Publisher's Synopsis
Two epic accounts of the women of the way westward
The first of these two first hand accounts by redoubtable pioneer women was written by Lavinia Honeyman Porter, a southern lady from a well to do family who was married to a professional gentleman who by her own admission, 'knew nothing of manual labour' and had no idea how to make a living on the plains of west or ensure' the crossing of the continent with an ox team was a successful venture'. However, in the early months of 1860 this family did embark on this epic adventure and after a six month journey arrived in California. On their journey they had encountered everything that the North American continent could offer from wild weather to hard terrain and bad men to the threat of attack by Indian tribes. Five years later, immediately following the cessation of the American Civil War, Miss Sarah Raymond set out on a similar journey (often handling the reins of a prairie schooner herself ) though her destination was Montana to settle near Virginia City. These two accounts, brought together for good value, in this special Leonaur edition are essential memoirs of the years of the great westward expansion during the 19th century, during which approaching 500,000 hopeful pioneers crossed the American heartland travelling towards the west on the Californian, Mormon and Oregon Trails. These were journeys of phenomenal hardship by the standards of the modern world and many left their bones along the way. However, the spirit of the pioneer was irrepressible; their aspiration was a better life for themselves and their families and these remarkable women ably demonstrated they were equal to the challenge of forging an embryonic nation.
Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.
