The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life

The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman is an essential classic for anyone interested in the history of the American West. Written in 1849, Parkman’s chronicle of his journey along the Oregon Trail is one of the most iconic and influential works of American literature. Parkman’s vivid description of the terrain and people he encountered along the way makes this an unforgettable and informative read. From the plains of Nebraska to the peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Parkman captures the beauty of the American West and the hardships of pioneering life. Read The Oregon Trail and get a better understanding of the American West, its history, and its people. In the words of historian Henry Steele Commager, "The Oregon Trail appeared in 1849, and with its publication Parkman was launched upon his career as a storyteller without peer in American letters. ... It is the picturesqueness, the racy vigor, the poetic elegance, the youthful excitement, that give The Oregon Trail its enduring appeal, recreating for us, as perhaps does no other book in our literature, the wonder and beauty of life in a new world that is now old and but a memory." Francis Parkman (1823-1893) was an American historian, best known for his monumental seven-volume series France and England in North America. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 16, 1823, to a family of prosperous Boston Brahmins. Parkman attended Harvard College, where he studied history and Latin. After graduating in 1844, he studied law at Harvard Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1849. However, he was more interested in writing and exploring North America, so he abandoned law to pursue his passion. In 1846, Parkman set out on a 3-year journey to explore the Great Lakes and the Oregon Trail, which resulted in his book The Oregon Trail. In addition to his writing, Parkman was an active conservationist. He was a founding member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and he was instrumental in the creation of the Yosemite Park. Parkman died in 1893, but his legacy lives on. He is remembered as one of the great historians of the 19th century, and his work is still widely read today.