A look at what’s ahead, including upcoming selections, hosts, meeting details, and where to find the book if needed.
Tomboy Bride
Author: Harriet Fish Backus
October 23, 2026 – Hosted by Carolyn
In 1906 at the age of twenty, Harriet Fish hopped on a train from Oakland, California, to the San Juan Mountains of Colorado in search of a new life as the bride of assayer George Backus. Together, the couple ventured forth to discover mining town life at the turn of the twentieth century, adjusting to dizzying elevation heights of 11,500 feet and all the hardships that come with it: limited water, rationed food supplies, lack of medical care, difficulty in travel, avalanches, and many more. As she and George move from Telluride’s Tomboy Mine to the rugged coast of British Columbia, to the town of Elk City, Idaho, and then back to Colorado’s Leadville, Harriet paints a poignant picture of a world centered around mining, sharing amusing and often challenging experiences as a woman of the era.
With a new foreword by award-winning author Pam Houston, this 50th anniversary edition also includes previously unpublished black and white photographs documenting Harriet’s journey. Tomboy Bride endures as a classic of the region to this day as it captures in heart-felt emotion and vivid detail the personal account of Harriet Backus, a true pioneer of the West.
Interested in learning more about this month’s featured read?
You can find extra context, videos, and articles here.
In this 2019 Watch article, Samantha Tisdel Wright marks Tomboy Bride’s 50th anniversary through conversations with Harriet Fish Backus’s grandson, author Pam Houston, and Telluride’s literary community about the memoir’s lasting appeal and anniversary edition.
Explore ten discussion questions that spark conversation about Harriet’s independence, her relationship with George, and the new life awaiting her in Colorado.
