The Oregon Trail Audiobook By Francis Parkman cover art

The Oregon Trail

Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life

Preview

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

The Oregon Trail

By: Francis Parkman
Narrated by: Robert Morris
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.90

Buy for $17.90

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

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
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

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)

What listeners say about The Oregon Trail

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    88
  • 4 Stars
    45
  • 3 Stars
    27
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    6
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    76
  • 4 Stars
    35
  • 3 Stars
    27
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    81
  • 4 Stars
    42
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Descriptive

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Extraordinary real life experiences

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.



Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Informative and Insightful.

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Only halfway along the Oregon Trail

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Title does not fit!

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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Most real account of frontier travel ever

This was by far the most authentic narrative of travel in the American frontier wilderness read to-date. A wonderful learning tool for those curious about early settlement of the American west and American Indian culture and traditions. Excellent reading for everyone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

SuperbFirst Hand Account

What an experience to hear about. Parkman was fully engaged at the very beginning of the American West ( and yet the beginning of the end). Here it is, beautifully written and narrated. For those interested in this period, this is pure joy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great descriptions

Facebook gave me a wonderful knowledge of what it was like to be in the prairies and mountains before it was destroyed by the settlers. The author was so vividly descriptive, that I really felt like I was there with him. Hi

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If you like early western history, this is interesting

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good Read!

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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!