Queen of the mist

by Murray, Joan

It was regarded as "the ultimate stunt," and America had been waiting for someone to attempt it. In 1901, a barrel plunged over the brink of Niagara Falls. On the outside was painted "Queen of the Mist." Inside was a destitute 63-year-old teacher. Queen of the Mist tells the fascinating story of Annie Taylor, the woman who performed this perilous feat in hopes of reversing her fortunes. But as Joan Murray reveals, America didn't know what to do with a mature, self-possessed heroine: Annie Taylor, as an "older woman," was rejected, exploited, and finally eclipsed by the man who repeated her stunt ten years later. Queen of the Mist is at once a poignant and riveting adventure story, a drama of courage and transformation, and a truly remarkable piece of poetry.