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
This work investigates the realities of the American frontier during the mid-nineteenth century through the lens of a personal expedition across the Great Plains. Francis Parkman Jr., a Harvard-educated historian, utilizes his firsthand observations from an 1846 excursion to document the social and physical landscape of the West. His account serves as a primary record of the interactions between settlers, traders, and indigenous populations during a period of significant westward expansion.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed accounts of travel via coach, boat, and horseback across the American wilderness.
- Ethnographic observations regarding the customs and daily life of the Sioux people.
- Descriptions of the logistical challenges faced by emigrants and trappers on the trail.
Scope Limits
- The text reflects the specific cultural biases and limited perspective of a nineteenth-century observer.
- It does not provide a comprehensive political or economic analysis of the era's expansionist policies.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and literary scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the romanticized and harsh realities of the American frontier. Readers often note the descriptive density of the prose, which captures the environmental conditions of the Great Plains with significant historical detail.
Page Count:
384
Publication Date:
2008-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
019156494X
ISBN-13:
9780191564949
Travel
Memoir
History
Non-Fiction
Travelogue
American West
19th Century
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