"Martha Maxwell, Rocky Mountain Naturalist": "Highly enjoyable ...Maxwell, called a 'modern Diana' in the popular press of her day, devoted her life to taxidermy, which she thought of 'as a fine art, subservient to science.' A childhood love of animals developed into a hobby and then, to her daughter's and husband's distress, a consuming, but never lucrative, profession...[A] lively biography." ("Journal of American History"). "Martha Maxwell was a most unusual pioneer, fully conscious of the feminist implications of her life and work...Anyone interested in western woman's history should not miss this book." ("Western Historical Quarterly"). "Maxwell displayed not only a reforming zeal but also ambition and ability. But she paid a price for expressing an independent spirit. Her marriage dissolved and her relationship with her daughter was far from harmonious...Martha Maxwell was more than just a field naturalist...As Benson aptly describes, she expanded the horizon of opportunities for those who followed her." ("Rocky Mountain News"). "A fascinating human interest story as well as a rich historical account of the times." ("Western American Literature").
NP Maxine Benson has served as a university teacher, state historian of the Colorado Historical Society, and publications director at the Kansas Historical Society. She is the author or editor of several books including "One Thousand One Colorado Place Names."