January 20th, 2010

Book Review.
The Many Loves of Buffalo Bill: The True Story of Life on the Wild West Show. By Chris Enss. Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, CT. ISBN 978-0-7627-4815-0. $21.50. xviii + 150 pages. Soft cover. 24 illustrations. Endnotes. Bibliography. Index. Reviewed by Chuck Parsons.
Even a cursory glance through Chris Enss’ bibliography suggests there is a plethora of information about the world’s most famous scout. Four books by Cody himself are listed, as well as a biography by his wife Louisa; highly regarded biographies by Don Russell and R.L. Wilson, Helen Cody Wetmore and Nellie Snyder Yost are included. In addition there is a list of newspapers utilized dating from 1870 and for decades following. The twelve pages of endnotes confirm that she has made a serious attempt to document the loves of William F. Cody (1846-1917).
Author Enss maintains her focus of providing the reader with a near blow-by-blow accounting of the numerous objects of Cody’s love (and lust). We must admire his love for his four sisters — Julia, Helen, Eliza Alice and Mary Hannah — bonds maintained through the storms of their parents’ lives. Prior to his marriage Cody may have had romantic dalliances with any number of women, “Indian princesses” certainly, and following his marriage many more.
But rather than speculating on these probable trysts the author devotes her brief narrative to documentable affairs. Cody certainly suffered both emotionally and financially from the disclosure of these romances, although few people refused to buy tickets to his Wild West shows because of his infidelities. He suffered emotionally as his marriage disintegrated; his children suffered as they were fully aware of their father’s treatment of their mother. Louisa Cody, affectionately known as “Lulu,” was well aware of the extra-marital affairs of her husband and lived up to the axiom, “Hell hath no fury . . . .” The public became zealously aware when much of the Codys’ “dirty linen” was aired in open court during the divorce hearings.
The objects of Cody’s “love” also suffered. Katherine Clemmons perhaps suffered the most of all his women. She was described by Cody as “the finest looking woman in the world [78].” Upon meeting Cody she shared with him her “aspirations” for the stage. Hooked, Cody offered her $50,000 to tour England with him as his top actress. Her acting ability proved less than Ned Buntline’s creative writing ability; the kindest critics even pointed out that she was “devoid” of acting talent. Nevertheless, Cody continued to support her at great expense, until he even realized it was all for nothing.
While Enss discusses the loves of Buffalo Bill she also parallels the relationship with Louisa and his relationship with their children. In spite of all the heartaches the couple caused, Mrs. Cody ultimately chose to drop the divorce and remained his wife. Enss also brings in aspects of Cody’s early years as a scout and his stage career. In so doing Chris Enss provides us with an excellent study of an unpleasant side to the great scout’s life. It is best for those who have a limited knowledge of Cody’s career and the Wild West show business, although the so-called “buffs” will learn a few things. The moral of the tale is clearly presented although not in a heavy handed way. Cody’s love of the stage and his fidelity to children and friends was certainly legitimate and to be honored, but his illicit “loves” proved costly to many in more ways than one. Enss may not have intended to produce an informal moral treatise but nevertheless the lesson is there, clearly, and due to her writing style and her historical research.