About this item
Beautiful, elusive, and refined, Etta Place captivated the nation at the turn of the last century as she dodged the law with the Wild Bunch, led by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Her true identity and fate have remained a mystery that has tantalized historians for decades. Now, for the first time, Gerald Kolpan envisions this remarkable woman's life in a stunning debut novel.Kolpan imagines that Etta Place was born Lorinda Jameson, the daughter of a prominent financier, who becomes known as the loveliest of the city's debutantes when she makes her entrance into Philadelphia society. Though her position in life is already assured, her true calling is on horseback. She can ride as well as any man and handle a rifle even better. But when a tragedy leads to a dramatic reversal of fortune, Lorinda is left orphaned, penniless, homeless, and pursued by the ruthless Black Hand mafia.Rechristened "Etta Place" to ensure her safety, the young woman travels to the farthest reaches of civilization, working as a "Harvey Girl" waitress in Grand Junction, Colorado. There, fate intervenes once more and she again finds herself on the run from the ruthless Pinkerton Detective Agency. But this time she has company. She soon finds herself at the legendary hideout at Hole-in-the-Wall, Wyoming, where she meets the charismatic Butch Cassidy and the handsome, troubled Harry Longbaugh, a.k.a. the Sundance Kid. Through a series of holdups and heists, Etta and Harry begin an epic and ultimately tragic romance, which will be the greatest of Etta's life. Then, when Etta meets the young and idealistic Eleanor Roosevelt, her life is changed forever.Blending a compelling love story, high adventure, and thrilling historical drama, Etta is an electrifying novel. With a sweeping 1900s setting, colorful storytelling, and larger-than-life characters, Etta is debut that is both captivating and unforgettable.
About the Author
Gerald Kolpan was born in New York City and grew up in suburban Westchester county. He came to Philadelphia in the 1970's to attend the University of the Arts.
Gerald was a successful illustrator and graphic designer for over a decade and then chucked it all in 1977 to front a rock band. Following that experience, Gerald turned to writing and was soon turning out features for both local and national newspapers and magazines. He was the humor columnist for the Philadelphia City Paper and gained a national reputation as a commentator and reporter for NPR's nightly news program All Things Considered.
On the strength of his radio work, Gerald was hired by WTXF-TV in Philadelphia as their first features reporter, a position he held for twenty years. His work has been seen all over the world on both CNN and FNC and he has received awards from the Radio and Television News Directors Association and the Associated Press, as well as eight Emmy awards.
In 2009, Balantine Books published his critically acclaimed first novel, ETTA, a fictionalized account of the life of Etta Place, lover of the Sundance Kid. His new novel, MAGIC WORDS, is the story of Julius Meyer, a 13 year-old Jewish immmigrant from Prussia who comes to the United States after the Civil War and becomes the interpreter for America's great Indian chiefs, and his cousin, Alexander Herrmann, destined to become the most famous magician of his time. MAGIC WORDS will be published in May, 2012 by Pegasus Books
