Long considered one of the best of the captive narratives from the 19th century, Abbie Gardner's thrilling and graphic tale of her abduction by a band of Santee Sioux in 1857 will captivate you from beginning to end. Barely 14 years old, her family was butchered before her eyes and she witnessed the deaths of two other women captives before her release by Chief Inkpaduta.Gardner suffered years of illness after her return to white culture but eventually made a successful and prosper...

In this classic Western travelog, the author leaves his native Boston for an unforgettable journey across the disappearing American frontier.In the spring of 1846, Francis Parkman, headed west to experience the untamed regions of America, to acquaint himself with the wild mountain men in the Rockies, and to visit the surviving Indian tribes before all were absorbed by the relentless advance of Western civilization. The Harvard-educated aristocrat had been preparing...

Few people represent the spirit of the Old West like Colonel William "Buffalo Bill" Cody! From Indian fights to buffalo hunts to his now-legendary touring Wild West Show, Buffalo Bill brought the legend of the Wild West to the world. Modern readers can enjoy the exploits of this larger-than-life hero through "The Buffalo Bill Megapack," which assembles 5 classic works on the life of Buffalo Bill: "Adventures of Buffalo Bill from Boyhood to Manhood," by Colonel Prentiss Ingraham; "The Life ...

Ever wonder how everyone made it west? They used trails beaten by such men as Osborne Russell. In 1830, sixteen-year-old Russell left his farm in Maine and ran away to the sea. He didn’t like it. He ended up joining an expedition headed to Oregon by way of the Rocky Mountains. Along the way, he acquired the skills necessary for survival. He also hunted buffalo and trapped beaver, looked for new trails west, and kept a journal that forms the basis of this vigorously authentic book, only inc...

An Eastern Correspondent spends the summer on duty with Hancock's 1867 Indian Expedition, following Hancock and Custer as they attempt to make peace with the warring Indians on the plains. Good examples of real life in the Indian Wars.

In 1836, Irving published " Astoria ; or, Anecdotes of an Enterprise beyond the Rocky Mountains ;" a somewhat curious example of literary skill. A voluminous commercial correspondence was the dull ore of the earth which he refined and wrought into symmetry and splendor. Irving reduced to a regular narrative the events to which it referred, bringing out the picturesque whenever he found it, and enlivening the whole with touches of his native humor. His nephew, Pierre M. Irving, lightened his...

John Tanner's fascinating autobiography tells the story of a man torn between white society and the Native Americans with whom he identified.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introduc...

The diaries and letters of women who braved the overland trails during the great nineteenth-century westward migration are treasured documents in the study of the American West. These eight firsthand accounts are among the best ever written. They were selected for the power with which they portray the hardship, adventure, and boundless love for friends and family that characterized the overland experience. Some were written with the skilled pens of educated women. Others bear the marks of ...

In "Lewis and Clark," William R. Lighton expertly navigates the historic expedition of the famed duo, offering readers an intricate blend of meticulous research and narrative flair. Through a combination of vivid descriptions, detailed accounts of challenges faced, and insights into the explorers' motivations, Lighton captures the essence of early 19th-century America. His literary style balances historical accuracy with engaging storytelling, inviting readers into the trials and triumphs ...

On the Border with Crook is considered one of the best firsthand accounts of frontier army life, as the author of the book gives equal time to both the soldier and the Native American. John Bourke, the author of this book was a captain in the United States Army. He served as an aide to General George Crook in the Apache Wars from 1872 to 1883. As Crook's aide, Bourke had the opportunity to witness every facet of life in the Old West—the battles, wildlife, the internal squabbling among the ...

A pioneer woman recounts her capture by the Sioux at nineteen years old and what life was like in captivity as her husband worked to rescue her.What was life like for an American woman to be captured by people thought of as “uncivilized” or “barbaric” enemies? Captivity narratives were popular in both Europe and America from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries to the extent that many were sensationalized for entertainment purposes. Fanny Kelly’s memoir, fir...