This edition of May Ripley Diddy Maylone's diaries gives us a unique insight into 1920s California history. She followed her husband from one venture to the next, homesteading, mining and even piloting a riverboat on the Sacramento River. It is the story of one woman%u2019s battle to create a meaningful life for herself despite poverty, constant moves, and a difficult marriage. May%u2019s humor and resourcefulness shine from the pages of her diaries. Anyone interested in women's history, the history of Shasta and Trinity Counties, or the history of the Sacramento River, will find it a compelling read. The diaries are prefaced by an extensive account of the generations that came before May, going back to before the United States existed. The cast of characters in her family tree includes both indentured slaves and slave owners, Civil War soldiers on both sides, and many hard-working pioneers like herself. Her own growing-up years were spent moving slowly west to John Day, Oregon.