No work of fiction has rendered this remarkable epic of ordeal with more vividness and power than richard rhodess novel of the donner party, the ungodly. The donner party was a group of 89 emigrants from illinois who purportedly turned to cannibalism to survive after getting trapped by snowfall while on a westward journey in 1846. The party did not exist when its members crossed the missouri river in may, 1846. List of books and articles about donner party online research.
This was a group of pioneers who became snowbound in the california mountains in 1847, their fate unknown until the first skeletonized survivors stumbled out of the wilderness, raving about starvation, murder. Based on the real events of the donner party tragedy. The 19thcentury pioneers set out for a new life when america was gobbling up land. I have always loved history and im a big fan of horror novels that. Also known as the donner reed party, it was a wagon train heading to california from missouri anticipated to take about 4 to 6. Alma katsus debut, the taker, has been compared to the early works of anne rice and diana gabaldons outlander for combining historical, the supernatural, and fantasy into one story. Free download of history of the donner party by cf mcglashan. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 18461847 snowbound in the sierra nevada mountain range. Donner party timeline provides an almost daytoday basic description of events directly associated with the 1840s donner party pioneers, covering the journey from illinois to california2,500 miles 4,023 kilometers, over the great plains, two mountain ranges, and the deserts of the great basin. Virginia reed and the donner party, chronicles virginias harrowing journey over a 12month period in 18461847, beginning with her departure from her hometown of springfield, illinois and ending with her arrival at sutters fort in california. Donner dinner party 2017, board book for sale online ebay.
The donner party saga the donner party and overland emigration, 18401860 archaeology of the murphy cabin archaeology of the alder creek camp donner party baggage new directions in donner party research appendix 1. Mar 06, 2018 the hunger is inspired by the donner party, in which american pioneers resorted to cannibalism to avoid starvation. Its also a fascinating snapshot of the westward expansion of the united states, and the families and individuals who sacrificed so. The harrowing saga of a donner party bride daniel james brown. Classic account of the donner party s 1846 1847 fatal journey west on the oregon trail. Isolated in horrific conditions, about half of the original group of nearly 90 people died of starvation or exposure. What is the best book youve read about the donner party. Seriously, thats how difficult ive made this decision. A new history of the donner party and the dark side of manifest. American chronicles about an archeological examination of the donner family camp in california. Classic account of the donner partys 1846 1847 fatal journey west on the oregon trail. The californiabound families were mostly from illinois and iowa, and most prominent among them were the two donner families and the reed family. A new history of the donner party and the dark side of manifest destiny. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The donner party was a group of families that set off overland for california in oxdrawn covered wagons in 1846. A new history of the donner party and the dark side of. Jun 30, 2019 the donner party was a group of american settlers heading to california who became stranded in heavy snows in the sierra nevada mountains in 1846. On april 16, 1846, a group of 33 settlers, their goods, and animals began moving west by wagon train from springfield, illinois, to california.
Early in its pages we learn that almost everybody does it. They planned a twothousandmile, fivemonth walk across the continent to new opportunities, but were trapped in the sierra nevada mountains by the terrible winter of 184647. I decided to duplicate virginias trek 163 years later, by rental car instead of by oxdrawn wagon. Todays post on the horror bookshelf comes from alma katsu, the author of the hunger and the taker trilogy. For years ive waited for a book that delivers an indepth information on a 19 th century tragedy so great, its memory still dominates californias pregold rush era history that event was the winter stranding of the reed donner party high in the sierra nevada, the year before gold was discovered by millwright james marshall on the south fork of the american river in columa, ca. For context, in the may of 1846 a wagon train led by george donner and james reed set out from independence, missouri like so many other pioneer families hoping to settle a new life in california.
The tragedy of the donner party is retold with a supernatural twist in the hunger, a dark mix of historical fiction and horror. Named best book of 2017 by the wild west history association. The best land under heaven donner summit historical. Mcglashan published a history of the donner party in 1879, the husband of one of the donner girls claimed that the books description of cannibalism was false and filed an injunction. I decided to duplicate virginias trek 163 years later, by. Also known as the donnerreed party, it was a wagon train heading to california from missouri anticipated to take about 4 to 6. Brown also provides new insight into a long list of bad choices made by the reed donner party that continued as members of the first major. The harrowing saga of the donner party kindle edition by brown, daniel james. The donner party, illfated settlers turned to cannibalism. Donner party timeline provides an almost daytoday basic description of events directly associated with the 1840s donner party pioneers, covering the journey from illinois to california2,500 miles 4,023 kilometers, over the great plains, two mountain ranges, and the deserts of the great basin following the timeline is a chronological list of deaths. Katsu lives outside of washington dc with her husband, musician bruce katsu. List of books and articles about donner party online.
The donner party sometimes called the donnerreed party was a group of american pioneers who migrated to california in a wagon train from the midwest. Roger wachtels the donner party the childrens press and terry del benes donner party cookbook horse creek publications, both due out later this year. Then i saw a different donner party book, then another then another, and now my afternoon is consumed by finding the very best one, because i just cannot cope with the idea of wasting my time on a sub par donner party book. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the indifferent stars above. The cookery section appears to be pretty good but im sorry to say that the donner party material is full of inaccuracies. Wallis offers a vivid new look at the illfated donner party. Donner, george donner, leader of what was to become the most famous of all the hundreds of wagon trains to start for the far west, the tragic, now nearly mythic donner party.
I first heard about the hunger from max booth iiis 15 most anticipated horror books of 2018 list on litreactor, and maxs blurb had me hooked right away. In the meantime, the graves family caught up with the donner party, which now numbered 87 people in 23 wagons. The donner party is a narrative of merchants and farmers, of middleaged parents with children and young couples with dreams, of infants and toddlers and teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. Donner party 21 books meet your next favorite book. The tragic story of the donner party legends of america. Sep 03, 20 the donner party is a narrative of merchants and farmers, of middleaged parents with children and young couples with dreams, of infants and toddlers and teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. With darrin miller, elizabeth austin, libby baker, jon bloch. Author wants to stop sensationalizing the donner party npr. Donner party, group of emigrants to california who in the winter of 184647 met with one of the most famous tragedies in western history.
George donner was elected captain of the party at the little sandy river on july 20, 1846, but several people joined the party later, at fort bridger and in the wasatch. Rarick scythes away the myths of one of the nations betterknown sagas, and offers up this horrific but ennobling tale in all its freshly researched detail. Young curator nora kelly is approached by historian clive benton with a onceinalifetime proposal. The three principal leaders of what came to be commonly called the donner reed party were the two donner brothers, george and jacob donner, and. An exact accounting of the donner party is made difficult by deciding exactly when the donner party actually formed. Softcoverfine wfaint creasing to upper front corner. The hunger by alma katsu meet your next favorite book. Now numbering 87, the settlers took a shortcut called. The short answer was a book about the donner party. Watch the donner party american experience official. Jun, 2017 disturbing accounts of cannibalism are usually what come to mind with mention of the donner party, the illfated group of pioneers who set out in 1846 to travel to california but got trapped in. The perilous journey of the donner party 0046442866101. Oh mary, i have not wrote you half of the trouble we have had, but i have wrote you enough to let you know now that you dont know what trouble is.
The hunger is inspired by the donner party, in which american pioneers resorted to cannibalism to avoid starvation. The donner party was a group of californiabound american settlers caught up in the western expansion of the 1840s. Feb 19, 2019 a group of californiabound american emigrants known as the donner party, who after becoming snowbound in the sierra nevada in the winter of 1847, resorted to cannibalism. Historys footstepsa new book, jessies footsteps by kathie graziano, is from a different viewpoint on the history of the west and the donner camp. Hope this isnt a downer, but i feel obliged to mention that many other people have lived and traveled in the truckee area, so this sort of phenomena isnt necessarily related to the donner party but its natural to think so. What happened to the youngest survivors of the donner party.
Needing a book to read, i decided to look it up on amazon. Louis, the donner party followed the california trail until they reached little sandy river, in what is now wyoming, where they camped alongside other groups of travelers. Watch the donner party american experience official site. Grazianos greatgrandmother, jessie calloway hale, was a very astute writer and her memoirs are found in this book that shows us what life was like from a womans point of view. Finding the party at the south shore of the great salt lake, hastings accompanied reed partway back to point out the new route, which he said would take them about one week to travel. Calabros offering is a fine addition to the donner party canon and particularly well suited to its young audience, for whom the story of hardship and survival will be nothing. The harrowing saga of a donner party bride by daniel james brown, ordeal by hunger.
The story of what happened at donner pass, winter of 184647. A perfectly natural history is full of such surprising news. With crispin glover, clayne crawford, michele santopietro, mark boone junior. How the donner party was doomed by a disastrous shortcut.
Upon its initial printing in 1973, rhodess masterful tale was praised for its realistic and gripping depiction of the struggles faced by that illfated group of men, women, and children. Douglas prestons most recent book is the lost city of the monkey god. A version of this article appears in print on july 9, 2017, page 16 of the. For context, in the may of 1846 a wagon train led by george donner and james reed set out from independence, missouri like so many other pioneer families hoping to. The donner party expedition is one of the most notorious stories in all of american history. As donner party survivor, 12yearold patty reed, wrote to her cousin in 1847. It is a story of american families doing what they have always done, moving west in search of a better life. The story of the donner party, the illfated wagon train that faced horrific circumstances on its way to california, is the subject of books, videos, and, now, web sites. What starts as a call to the west quickly turns to a deadly journey for three families and their compatriots on a quest for the american dream. I own and have read a whole lot of donner party books. Jul 07, 2017 a new history of the donner party and the dark side of manifest destiny.