The Poker Bride

The First Chinese in the Wild West

Nonfiction, History, Americas, United States, 19th Century
Cover of the book The Poker Bride by Christopher Corbett, Grove Atlantic
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Christopher Corbett ISBN: 9780802197924
Publisher: Grove Atlantic Publication: February 8, 2011
Imprint: Grove Press Language: English
Author: Christopher Corbett
ISBN: 9780802197924
Publisher: Grove Atlantic
Publication: February 8, 2011
Imprint: Grove Press
Language: English

This true story of a concubine and the Gold Rush years “delves deep into the soul of the real old west” (Erik Larson).
 
“Once the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill launched our ‘national madness,’ the population of California exploded. Tens of thousands of Chinese, lured by tales of a ‘golden mountain,’ took passage across the Pacific. Among this massive influx were many young concubines who were expected to serve in the brothels sprouting up near the goldfields. One of them adopted the name of Polly Bemis, after an Idaho saloonkeeper, Charlie Bemis, won her in a poker game and married her. For decades the couple lived on an isolated, self-sufficient farm near the Salmon River in central Idaho. After her husband’s death, Polly came down to a nearby town and gradually spoke of her experiences. Journalist Christopher Corbett movingly recounts Polly’s story, integrating Polly’s personal history into the broader picture of the history of the mass immigration of Chinese. As both a personal and social history, this is an admirable book.” —Booklist
 
“A gorgeously written and brilliantly researched saga of America during the mad flush of its biggest Gold Rush. Christopher Corbett’s genius is to anchor his larger story of Chinese immigration around a poor concubine named Polly. A tremendous achievement.” —Douglas Brinkley
 
“Uses Bemis’s story as a platform for a larger discussion about the hardships of the Chinese experience in the American West.” —The Washington Post

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This true story of a concubine and the Gold Rush years “delves deep into the soul of the real old west” (Erik Larson).
 
“Once the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill launched our ‘national madness,’ the population of California exploded. Tens of thousands of Chinese, lured by tales of a ‘golden mountain,’ took passage across the Pacific. Among this massive influx were many young concubines who were expected to serve in the brothels sprouting up near the goldfields. One of them adopted the name of Polly Bemis, after an Idaho saloonkeeper, Charlie Bemis, won her in a poker game and married her. For decades the couple lived on an isolated, self-sufficient farm near the Salmon River in central Idaho. After her husband’s death, Polly came down to a nearby town and gradually spoke of her experiences. Journalist Christopher Corbett movingly recounts Polly’s story, integrating Polly’s personal history into the broader picture of the history of the mass immigration of Chinese. As both a personal and social history, this is an admirable book.” —Booklist
 
“A gorgeously written and brilliantly researched saga of America during the mad flush of its biggest Gold Rush. Christopher Corbett’s genius is to anchor his larger story of Chinese immigration around a poor concubine named Polly. A tremendous achievement.” —Douglas Brinkley
 
“Uses Bemis’s story as a platform for a larger discussion about the hardships of the Chinese experience in the American West.” —The Washington Post

More books from Grove Atlantic

Cover of the book The World Beneath by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book The Last Narco by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book The Yoga Teacher by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book Scripts People Live by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book The Adding Machine by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book The Bouncer by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book Virgil Wander by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book Swimming in the Volcano by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book Poet in New York by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book My Friend the Mercenary by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book The Private Lives of the Tudors by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book Guests of the Ayatollah by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book Hell by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book The Real Inspector Hound and Other Plays by Christopher Corbett
Cover of the book Alif the Unseen by Christopher Corbett
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy