Riding Like the Wind

"A well-researched, empathetic biography." Kirkus Reviews

"Many are familiar with The Grapes of Wrath, but few know the author whose work was overshadowed by its publication: Sanora Babb. In Riding Like the Wind: The Life of Sanora Babb, Dunkle examines this fascinating midcentury American, whose meticulous notes and research formed the basis of John Steinbeck’s novel.” Alta

“Dunkle’s book may help elevate Babb’s status, not simply because it so thoroughly explores the Steinbeck affair but because it succeeds at doing what all good literary biographies do: It makes a case for reading old writing in new ways.” The Atlantic

“As a biographer, Iris Jamahl Dunkle has made it a calling to unearth the ‘lost voices’ of history and literature — talented, creative and accomplished women whose contributions have been underplayed, overlooked, suppressed and in some cases, ripped off.” Press Democrat

“By digging deeper, Dunkle uncovers a remarkable rebel — a woman who challenged social and political norms to defend her writing. She illuminates yet another woman forgotten in the annals of literary history. This biography not only revives a vital voice but reminds us of the many stories still buried in the past, ones that deserve to be dug up and told.” San Francisco Chronicle

"In contrast to the door-stopping volumes many contemporary biographers favor, Dunkle’s judicious account of Babb’s eventful life focuses on key experiences and relationships in a brisk text with plenty of meat and no fat. Babb comes across as a fiercely independent free spirit, loyal to those she loved. Riding Like the Wind is a welcome addition to the growing shelf of books devoted to enriching the literary canon with more voices and different points of view.” The Washington Post