West of Wichita: Settling the High Plains of Kansas, 1865-1890 (Paperback)

by Craig Miner (Author) "The history of the American West as a distinct field of study did not get under way until Frederick Jackson Turner's famous 1893 interpretive address,..." (more)
Key Phrases: county clippings, sixth principal meridian, grasshopper invasion, Dodge City, Garden City, Hays City (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A poignant account of human pathos and triumphs, of dreams and despair, of illusion and disillusion." -- Kansas History

"A wonderful book . . . about survivors who faced things head on." -- Kansas City Times

"Magnificent. . . . A subtle and often moving account of pioneer life. . . . A truly splendid book." -- Choice

"Miner treats the stuff of Plains history . . . with true originality and insight." -- Great Plains Quarterly

"Rich in detail, warmed by the affection its author obviously feels for his subject." -- Journal of American History

"This first-rate book is an important addition to the history of Kansas and to the study of western settlement." -- American Historical Review

Product Description
This volume, which presents a "slice-of-life" on the Plains during its early settlement, adds rich detail to our understanding of the struggle for survival in a harsh landscape that tested the hardiest pioneer. Miner concentrates not only on the major economic events of the period--railroad building, Indian raids, the grasshopper invasion of 1874, the blizzard of 1886--but also on the more personal experiences equally important: building sod houses, choosing crops, filing of claims, fighting varmints, and dealing with the deaths of children on the prairie.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kansas (April 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0700603646
• ISBN-13: 978-0700603640
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #833,862 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An informative and enjoyable read, November 28, 2000

By	Mary Jamba (Cleveland, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a frequent reader of historical fiction and non-fiction, I found this book to be both enjoyable and informative. I learned a great deal about the cultural history of the individuals who attempted to settle this difficult land and how they interacted with the environment, the government and the Indians. I found the insights regarding life in a dugout or a sod house particularly interesting, and the enclosed historical jokes about certain Kansas towns and prairie insect pests made me laugh out loud. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the truth of the "Wild, Wild West" of North America. Miner helps to dispell many of the myths.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and very easy reading, December 15, 2004

By	Kansas history buff - See all my reviews

I loved this book. One of the few history books I've read that I would describe as a page-turner. Loaded with interesting facts and characters while at the same time doing an excellent job of conveying the overall progression of the settlement of Western Kansas.