The Oregon Trail

Description

Francis Parkman Jr. was a notable American historian and writer who is best known for his remarkable account of his journey west towards the Rocky Mountains, a trip vividly depicted in “The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life”. While he never made it to Oregon as the title suggests, Parkman’s account is a truly valuable work both in the historic and literary sense.

In 1846, when he was just 23 years old, Parkman decided to head west and experience the American Wild west, the expansion of brave settlers, and more importantly, the lives of Native Americans. While he does depict the life in a train wagon and the hardships of nature, being a fresh graduate from Harvard, his portrayals of the life of the people is extremely accurate. He also manages to add color to the then-unchanged landscapes and the expansion of the white man.

While some might argue that Parkman never reached Oregon, his first and most important objective was to study the Indians and understand their way of life. That is the reason why, his 2,000 mile trip that took him to Fort Laramie and back was never intended for Oregon.

Parkman spent several weeks hunting buffalo with a tribe of Oglala Sioux, where he learned much about their way of life. He described vast plains, a prairie dog field, the buffalo hunts and the majestic Rocky Mountain landscape. The author also masterfully creates an authentic historical account into the lives of American Indians and the plagues white men brought, such as epidemics and alcoholism.

Both history students and people interested in the American expansion towards west would find this novel extremely interesting and captivating. The Oregon Trail is a true account of the adventures of a young historian and a portrayal of Native Americans during their last years.
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