Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey

De: Lillian Schlissel, Mary Clearman Blew - foreword

Narrado por: Christina Delaine

More than a quarter of a million Americans crossed the continental United States between 1840 and 1870, going west in one of the greatest migrations of modern times. The frontiersmen have become an integral part of our history and folklore, but the Westering experiences of American women are equally central to an accurate picture of what life was like on the frontier.

Through the diaries, letters, and reminiscences of women who participated in this migration, Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey gives us primary source material on the lives of these women, who kept campfires burning with buffalo chips and dried weeds, gave birth to and cared for children along primitive and dangerous roads, drove teams of oxen, picked berries, milked cows, and cooked meals in the middle of a wilderness that was a far cry from the homes they had left back east. Still (and often under the disapproving eyes of their husbands) they found time to write brave letters home or to jot a few weary lines at night into the diaries that continue to enthrall us.

In her new foreword, Professor Mary Clearman Blew explores the enduring fascination with this subject among both historians and the general public, and places Schlissel's groundbreaking work into an intriguing historical and cultural context.

©1982, 1992, 2004 Schocken Books; Foreword copyright 2004 by Mary Clearman Blew (P)2023 Tantor

The second half of the book was the best

The first half of the book was bits and pieces of different peoples stories which isn’t as interesting . The second half were whole diaries which is what I prefer. Other than that I found the book interesting.

Interesting history

It is impressive to learn the history of (WASP) women making their journey westward. I was disappointed by the authors multiple inclusions of racial slurs that added nothing to the story but made me cringe to keep listening. It’s certainly a very one sided version of traveling westward.