Sunday, September 1, 2019

The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman (1849) Illus. Maynard Dixon


Outstanding book, great real-life encounters with basically untouched American Indians of the plains.

The only complaint is the 1/3 of the book devoted to the easy slaughter of Buffalo. The Buffalo are indeed stupid unwitting creatures and as such were easy and tempting game for those that lived in that short period of time; roughly from 1845 to 1870, the 25 years of this historic migration.

 
I have a nice copy New York: The Heritage Press, 1943.



Scattered throughout are the monochromatic renderings
Several one page full color images and one expansive two pager!

I have never read a more direct unfiltered view of the plight of the American Indian. Yes of course Parkman brought his prejudices to it. This particular book has an introduction by Mason Wade. Wade pull no punches in characterizing Parkman as an Elite snob; this is refreshing to get an honest look at the man and his era.
It seems as though (just like the Scotts) the Indians were indeed their own worst enemies; incapable of coming together they were ultimately easy to divide and concur.



(by the way I have taken to reading the Introduction to my books after finishing the book since they always assume a knowledge of the book in there writing)


The best line in the book comes from Shakespeare: To "Daff the World Aside and bid it Pass" 
A lesson we are learning all to well in these times!


No comments:

Post a Comment