Product Description
The Oregon Trail is the gripping account of Francis Parkman's journey west across North America in 1846. After crossing the Allegheny Mountains by coach and continuing by boat and wagon to Westport, Missouri, he set out with three companions on a horseback journey that would ultimately take him over two thousand miles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

The Oregon Trail

Francis Parkman lived from 1823 to 1893. The Oregon Trail, an account of his travels in 1846, was his first published book. Parkman's journey would have been much easier to follow if the book had a map tracing his route.

My reading edition of The Oregon Trail is that in The Library of America volume [53] containing both The Oregon Trail and Parkman's The Conspiracy of Pontiac; but since I haven't yet read the book on Pontiac, I'm placing my review under the present volume. The Library of America edition of The Oregon Trail (TLA.OT) is of Parkman's 1849 first edition published by George P. Putnam, with a correction of the title, restoring it to Parkman's intention. The book was revised and reprinted several times, the last edition, illustrated by Frederick Remington, in 1892.

The year 1846 is also the year of the Donner Party's attempt to reach California. In chapter 10 of the Oregon Trail, Parkman mentions them, although not by name. He has stopped at a place he calls Richard's trading-house (TLA.OT: 118) near Fort Laramie. A group of emigrants on their way to California are there, and Parkman is introduced to a Colonel R----- who is the emigrants' erstwhile leader.

"Fearful was the fate that months after overtook some of the members of that party. General Kearny, on his late return from California, brought in the account how they were interrupted by the deep snows among the mountains, and maddened by cold and hunger, fed upon each other's flesh!" (TLA.OT:121)

If Parkman actually talked with or recalled the face of anyone from the Donner Party, he doesn't mention it, and the above quotation is all he says of them. The Colonel R------ is William Henry Russell (1802-1873). The Donner Party was, in fact, part of the Russell Party before going off on its own via the Hastings Cut-Off after crossing the Continental Divide through the South Pass. At the time Parkman is speaking with him, Russell has been deposed as leader, but the Donner Party has not yet split off. "His men, he [Russell] said, had mutinied and deposed him; but still he exercised over them the influence of a superior mind; in all but the name he was yet their chief." (TLA.OT:121) Lilburn Boggs eventually took over leadership of the Russell Party (see, for example, Ethan Rarick's Deparate Passage: The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West, page 51), but Parkman does not mention Boggs. This narrative of Parkman's experiences on the Oregon Trail can then be read as concurrent (up to a time) with the tragic experiences of the Donner Party.

California emigrants took the Oregon Trail until after crossing the Continental Divide through the South Pass, and so spent part of their journey with emigrants to Oregon; but Parkman was not on the Oregon Trail as an emigrant at all. In fact, he doesn't appear to have even reached the Continental Divide. The book has no map of his travels, and he's not always clear, but he seems to have gotten only as far on the Oregon Trail as Fort Laramie. While there he learns of an upcoming gathering of "Dahcotah" Indians, waging war against the Snake Indians. An "Ogillallah" chief, called the Whirlwind, has lost a son in battle, and he is determined to "chastise the Snakes". Parkman learns that the gathering will take place "at 'La Bonte's Camp,' on the Platte. Here their warlike rites were to be celebrated with more than ordinary solemnity, and a thousand warriors, as it was said, were to set out for the enemy's country." (TLA.OT: 110-11) Parkman is overjoyed.

"I was greatly rejoiced to hear of it. I had come into the country almost exclusively with a view of observing the Indian character. Having from childhood felt a curiosity on this subject, and having failed completely to gratify it by reading, I resolved to have recourse to observation. I wished to satisfy myself with regard to the position of the Indians among the races of men; the vices and the virtues that have sprung from their innate character and from their modes of life, their government, their superstitions, and their domestic situation. To accomplish my purpose it was necessary to live in the midst of them, and become, as it were, one of them. I proposed to join a village, and make myself an inmate of one of their lodges; and henceforward this narrative, so far as I am concerned, will be chiefly a record of the progress of this design, apparently so easy of accomplishment, and the unexpected impediments that opposed it." (TLA.OT:111)

So Parkman resolves to be at 'La Bonte's Camp' for the upcoming Dahcotah rendezvous. Several chapters cover his journey there and his adventures with the Dahcotah, including a buffalo hunt and time spent in the Black Hills. He and his companions eventually return to Fort Laramie and from there head south, down to Bent's Fort on the Santa Fe Trail. They hunt buffalo along the Arkansas river, and journey east towards Fort Leavenworth and civilization, essentially completing their circuit.

"We had met with signal good fortune. Although for five months we had been traveling with an insufficient force through a country where were were at any moment liable to depredation, not a single animal had been stolen from us. And our only loss had been one old mule bitten to death by a rattlesnake. Three weeks after we reached the frontier [by which he means the western edge of the United States as it stood in the midst of the Mexican War of 1846], the Pawnees and the Camanches [sic] began a regular series of hostilities on the Arkansas trail, killing men and driving off horses. They attacked, without exception, every party, large or small, that passed during the next six months." (TLA.OT: 337)

Hardly the Oregon Trail
This book was a disappointment to me and I should have researched it more before purchasing it. It was my hope to read about the settlers moving West on the old Oregon Trail but this book had nothing to do with that. Instead, it was an account of Parkman's experiences as he traveled in some of the Western areas of the U.S. (Wyoming area, Black Hills, etc.) Much of his time was spent with the various Indian tribes as he befriended them and learned much of their culture. He also spent a great deal of time hunting. My real problem with his story is that it was so repetitive. Many of the accounts were similar and it seemed like we were going over and over the same thing. I read almost every thing I can find on Western adventure and exploration but this one is sure not on the top of my list.

An Excellent Book - but misnamed
This is an excellent book giving the reader a first person view of the Frontier in the 1840s.The details make the reader feel as if they were living the adventure themselves.

If you are looking for a book that tells of a journey on the Oregon Trail, this is NOT the book for you.A better for the book title might have been "A Summer On The Frontier: Life Among The Indians and Explorers."The author follows the Oregon Trail until he reaches Fort Laramie, and then spends the rest of his time among the indians who inhabited the plains and badlands at the time.

If you are looking for vivid picture of life among the indians, buffaloes, and explorers, this IS the book for you!

Just what I expected
I ordered this book based on the film, " The Oregan Trail," which I enjoyed watching. The book is a good follow-up to the movie, making much of the content even more real for me.

The Wild West
Parkman's travelogue on the Great Plains is a major work of life among the Native Americans.His descriptions are honest and capture a society that was fading even while he was writing.The book had a major impact on the way that non-westerners saw the Great Plains.This was both good and bad.Parkman wrote through the lens of a Boston aristocrat and was full of prejudices against those who did not meet his standards.This was dangerous in that many who read about the "backwardness" of the Native Americans used this as justification for "civilizing" them.Although this was probably not Parkman's intention, it was a consequence of his writing.In addition, he promoted the hunting of buffalo for sport, which led to the decimation of the buffalo heards on the Plains.

Another major issue with this book is that, in spite of its title, it is not about the Oregon Trail.Parkman went no further than the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and he did all in his power to dissociate himself from the pioneers moving along the Oregon Trail.If you are looking for a history of the trail, this book will not satisfy your needs.

However, in spite of the misleading title and the prejudices that surface throughout the book, it is still a fine piece of writing that opens up a world that has been lost to today's readers.Read it and enjoy your travels into another time and place.
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Product Description
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Clive Cussler, creator of the bestselling NUMA and Dirk PItt series, presents his latest and most intriguing high seas action hero: the enigmatic captain of the Oregon, Juan Cabrillo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (104)

Terrible and soulless
I can only think of three or four books which I have begun reading voluntarily and decided to never finish reading (compared to thousands which I happily finished).This is one of them.I was surprised, however, by how many of the reviews on this site agree with my reasons for doing so.There is little that I can say that they have not already.The characters are the flattest I've ever seen in fiction.The story has no soul.Since I haven't finished the story, and since other reviews have gone so much deeper into it than I can or care to, I'll simply end by saying that this is my first experience with Clive Cussler's novels, and it will be my last.

Golden Budha
I love this book. If you don't like it, try the books co-written by Jack DuBrul. I find that those are better.

Not Cussler's best
Golden Buddha is good but not Cussler good. It did seem a bit disjointed. I'm not really liking the Corporation (Oregon Files) series.

Confusing and overly complex
This was my first exposure to the Oregon Files, but based on previous Cussler books, I was looking forward to another interesting adventure.At first glance, the book is packed with excitement, good character development and fast paced story.Unfortunately, I found all the different story lines difficult to follow.Maybe I am not used to so many things going on in one chapter, or maybe the writing is truncated and choppy.Despite this, I was able to enjoy the book and look forward to my next Oregon Files adventure.

Quick Review
A super-secret organization called The Corporation has been hired to help return the Dalai Lama to Tibet. In order to do so, they must first steal a large statue (the Golden Buddha) and utilize contents hidden inside long ago to achieve that end.

Known primarily for his NUMA/Dirk Pitt novels, this one has Clive Cussler working with Craig Dirgo on a new series with a side character from a previous NUMA story.

Another ridiculous but fairly entertaining story from Cussler where the heroes have unlimited ability, finances and connections. If you enjoy his other work, then you will probably enjoy this as well. ... Read more

Product Description
An introduction to what life was like on the Oregon Trail, describing the wagons, daily routines, food, clothing, Native Americans encountered on the way, and dangers. ... Read more

Product Description
The Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science provides an outstanding resource in 33 published volumes with 2 helpful indexes. This thorough reference set--written by 1300 eminent, international experts--offers librarians, information/computer scientists, bibliographers, documentalists, systems analysts, and students, convenient access to the techniques and tools of both library and information science.Impeccably researched, cross referenced, alphabetized by subject, and generously illustrated, the Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science integrates the essential theoretical and practical information accumulating in this rapidly growing field. The self-contained Supplements (each Supplement contains A-Z coverage) highlight new trends, describe the latest advances, and profile key people making critical contributions to the field.Recent individual Supplements considered topics such as Archival Science to User NeedsConcept-Based Indexing and Retrieval of Hypermedia Information to Using Self-Checkout Technology to Increase Productivity and Patron Service in the LibraryArtificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Approach to Fraud Investigation to Visual Search in Modern Human-Computer Interfaces* Supplement Volumes 36-61 are available; additional supplements in preparation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Mostly reprints of old articles
Many articles in this 2. edition are just reprints of articles from the 1 edition. It is a real problem that the articles are not dated or have otherwise been indicated whether they are new in this edition (from 2003) or have just been reprinted without updating from the first edition which was published in 73 volumes from 1968 until 2003. (Vol 1-33 A-Z; Vol. 34+35 = Index; Vol 36-73 = supplements)

For example, the article "Philosophy of Science" was pubished in 1977. It is reprinted in the 2nd edition without any changes in content (only typographical changes such as two columns). In the 2nd edition we are misinformed that this entry is "Print Published: 05/20/2003 | Online Published: 06/23/2003". The readers are thus misled concerning what they are reading. This is tru for many articles, I guess much more than 50%.

The only way you can tell whether the article is revised or updated is by looking at the references and see if new references are included - in most cases they are not (alternatively, of course compare the articles in the two editions page by page).

Both the first edition and the second edition have a heavy emphazis on specific libraries in specific countries and is weak in theoretical and conceptual issues.

When this is said, it should be said that there are many important articles in this work and it is an obvious advantage that it is available online and the papers available as pdf-files. I have now read usefull articles that I would not have read if I had to make paper copies from the old edition. ... Read more

Product Description
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. The combination of Diane Stanley's spirited, humorous, and historically accurate depiction of day-to-day life on the Oregon Trail in 1843 with Holly Berry's energetic illustrations and word balloons brings the past to life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Love this series
My kids and I have really enjoyed this series and I'm surprised how little known it is, considering Diane Stanley's reputation. I wish she could write more of these - although I appreciate all her other great books. Too bad there can't be two of her so she could write even more!

Fun book
We read Roughing It on the Oregon Trail by Diane Stanley. 2 twins stay with their grandmother and get to go back in time to meet some relatives and travel on the Oregon Trail. A little along the lines as the Magic Tree House books but this one is a picture book. It really was very interesting and I even learned some things I did not know. Recommended for ages 5-10 years.

History that reads like a story
My 6 yr old son and 8 year old daughter paid close attention and enjoyed this book. My daughter enjoyed reading the bubble conversation; I read the text part. Nice illustrations - neither they nor the story was too dark as is sometimes a problem with historical fiction for this age. Sort of a Magic School Bus feel to it, with travel back in time. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the Oregon Trail and the pioneers who settled in the Pacific Northwest. ... Read more

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Explores the sports, tourism, industry, environment, history, and culture that make Oregon unique. ... Read more

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Discusses the early history of Oregon beginning with the Native Americans who have lived there for many years, through European exploration and settlement, to statehood in 1859. ... Read more

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Surveys the people, geography, and history of the northwestern Beaver State. ... Read more

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Presents a brief history and description of the Beaver State. ... Read more

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From the time Dr. Lord left for the goldmines of California, he recorded in astonishing detail his observations of the Oregon Trail, the physical and social climates of Northern California, and the trip through Panama, all in a polished work of great literary merit. ... Read more

Product Description
THIS EDITION IS INTENDED FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. In 1848, nine-year-old Joshua Martin McCullough writes a journal of his family's journey from Missouri to Oregon in a covered wagon. Includes a historical note about westward migration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Never got my order!
Waited a month for my order. Received no feedback when I tried to contact seller. Found the book anyway in the library.Too much about death (there was a death of a child, drownings, scalping, etc.). Would not recommend this book for my nine-year-old.There's already enough death, war and accidents in this world, they do not need to read about it in a school book.

Very good First Look at the Oregon Trail
As we were studying the Oregon Trail, we read this book "for fun". It gave greater meaning to the "facts" that we read in the history book.I think he actually learned, and more importantly remembered, more information from this story than the history book!It gave him a glimpse into the harsh reality of the journey, without being too overloading.

Historical Fiction Book Review
Westward to Home is a great book to read about. Joshua, the boy in the story, and his family are going to Oregon in a wagon train.
Joshua writes about everything that happens in his diary.
I liked the part where Joshua and his family were fording down a river. Then his little sister almost drowned, but Joshua saved her.
One day his Grandpa took Joshua hunting and he shot a male buffalo.
The leader of the wagon train was cousin Daniel, who had no toes on one foot because of a frost bite.

I learned some interesting facts. Life on the Oregon Trail was hard, because of the bad wheather, not enough food and people got sick.
The migration to Oregon was 159 years ago.
The Indians respected the military.
I also learned that the author of this book is Patricia Hermes.

I would recommend this book for three reasons.
First, it's an interesting story. Second, it's suspenseful to read.
Finally, it's good to know, how life was over 150 years ago. It makes me
appreciate how good life is today.
Westward to Home is a great book!

Jessica Stedman, 3rd. Grade, Glenmeade Elementary School, Chino Hills, CA.

You Think You Have Got It Hard
If you think you have it hard, wait until you read the book Westward to Home, Joshua's Oregon Trail Diary.Joshua has hard times all through the book.He tells you many things about his family, friends, and neighbors.This book gets sad in parts but gets better in other parts.
The book Westward to Home takes place in 1848.The people in the book are never really in one spot the whole time, but their journey should end up in Oregon.Will they make it?
I think people who like reading diaries would enjoy reading this book.

This book is the bomb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm in 3rd grade and I read Joshua's Oregon Trail Diary (book 1.) When I read it, I just fell in love with it! I suggest this book to anyone who likes adventure, excitement, and realistic historical fiction.

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Product Description
Originally published in 1919.This volume from the Cornell University Library's print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies.All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume. ... Read more