loved all the detail about life in the 1950’s and the historical detail。
Nancy
，
Annie Wilkins was as sharp as they come; she understood people， but was very naive。 When her doctor told her she probably had only a few years to live， she decides that she wants to see the Pacific Ocean before she dies。 She has nothing holding her to her hard scrapple farm in Maine， which she is about to lose to the tax collector。 So， she buys a horse， wears all the clothes she owns，and， taking about 30$ and a few pots and pans and her little dog， sets out for California。 She has no maps and no Annie Wilkins was as sharp as they come; she understood people， but was very naive。 When her doctor told her she probably had only a few years to live， she decides that she wants to see the Pacific Ocean before she dies。 She has nothing holding her to her hard scrapple farm in Maine， which she is about to lose to the tax collector。 So， she buys a horse， wears all the clothes she owns，and， taking about 30$ and a few pots and pans and her little dog， sets out for California。 She has no maps and no real concept of distance and geography and no friends or acquaintances outside of her rural Maine community。 This is as much a story about America in the 1950s as it is about Annie Wilkins and what a story it is！ You will fall in love with the characters she meets along the way and the genuine goodness of the American people。 And， because Elizabeth Letts loves animals， you will also fall in love with Tarzan， her remarkable horse， and Depache Toi， Annie’s spunky little dog。 。。。more
Louise
，
Fascinating read。 I love books about horses and this story unfolds with reflections on the developments in America that were only beginning in the early 1950's when Annie took her amazing journey across the United States。 Her naivete and the wonderful kindliness of strangers makes a compelling story I could not stop reading。 Hope others will also enjoy this wonderful， courageous story。 Fascinating read。 I love books about horses and this story unfolds with reflections on the developments in America that were only beginning in the early 1950's when Annie took her amazing journey across the United States。 Her naivete and the wonderful kindliness of strangers makes a compelling story I could not stop reading。 Hope others will also enjoy this wonderful， courageous story。 。。。more
Stephanie
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I’m not a fan of nonfiction， so I knew I wasn’t going to love this。 I felt like it could have been summarized in a short essay- it was only about the journey Annie made， not a biography of her entire life。
Janie
，
I read this as audio over the past two days of doing yard work and so enjoyed it。 I love a story like this: a real person on a most-adventurous and difficult journey that's against the odds with a good amount of local history thrown in。 This book did not disappoint！ Annie is like Grandma Gatewood on a horse。 I read this as audio over the past two days of doing yard work and so enjoyed it。 I love a story like this: a real person on a most-adventurous and difficult journey that's against the odds with a good amount of local history thrown in。 This book did not disappoint！ Annie is like Grandma Gatewood on a horse。 。。。more
Karen
，
Non-fiction that reads like fiction。 Amazing story of a woman traveling across the country in the mid 1950s。 She is somewhat naive， setting forth without a definite plan。。。 But with admirable courage and determination。
Gwen
，
I so enjoyed the trip across America with Annie Wilkins and her animal friends。 A gripping story of courage and tenacity and human kindnesses。
Mary Keen
，
WOW！ I just can't rave enough about this absolutely FABULOUS non-fiction book --and the author as well for her investigative skills in bringing to life Annie Wilkins。 She was the Maine farmer with a limited lifespan predicted， yet who yearned to see the Pacific Ocean！ Elizabeth Letts also is a skillful writer。 She is to be commended for bringing this amazing person's story to i hope many people now alive。As i listened， i kept wondering if my parents had heard much about her during their lifetime WOW！ I just can't rave enough about this absolutely FABULOUS non-fiction book --and the author as well for her investigative skills in bringing to life Annie Wilkins。 She was the Maine farmer with a limited lifespan predicted， yet who yearned to see the Pacific Ocean！ Elizabeth Letts also is a skillful writer。 She is to be commended for bringing this amazing person's story to i hope many people now alive。As i listened， i kept wondering if my parents had heard much about her during their lifetimes。 I wish i could ask them， as is true of many things。 Recommended by a friend and i've done the same for others！ 。。。more
Tipping Ellis
，
This is a quiet， unassuming book that builds into a slow crescendo and ends with a bang！
Janet
，
I actually rate this 4。5 stars。 Would have been 5 if photographs were included in the book。 Heartwarming and interesting story。 Life is so different nowadays。
PHarrington
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WOW。。。。such guts and gusto！！！
Michelle
，
Amazing story and so much more！Not only is it about Annie and her horses and dog， but the people she met！ History of America in a different view and aspects。 Such as the clover leaf road development。 And now I am wanting to know more about Art Linkletter too！I totally can relate to the bonds， understanding， and communication between Annie and her animals。 The words just never quite do that aspect justice， but this book did well with it。This is definitely one of the best historical biographies I Amazing story and so much more！Not only is it about Annie and her horses and dog， but the people she met！ History of America in a different view and aspects。 Such as the clover leaf road development。 And now I am wanting to know more about Art Linkletter too！I totally can relate to the bonds， understanding， and communication between Annie and her animals。 The words just never quite do that aspect justice， but this book did well with it。This is definitely one of the best historical biographies I have ever read and enjoyed。 I highly recommend to anyone。 Not just horse lovers as this was suggested to me。 Read it， you won't regret it！ 。。。more
Lisa Montgomery
，
Although I am not as old as Annie Wikins， I appreciated how she decided to spend the last of her days when told at age 63 she had but two years to live。 This is the triumphant story of woman determined to live her way。 It is full of the hardships and joys and mishaps marking a remarkable journey。
Danette M。
，
Really enjoyed this。
Kristin- Shabby Chic Reader
，
Annie Wilkins， a 63-year-old widow from Minot， Maine rides a horse across America from 1954-1955。 This is the fascinating story of her journey。I really enjoyed reading this book！ I loved how Elizabeth Letts not only told Annie’s story but also gave the reader a picture of what was happening in the world at that time。 Letts really brought Annie to life for me。 I was in awe of how generous and kind people were to this stranger that rode through their hometown。 I’m so glad I picked this book to rea Annie Wilkins， a 63-year-old widow from Minot， Maine rides a horse across America from 1954-1955。 This is the fascinating story of her journey。I really enjoyed reading this book！ I loved how Elizabeth Letts not only told Annie’s story but also gave the reader a picture of what was happening in the world at that time。 Letts really brought Annie to life for me。 I was in awe of how generous and kind people were to this stranger that rode through their hometown。 I’m so glad I picked this book to read！ If you are a history buff or love reading memoirs you will enjoy this book！ It would also be a great pick for Book Club！Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review！ 。。。more
Grace
，
Nice blend of Annie Wilkins' life and adventure story with mid 20th century American history。 Nice blend of Annie Wilkins' life and adventure story with mid 20th century American history。 。。。more
Mripma
，
Based on the rider’s diary。 She gets in scrape after scrape， always rescued by kind-hearted and generous Americans along her way。
Sarah
，
3。5 stars
EllenZReads
，
Really interesting nonfiction about an older woman who chooses independence and adventure over a more typical life， during a time when women were expected to get married， have children， and work on their farms rather than explore the world。 I really liked reading about all of Annie's travels， as well as the descriptive details of her dog， her horses， and the people and places she visited。 Very interesting and entertaining！ Really interesting nonfiction about an older woman who chooses independence and adventure over a more typical life， during a time when women were expected to get married， have children， and work on their farms rather than explore the world。 I really liked reading about all of Annie's travels， as well as the descriptive details of her dog， her horses， and the people and places she visited。 Very interesting and entertaining！ 。。。more
Patrice Doten
，
This remarkable， inspiring story provides an insightful glimpse into 1950s rural America。 It's unique in that it's told in a slice-of-life format， but follows an extraordinary woman on a far from ordinary journey。 I enjoyed listening to the Audible audiobook edition and recommend it。 This remarkable， inspiring story provides an insightful glimpse into 1950s rural America。 It's unique in that it's told in a slice-of-life format， but follows an extraordinary woman on a far from ordinary journey。 I enjoyed listening to the Audible audiobook edition and recommend it。 。。。more
Marti Stephens-hartka
，
Marginalized 60-something uneducated， animal loving woman follows her inner voice and undertakes an incredible journey。 Reminds me of another favorite， Grandma Gatewood’s Walk。 My favorite book of the year！
Janet Cline
，
tis book was absolutely wonderful！there was great detail about her walk through Kentucky！
Linda
，
An Incredible JourneyYou couldn't believe this true story but its true。 Amazing journey on horse back across America with nothing but guts， faith， and perseverance and her dog and horses。 An Incredible JourneyYou couldn't believe this true story but its true。 Amazing journey on horse back across America with nothing but guts， faith， and perseverance and her dog and horses。 。。。more
Cyber
，