The Whip Inspired by the story of Charley Parkhurst

The Whip is inspired by the true story of a woman, Charlotte "Charley"Parkhurst (1812-1879) who lived most of her extraordinary life as a manin the old west. As a young woman in Rhode Island, she fell in love with a runaway slave and had his child. The destruction of her family droveher west to California, dressed as a man, to track the killer.

Charley became a renowned stagecoach driver for Wells Fargo. She killed afamous outlaw, had a secret love affair, and lived with a housekeeperwho, unaware of her true sex, fell in love with her. Charley was thefirst known woman to vote in America in 1868 (as a man). Her grave liesin Watsonville, California.