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THE WAKE OF THE PRAIRIE BCHOONER by Irene D. Paden Kirkus Star

THE WAKE OF THE PRAIRIE BCHOONER

By

Pub Date: Oct. 19th, 1943
Publisher: Macmillan

Another book that will reward the enthusiastic personal backing of its readers -- and again a book that wont sell itself. We reported it for September publication in July (P. ). Postponed to November -- we are now repeating the report, as follows:-"" Many readers found De Voto's Year of Decision somewhat too consciously erudite. Here -- for such a market --is an historical travelogue that pieces together the jigsaw puzzle pieces of Westward expansion, from the 1840's on, with a pervading sense of tremendous interest and compelling authenticity. The author, with her husband, son and a relative, for many summers followed the tracks into the past. They retraced main and cut-off trails of the great migration, they used primary source material for route making and guidance. They solved puzzles and sought landmarks: they relived the past and drew their own conclusions.....The first travelers, the Indians, the rivers, prairie rations, the cumulative effect of the terrors, epidemics, characters of the past, and the hazards they endured, characteristic and individual incidents, -- all in all this is an impressive contribution to the literature of the Oregon-California trails. There is not a dull moment in it -- for the research and identification goes along with the personal story of the party, what they did and how they did it, and what they were like when they did it, to whom they talked en route, and what they learned. Excellent Americans, pioneer history in telling terms. Dr. Paden (of Alamada, California) had a predilection for field work on western trails: Mrs. Paden took notes and made sketches and took photographs. The book is illustrated with her drawings and numerous maps.