From the #1 bestselling author of The Boys in the Boat comes an unforgettable epic of family, tragedy, and survival on the American frontier“An ideal pairing of talent and material.… Engrossing.… A deft and ambitious storyteller.” – Mary Roach, New York Times Book ReviewIn April of 1846, twenty-one-year-old Sarah Graves, intent on a better future, set out west from Illinois with her new husband, … on a better future, set out west from Illinois with her new husband, her parents, and eight siblings. Seven months later, after joining a party of pioneers led by George Donner, they reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains as the first heavy snows of the season closed the pass ahead of them. In early December, starving and desperate, Sarah and fourteen others set out for California on snowshoes, and, over the next thirty-two days, endured almost unfathomable hardships and horrors.
In this gripping narrative, New York Times bestselling author Daniel James Brown sheds new light on one of the most legendary events in American history. Following every painful footstep of Sarah’s journey with the Donner Party, Brown produces a tale both spellbinding and richly informative.
more
Great read
An informative researched account of the tragedy of the Donner Party. What happened, what went wrong, and what starvation can do to even a strong group of people.
Wonderland historical account of what really happened to The Donnie Party
Loved the way this author wrote this book.Very well written,accurate and informative. He takes you there on the journey..following their footsteps,makes you feel and understand the handships, horrors, hopes ,feelings of these people in this era.I loved all his detailed information,on the effects of how the environment, health,and other …
Just imagining thelife and death struggle they had to make was humbling.
So much more information about the Donner Party than other writers give. The focus on one character makes you feel like you are there with the travelers. Also the author gives additional info about that time period. Simply could not put this book down.
Loved this book.
All I knew of the Donner Party was the cannibalism. This is truly a small part of what they went through. To read about the sacrifices they made to save their children; to understand the young and very young ages of those who walked over the Sierra Nevada in the dead of winter not knowing if they’d even make it—let me just say–these people …
Loved the story .. didn’t think the writing was fabulous but can’t stop talking about the book!
One of the better books I read
This book is an excellent, factual account of the tragedy of the Donner party. The author includes much data to explain the errors of the immigrants and the deceptions of those who supposedly knew how to get the party to California but who were too often serving only self-interest, especially Hastings. Today, he might have been criminally charged …
Awesome historical details of a sad situation! Well handled!
I really enjoyed how the author injected “side bar” information into the accounts if what was happening.
I have read books on the Donner Party before, but never really connected to it until this book. Using today’s science, the author explains exactly what happens to the people in their tragic journey. It is a fascinating look at the determination and strength to survive. A book worth adding to anyone’s library.
i had heard many things about the Donner party, but only bits and pieces. This book tells the whole story including the mistakes made that led to the tragedy and what became of the survivors. A fascinating read.
Great historical narrative, detailed and written with a pragmatic approach to heart rending tragedies. Certainly clears up the romanticized myth of wagon train journeys that settled the west.
Very descriptive of how life was then, and what everyone went through. I wish I had read this before I visited Donner Pass a few years ago.
Brought the tragic Donner Party to “life”. Always just a scant story for me, this book tells the nitty gritty and the follow through of lives after. So tragic for the children to endure.
Realistic, but a little dry.