Author 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. In the course of his travels, Parkman encountered numerous Indians, living among a Sioux tribe for a time, as well as meeting traders, trappers, and emigrants searching for a new life. His detailed description of the journey, set against the vast majesty of the Great Plains, has emerged through the generations as a classic narrative of one man's exploration of the American Wilderness. It is a journey which has shaped our picture of mid-nineteenth-century America and which has influenced our perception of American civilization. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
The book investigates the reality of the American frontier in 1846 through the lens of a personal expedition across the Great Plains. Francis Parkman Jr., a Harvard-educated historian, documents his experiences traveling from Missouri to the Rocky Mountains. He utilizes his observations of indigenous tribes, fur traders, and emigrants to construct a detailed record of the social and physical landscape of the mid-nineteenth-century American wilderness.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed accounts of travel via coach, boat, and horseback across the Great Plains
- Ethnographic observations of Sioux tribal life and customs
- First-hand interactions with trappers, traders, and pioneers
Scope Limits
- The narrative is limited to the specific route and timeframe of Parkman's 1846 expedition
- The text reflects the cultural biases and perspectives of a nineteenth-century observer
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and historians recognize this work as a foundational primary source for understanding the mid-nineteenth-century American frontier. Readers frequently note the descriptive density of the prose and its significance in shaping the romanticized perception of the American West.
Page Count:
385
Publication Date:
2008-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191504351
ISBN-13:
9780191504358
History
Non-Fiction
Travelogue
American West
19th Century
Exploration
American History
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