BETTY ZANE, is American author ZANE GREY’S first novel and the first book in his "Ohio River Trilogy," followed by THE SPIRIT OF THE BORDER and THE LAST TRAIL, which continue the story of the Zane family and other historical figures. Betty Zane was published in 1903 by the Charles Francis Press. When Grey could not find a publisher for the book, he published it himself in 1903 using his wife's money. Grey later named his daughter Betty Zane after his aunt. The book is based on the true story of his great-great-aunt, Elizabeth Zane McLaughlin Clark, a heroine of the American Revolution. Set in the Ohio Valley, the historical adventure novel details the 1782 siege of Fort Henry, where Betty famously risked her life to run for gunpowder to help defend the fort against a British and Native American attack, a story Grey learned from his family's history. The self-published book blends historical events with fictional romance and adventure, launching Grey's career as a Western writer. BETTY ZANE has been reprinted under the title THE LAST RANGER.