Product Description

A Vanished Era: Parkman's history is a valuable first-person record of Plains Indians and life on the frontier before the West was settled and removal policies imperiled Native Americans. Originally published in 1849 as The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life, the book became one of the best-selling personal narratives of the 19th century. Enduring Tale: Generations of readers have treatured Parkman's ability to capture the pioneer spirit in America. His detailed description of the journey, set against the vast majesty of the Great Plains, has emerged as a classic narrative of one man's exploration of the American wilderness. Adventure historian Tony Brandt illuminates Parkman's classic with a thoughtful introduction detailing Parkman's role in popularizing the American West to a generation of pioneers and his later role as the preeminent historian of the West, whose skill in recognizing the dramatica potentials in the raw materials of history enabled him to create a harrative both historically accurate and, as Parkman said, "consistent with just historic proportion." Handsome editions, competitively priced: Gathered together for the first time in inexpensive, accessible editions, Adventure Press Classics offer readers the opportunity to build a comprehensive library of the most adrenaline-packed tales of adventure ever written.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #436324 in Books
• Published on: 2002-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Herman Melville
"The book, in brief, is excellent and has the true wild game flavor. And amazingly tickled will all their palates be, who are so lucky as to read it."

About the Author
Bernard Rosenthal is Professor of English at SUNY-Binghamton, Binghamton, New York.

Customer Reviews

One of my Favorites
This is one of my favorite books. It is a true story, written by a young man traveling in the West when it was really wild! It tells of the hardships he endures, and the people he meets.

Travelogue on the unspoiled Wild west
Here's a story of young man travelling to the Great Plains in the 1840's, enduring physical hardship whilst meeting proper Indians (Oglalla Sioux) and particpating in their life style.

Life in those days was relatively carefree,though some tribes were not be messed with. Indians were extremely hospitable, superstitious people, who lived off what nature provided them with. As the guest of honour though, chances were you'd be served dog - a white dog if possible. This and many other interesting tales about life in the Prairie you will find in this book. The Indian way of life, hunting bison, the scenery, the trappers, the trading post (famous Fort Laramie) its all in there. The unspoiled West - a decade or two before cattle moved in & things turned Wild.

Although written in 19th century its prose is accessible. Essentially, this a story of a young "back-packer" going West, meeting up with some British(!) "back-packers"- and the trouble it brings as well. Brilliant reading of American History in between Independance and Civil War.