The Oregon Trail Audiobook By Francis Parkman cover art

The Oregon Trail

Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life

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The Oregon Trail

By: Francis Parkman
Narrated by: Robert Morris
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This is the classic account of Francis Parkman’s rugged trip over the eastern part of the Oregon Trail with his cousin Quincy Adams Shaw in the spring and summer of 1846. They left St. Louis by steamboat and traveled on horseback, in company with guides and occasionally other travelers. They encountered storms and buffalo hunts, meeting Indians, soldiers, sportsmen, and emigrants.

The Oregon Trail is an eyewitness account of the Mormons and outlaws, trappers and Indians, pioneers and adventurers who struggled to conquer the frontier.

Public Domain (P)1994 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Adventure Travel Americas Adventure

Critic reviews

“ 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 eloquence, 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.” (Henry Steel Commager, historian)
“This book, in brief, is excellent and has the true wild game flavor.” (Herman Melville)
“This timeless account of Parkman’s travels and travails…remains a colorful classic.” ( Library Journal)
Vivid Descriptions • Historical Insights • Informative Reading • Firsthand Account • Frontier Experiences
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This is not fiction or a recount of history. I looked at the timeline of when the Oregon Trail was used and Frances Parkman's biography. I think these are his real life experiences on his trip on the Oregon Trail. I've done wilderness packing with horses and can relate to some of their trail difficulties. The writing style is probably as of the mid-1800's, and you have to allow for that. But, it was so cool to hear ideas and phrases still common today. I also loved hearing all their interactions with Native Indians. The narrator is a bit stilted, but you can get used to that, too.



Extraordinary real life experiences

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This first-hand account of one traveling The Oregon Trail in the 1800s with the purpose of learning about the thoughts and habits of Native Americans by gaining their trust and living among them part of the time is informative and insightful

Informative and Insightful.

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I liked the description of the people, animals and landscape. The author’s prejudices were typical of his privileged upbringing.

Descriptive

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I should’ve paid better attention to what this book was about, I wanted to read about the journey to Oregon. This 1849 book about his adventures from St Louis to the foot of the Rockies and back was interesting, and made me appreciate how dangerous life on the plains could be for Native Americans and travelers who ventured west. However, he doesn’t go all the way to Oregon.

They don’t get past the Rockies:-)

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Parkman didn’t go all the way to Oregon, only into Wyoming before turning south along the Rockies and then back to Westport. Still, it’s an interesting picture of those times. Narration was very stilted.

Only halfway along the Oregon Trail

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Definitely not my cup of tea — and I love history! This book should definitely not have this title as it has VERY little to do with the history of the Oregon Trail! Not sure how much of the Oregon trail was even in the book once he got to Fort Laramie!

Title does not fit!

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An interesting account of early western experiences. First published in 1849, first hand observations of life on the frontier. Parkman witnessed American army troops moving towards the war with Mexico. Parkman shows the prejudices of early American and both complement and disparages indigenous people. He also displays his prejudices against “Mormons” and Mexicans. Still and interesting window into the past.

If you like early western history, this is interesting

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Really enjoyed this informative reading of the Oregon Trail. the author makes you feel as you are the one who is there seeing the vast beauty and experiencing the sight of indians for the first time and hunting the Buffalo. highly recommended!

Good Read!

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Parkman was a white man of his time, so openly racist. Story was historically interesting, but the casual disdain of the "lesser races" and the easy attitude towards slaughtering game without any reason but entertainment are odious.
Parkman used a lot of commas in his writing, and the reader emphasized their placements with endless irritating pauses. He also mispronounced a number of common words, a pet peeve of mine.

Racist author, terrible reader

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I loved this book. Writing came easily for Francis, even as a young man. He wrote this account of his travels into the American West when he was 26 years old, a few years after he completed his five month adventure. He described Fort Laramie when it was still privately owned. He lived with the Oglala Sioux for a period of weeks. He hunted to survive, describing vast herds of buffalo before their decline. There was more detail in his writing that any book I have read about the early frontier. I loved it.

Parkman has been criticized for being a racist. Maybe he was, but he praised the Sioux just as often as he insulted them. For what it’s worth, he also insulted whites and even old buffaloes. The sensibilities of the 1840s were different than they are today. If you let that get in the way, you’ll learn nothing from this fabulous journal.

Just like being in the American West of the 1840s

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