Betty Zane

Zane Grey’s first book drew on his own family history, telling the story of his ancestor Elizabeth Zane during the Revolutionary War on the Ohio frontier. Set around Fort Henry, near present-day Wheeling, the novel follows the Zane family as they defend their settlement against British-allied forces and Native raids. Its most famous moment comes during the 1782 siege, when Betty, a spirited young woman, sprints through open gunfire to carry gunpowder to the fort’s exhausted defenders. Grey blends romance, wilderness danger, and pioneer courage into a fast-moving account of settler life, honoring the real people behind the legend. Readers can download the complete work as a free PDF and EPUB edition.