Etta: A Novel

Lorinda Reese Jameson (alias Etta Place) is the main character of Etta: she is a Philadelphia socialite educated in fine schools, but also a crack shot and champion horsewoman. When her father shoots himself, his debts to The Black Hand leave her vulnerable to disfiguration and murder.

Under the assumed name Etta Place, she goes West to make her living and there falls in with the Hole-In-The-Wall Gang and its brooding second in command Harry Longbaugh, the Sundance Kid.

As imagined by Etta author Gerald Kolpan, Lorinda and her past are entirely fictional.

But although Etta Place herself was an actual historical figure, any actual history about that figure is scarce, indeed.

There is almost no factual information about Etta, only stories and theories. It is not known if "Etta Place" itself was a real name or an alias.

There is even plenty of doubt as to whether Etta was the Sundance Kid's lover or Butch Cassidy's or both or neither.

The only facts that seem to be universally agreed upon are that Etta was extremely beautiful and often dressed in the manner of an Eastern horsewoman.

According to a Mrs. Bishop, wife of the President of the Bank of the Nation in Rio Galleos, Argentina (which Etta helped rob), she was a "sweet" young girl. Mrs. Bishop also admired her English saddle and fine riding clothes.

Although to this day there are some who claim to be related to her or to know her true identity, the facts about the mystery woman of the Wild Bunch have eluded historians for 100 years.