The Awakening of the Desert
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Narrated by:
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Barbara Birge
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By:
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Julius C. Birge
About this listen
Vivid, lyrical and often humorous, this respected, first-hand account of a journey across the Great American Desert now comes to life as an audiobook. Written in 1912 by Julius Birge, the memoir describes an 1866 wagon train trip taken during "the bloody years on the plains."
Recounting the risks of traveling the Oregon Trail, the author faithfully depicts the virgin environment, Native American people and abundant wildlife in words that now seem more timely than ever. From Red Cloud going on the warpath, to Mormon services where Brigham Young preached, to the legendary Buffalo Bill, Birge happened upon events, places and people whose significance was revealed with time. Late in his life, understanding the importance of what he had witnessed, he wrote The Awakening of the Desert.
Lovers of nature, students of history, listeners fascinated by the early West, and especially those traveling through its landscape today, will appreciate this recollection, abridged and narrated by the author's great-granddaughter 100 years after its first publication.
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- By: Geronimo
- Narrated by: Stephen F. Clark
- Length: 2 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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The autobiography of the famous Apache war chief, Geronimo. A shout of "Geronimo!!!" is still evoked to show courage. Hear, in his own words, the war story of Geronimo and his Chiricahua band of Apache Indians.
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Short, easy, interesting
- By Anonymous User on 04-02-24
By: Geronimo
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Exploration Fawcett
- Journey to the Lost City of Z
- By: Lt. Col. P. H. Fawcett
- Narrated by: Robin Sachs
- Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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This is the true story of the real Colonel Fawcett, whose life was the inspiration for the best-selling book The Lost City of Z and an upcoming movie starring Brad Pitt. A thrilling account, it tells of Colonel Fawcett and his mysterious disappearance in the Amazon jungle, which is now considered one of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century.
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boring
- By Ramanda Brockett on 08-07-18
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The Best Land Under Heaven
- The Donner Party in the Age of Manifest Destiny
- By: Michael Wallis
- Narrated by: Michael Wallis
- Length: 16 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Cutting through 160 years of mythmaking, best-selling historian Michael Wallis presents the ultimate cautionary tale of America's westward expansion.
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Well researched but performance is just mediocre
- By T. Redwood on 07-14-17
By: Michael Wallis
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Undaunted Courage
- By: Stephen E. Ambrose
- Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
- Length: 21 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson selected his personal secretary, Captain Meriwether Lewis, to lead a voyage up the Missouri River, across the forbidding Rockies, and - by way of the Snake and the Columbia rivers - down to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and his partner, Captain William Clark, endured incredible hardships and witnessed astounding sights. With great perseverance, they worked their way into an unexplored West. When they returned two years later, they had long since been given up for dead.
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Narration kills a great book
- By Kindle Customer on 02-10-08
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My Life as an Indian
- By: James Willard Schultz
- Narrated by: Brian V. Hunt
- Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Beautiful, tender, haunting, and full of excitement, this is the memoir of famed author, explorer, Glacier Park guide, trader, and historian of the Blackfoot Indians, James Willard Schultz. With the Blackfoot woman, whom he deeply loved, from 1880 to 1903, Schultz lived the life of a Blackfoot Indian with Nat-ah-ki and her people. During this time, he began writing for magazines, at times running a trading post, and working as a guide in the West.
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Compassionate Story
- By Ann Holmes on 09-13-18
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The Age of Gold
- The California Gold Rush and the New American Dream
- By: H.W. Brands
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 17 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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When gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill on the American River, it completely transformed the territory of California. Hundreds of thousands of people sped to California by any means possible, and small cities sprung up to service their needs as they sought the precious metal. By 1850, California had become a state; it had also become a symbol of where the nation was going.
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Very Enjoyable
- By Claire on 01-15-04
By: H.W. Brands
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Ordeal by Hunger
- By: George R. Stewart
- Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach
- Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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The tragedy of the Donner party constitutes one of the most amazing stories of the American West. In 1846, 87 people, men, women, and children, set out for California, persuaded to attempt a new overland route. After struggling across the desert, losing many oxen, and nearly dying of thirst, they reached the very summit of the Sierras, only to be trapped by blinding snow and bitter storms. Many perished; some survived by resorting to cannibalism; all were subjected to unbearable suffering.
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Life Changing
- By Gyropilot on 06-03-08
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How I Found Livingstone in Central Africa
- By: Henry M. Stanley
- Narrated by: James Adams
- Length: 15 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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This riveting history is a firsthand account of the long and arduous search for one of the greatest explorers of the 19th century. Journalist and adventurer Henry M. Stanley was known for his search for the legendary David Livingstone, and their eventual meeting led to the popular quotation "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" A real-life adventure story, How I Found Livingstone in Central Africa tells of the incredible hardships - disease, hostile natives, tribal warfare, impenetrable jungles, and other obstacles - faced by a daring explorer. This must-have account also includes a wealth of information on various African peoples.
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Remarkable courage and pluck!
- By Jim on 05-25-18
By: Henry M. Stanley
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Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce
- The Untold Story of an American Tragedy
- By: Kent Nerburn
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Learning about the 1,800-mile journey made by Chief Joseph and 800 Nez Perce men, women, and children from their homelands in what is now eastern Oregon to Montana is essential to understand who we are as a nation. There, only 40 miles from the Canadian border and freedom, Chief Joseph, convinced that the wounded and elders could go no farther, walked across the snowy battlefield, handed his rifle to the US military commander who had been pursuing them, and spoke his now-famous words, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."
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Long but totally worth it
- By Mt.. Jumper on 07-24-19
By: Kent Nerburn
What listeners say about The Awakening of the Desert
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- equestriann
- 02-04-14
A great journey!
What did you love best about The Awakening of the Desert?
This is a fascinating book. Read by the author’s great granddaughter, it’s a first person account of an 1866 wagon train journey, told in the language of the day, which greatly enriches the tale. Subtle music and sound effects further flavor the yarn, until we feel we are trekking along with the brave souls on their great adventure. I recommend this to anyone interested in the history of the Old West.
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- kathy
- 01-19-14
Beautifully written, enjoyable, fascinating
Would you listen to The Awakening of the Desert again? Why?
This firsthand and first person account of Julius’s four-month trip across the West in 1866 is not only an important historical document, but a beautifully written chronicle that I enjoyed tremendously. Barbara Birge narrates The Awakening of the Desert, written by her great-grandfather Julius C. Birge and published over 100 years ago.The prose of this book is poetic. The rich details of life on a wagon train are fascinating (how does a new cowhand identify his own oxen from among dozens?) and often humorous. Yet the book is also written with the over-arching knowledge that this moment in time is utterly unique, as Native Americans and new settlers struggle with each other’s presence, as precious natural resources are beginning to be squandered, as people from many cultures try to live with and understand each other as they inhabit new territories.
What does Barbara Birge bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Barbara Birge beautifully reads The Awakening of the Desert, and her narration is a perfect complement to this record of history. Deft background sound effects and music offer just the right enhancement and feel of authenticity. It was pure enjoyment to listen to this audio book, and I recommend it with enthusiasm.
Any additional comments?
This would be a great road trip companion for anyone simply interested in American history and/or traveling out West.
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- Charles E. Elberson
- 05-01-14
First hand account of wagon train era
Written by a western pioneer just following the civil war, we travel to and through the west, hearing first-hand accounts of cowboys, Native Americans, Mormons, boom towns and best of all gain a true sense of the authentic flavor.
The writer avoids some of the hard-to-access arcane language of the era and makes some wonderful phrasing and word choices.
The tale of discovery and adventure read by the actual great-granddaughter of the author. At first it felt a bit curious for a female voice to depict such a masculine story but over time it felt just right, especially when Julius is painting wonderful word pictures of the real west.
A great listen for history fans who want to get an authentic sense of what is often an over- (or under-) romanticized era.
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2 people found this helpful
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- WK
- 12-02-15
Interesting writing. Monotonous narration.
While I understand the sentimentality of using the writer's great grand daughter to narrate the book, I'm afraid her reading is very monotonous. I kept drifting away and rewinding constantly.
This is unfortunate, as the story is very interesting and the added production of sound and music is well done.
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