Customer Reviews

Death Valley in '49 (California Legacy)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First hand account of pioneers crossing the American west in 1849. Epic and heroic in scope, Manly describes hardships and an America nearly lost to history. Where it survives is in the deserts and wastelands of Utah, Nevada and California. One will never be able to travel these regions without thinking of Manly, Rogers and the Bennet-Arcane party.

As a descendant of William L. Manly, and as an avid reader of history, the book appealed to me. It is a tale of raw survival and heroism, as well as a testament to the pioneering spirit of people from our American past. It is also a book of human triumph over one of Mother nature's most trying environments on Earth. The easy-going narration of the events in William L. Manly's life draw you into the scenery, the essence of the beautiful, yet enigmatic desert which lures yet imposes such harsh demands on the body and soul. It seemed that the nearly intolerable conditions that William and his fellow pioneers endured were a kind of "Offering" to the desert, which is one of Mother nature's testing grounds of the human spirit.

Jean and I edited the Heyday Books edition of Manly's monumental work. This edition has foreward by Dr. Limerick and Jean and I added a preface, 400 notes, an epilogue, and an index. We, of course, are biased and think this is the best edition of his book. Needless to say, the original edition is the best. We hope you enjoy Manly's words and our additions.

As a person living in Southern California, I found this book to be most enjoyable and informative. The rich history and place names that we pass every day from our busy highways and have never really known the actual stories. Reading this book has given me such a new appreciation for those places I had thought so ordinary. Barrel Springs Road near Palmdale, Soledad and Francisquito Canyons, and the great Death Valley. Moapa, Cedar City, and the Virgin River, Utah and Nevada.
But the book is much more than that. It is a story of courage, great adventure, and unbelievable strength of body and character. The men, women and children who braved the rugged Western land.
Manly tells an honest account of his experiences. Manly's writings touch on many other aspects of American history, the Spanish vaqueros, the slave trade, and sailing on a steamer to return home once again.
A must read true story for any one interested in American and especially California history.