Set in a turbulent period of goldfields' history, The Nine Lives of Kitty K. paints a vivid picture of pioneer life as told by the sons and daughters of those who lived it and survived the terrible Depression of the 1890s. Kitty Kirk (1855-1930), arguably the toughest woman in Otago history, endured those times, supporting herself as a woman alone. Happiness was followed by tragedy, fame by infamy, and the circle was repeated more than once. Some locals called her a heroine, others called her a harlot. Whichever she was, she became a legend in her own lifetime for her daring deeds that are still remembered and talked about ninety years after her death.