Non-Fiction

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts) Sun Feb 27, 2022, 01:09 PM Feb 2022

I'm looking for a book about travel on a wagon train

Has anyone read a good nonfiction book about what it was like living and traveling on a wagon train headed out west?

I read somewhere recently that wagon trains did not travel in single file with one wagon following the other.
The article said they traveled about five alongside each other.

That raised my interest in finding out what it was actually like on a wagon train.

Thanks

11 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I'm looking for a book about travel on a wagon train (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Feb 2022 OP

The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman. Sneederbunk Feb 2022 #1

Thanks left-of-center2012 Feb 2022 #4

Did you try your local library? efhmc Mar 2022 #8

Wagons West by Frank McLynn. luvs2sing Feb 2022 #2

Thanks. But ... left-of-center2012 Feb 2022 #5

Readers Digest Condensed Version: ret5hd Feb 2022 #3

Remember what Roman emperor Silbannacus said left-of-center2012 Feb 2022 #6

Well, no I don't...got the RDCV available? ret5hd Feb 2022 #7

Silbannacus sayeth: "No one will ever remember what I said." Achilleaze Mar 2022 #10

Ohhh, I would LOVE to read a non-fiction book PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2022 #9

Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey; Lillian Schlissel (Editor) intheflow Aug 2022 #11

Sneederbunk

(15,094 posts)

1. The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman.

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Sun Feb 27, 2022, 01:12 PM

Feb 2022

It is a classic.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)

4. Thanks

Reply to Sneederbunk (Reply #1)

Sun Feb 27, 2022, 03:43 PM

Feb 2022

A bit pricey for me, but I've book marked it.

efhmc

(15,005 posts)

8. Did you try your local library?

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Reply #4)

Thu Mar 3, 2022, 08:22 PM

Mar 2022

Found it in two of the ones I use.

luvs2sing

(2,234 posts)

2. Wagons West by Frank McLynn.

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Sun Feb 27, 2022, 01:14 PM

Feb 2022

Also, The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman and Oregon Trail Revisited by Gregory Franzwa.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)

5. Thanks. But ...

Reply to luvs2sing (Reply #2)

Sun Feb 27, 2022, 03:48 PM

Feb 2022

Wagons West by Frank McLynn

Reviews say the author uses too many big words most people don't know and have to look up.
Is that right?

ret5hd

(21,320 posts)

3. Readers Digest Condensed Version:

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Sun Feb 27, 2022, 01:15 PM

Feb 2022

Appalachians: “Well…dammit”
Plains: “Ohhh…this is easy!”
Rockies: “Uhhhh…motherfucker”

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)

6. Remember what Roman emperor Silbannacus said

Reply to ret5hd (Reply #3)

Sun Feb 27, 2022, 03:54 PM

Feb 2022

ret5hd

(21,320 posts)

7. Well, no I don't...got the RDCV available?

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Reply #6)

Sun Feb 27, 2022, 03:58 PM

Feb 2022

Achilleaze

(15,543 posts)

10. Silbannacus sayeth: "No one will ever remember what I said."

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Reply #6)

Mon Mar 14, 2022, 05:52 AM

Mar 2022

"Unless they use a search engine."

PoindexterOglethorpe

(26,727 posts)

9. Ohhh, I would LOVE to read a non-fiction book

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Thu Mar 3, 2022, 09:36 PM

Mar 2022

about travel on a wagon train.

intheflow

(28,925 posts)

11. Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey; Lillian Schlissel (Editor)

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Sat Aug 20, 2022, 01:07 PM

Aug 2022

I loved this book! The resourcefulness that women had to have to cook and care for their families, sometimes with unidentifiable food food found on the trail, sometimes giving birth during the journey - it was fascinating, and made moreso by the primary source diaries. A great addition to the westward journey, from the women's POV.

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