The Oregon Trail - A New American Journey
Rinker Buck
Simon & Schuster (2015)
In Collection
#1041
0*
Travel writing
Frontier And Pioneer Life - West (U.S.), Oregon National Historic Trail
Kindle 9781451659160
eng English
Well into middle-age, Rinker Buck found himself divorced, at the edge of bankruptcy, and growing blunt through the twin demons of ennui and alcohol. This was not a state he was accustomed to; instilled by his father with a sense of daring, Buck was no stranger to adventure, having been (with his brother) one half of the youngest duo to fly across the country, a tale documented in his celebrated book, Flight of Passage. On a whim, he found himself in a museum at the head of the Oregon Trail, realizing that even as a fairly serious American history buff, he knew virtually nothing about the pivotal era when 400,000 pioneers made their way West in quests for land, gold, and new lives. On a much bigger whim, Buck decided to travel the 2,000 miles of ruts and superseding highways in a mule-driven wagon on his own “crazyass” quest for a new beginning. The result is a dense-yet-entertaining mix of memoir, history, and adventure, as Buck—joined by another brother, Nick, and his “incurably filthy” dog, Olive Oyl—struggle with the mechanical, environmental, and existential challenges posed by such an unusually grueling journey. Buck is an engaging writer, and while the book pushes 500 pages, the story never lags. By the end, you’ll know more about mules than you ever thought you would (just enough, actually), and you’ll have a better perspective on the Trail, its travelers, and the role it played in shaping the modern United States.
Product Details
LoC Classification F597 .B89 2015
LoC Control Number 2015001159
Dewey 978
No. of Pages 464
Height x Width 9.8  inch
Personal Details
Read It No
Links Library of Congress