This is a work of non fiction, and I would recommend it whether you already know the gist of what happened to these people or whether you only think you know, Whether you have heard very little about it other than cannibalism was involved, or whether you have watched documentaries on the subject this is by far the best and most detailed account of events that I have come across. The Donner/Reed Party is an important part of American history. “Of the eighty-one people who had been trapped by the early autumn snow at the eastern edge of the Sierra, thirty-six had died and forty-five had survived. No one remained at the high camps. For the Donner Party, the journey was finished.”
But their story lives on. ( )

What an interesting read. We all know about the Donner party and basically what happened to them but the details chronicled in this book are amazing. Details are taken from diaries, interviews with survivors and rescuers, and other reliable sources. So many things I did not know. How they got in the position they were in. Bad choices, bad advice. Difficult Sophie's Choice type choices having to be made. Heroics, cowardice. Everything is in this true life tale from the pioneer days. Definitely worth reading. ( )

What a story. ( )

This proved to be quite a lively, detailed and sympathetic but honest account of the entire journey west of what came to be infamously known as The Donner Party. Granted, before reading this I had only been exposed to the sketchiest of details regarding the Donner Party, so I can't truly attest to its accuracy, but given the documents and sources he cites throughout the book, I think it's definitely safe to say the author did his research! At times it became a little difficult to keep track of all the individuals, but that didn't detract too much from the entirety of the story. ( )

The author does a good job of making this history of the ill-fated Donner Party readable. He doesn't exactly put words in the mouths of the people; he uses their diary entries to help with that. He also explains at the end of the book that he feels able to place himself in their shoes by having gone to the locations they were during their ordeal.

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