Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey (Paperback)

by Lillian Schlissel (Author) "The "New Country" to Americans in 1840 was the land of the Oregon and California Territories..." (more)
Key Phrases: overland women, overland experience, overland diaries, Manuscript Diary, New York, Bancroft Library (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
YA-- A revised edition of Schlissel's 1982 book (Schocken) about the journey westward in mid-19th-century America from the point of view of the women involved. Readers will find first-person narrations by the women themselves after an extensive (160 pages) introduction that not only sets the scene, but also adequately describes the trials and tribulations on this difficult journey. The author has added an entry from the diary of a 16-year-old bride that presents a lighter side of the trek. A worthwhile addition not only for frontier studies but also for its perspective on women's issues.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
After the depression of 1837, the prospect of "free land" and gold prompted more than 250,000 people to emigrate to Oregon and California between 1840 and 1870. History, relying predominantly on men's writings, often presents this journey in terms of mythic adventure. But what was it like for women? After studying the writings of 103 women, Lillian Schlissel determined that "If ever there was a time when men and women turned their psychic energies toward opposite visions, the overland journey was that time." In Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey, she explores her findings, quoting at length from her sources and including a selection of diaries and reminiscences at the end. Although unmarried adolescents were often exuberant about their experience, for the married women, particularly those with young children, the trip was fraught with danger and fear. Children could fall under wagon wheels or be left behind in the confusion of traveling with as many as one hundred other wagons. There were buffalo stampedes, Indian attacks, snakebites, dysentery, starvation, and cholera - many women note individual graves, sometimes one per mile. In addition, one of every five women was pregnant when the journey began or became so in the course of a trip that guidebooks said would take three to four months, but often took six to eight. Through Lillian Schlissel's fascinating and extremely readable account, we gain a fuller understanding of the journey few of these women wanted to take. -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out Let's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Erica Bauermeister --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Schocken Books; Expanded edition (September 8, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805210040
• ISBN-13: 978-0805210040
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #685,844 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Family Stories, June 25, 2000

By	Michele T. Woodward (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased this book to read more about Jane Gould Tourtillot, who, it turns out, was my great-grandfather's aunt by marriage. For me, this book provided a glimpse into her world, and by extension, my world. I can't imagine riding a wagon or walking for miles wearing a long-sleeved, long dress in scorching heat. Or, for that matter, preparing meals, being pregnant, taking care of children, or burying a loved one on the side of the road. But these women did all these things in stride. Modern women focus on what women weren't able to do in the 19th century but this book shows that women have always been strong, brave and capable. It's a wonderful book which you will enjoy for years to come.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book makes me appreciate my life today., October 18, 1997

By A Customer

Divided into thirds, Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey, illustrates the difficulties of being in the first wave of those brave pioneers who headed west in search of a better life. These were the trail blazing families, there were no shelters along the way, all they had was what was with them. In the second wave of pioneer trekkers one finds larger wagon trains, mostly families and some brave women who set out alone. This group had the advantage of following a trail already laid out although because of weather, Indians or the terrain detours were often made, nonetheless, they had the good fortune of occasionally finding an outpost or fort. With the third wave of pioneers one finds the wealthy, some coming in fine carriages, forgoing the famed Conestoga wagon, the wealthy often came with their servants who would set a fine table of linen and silver in the prarie grasses. Most remarkable in this book, which I could not lay down and in part read aloud to my husband, was how these women simply accepted their lot and made their lives. Their physical and psychological strength is compelling. Women had little choice but to head West if their husband so desired. Packing up, many of them realized they would never be returning to family and friends. What does one do if when sitting in a damp Conestoga wagon, in the midst of the prarie a thousand miles from nowhere while nursing a seven-month-old, and being mother of six other children all along on this trek, one finds that their husband has just died in a hunting accident. When I think of the ease of our lives today, even for the worst off of us, this book taught me that our complaints of not having the dry cleaning ready on time, or the market being out of Roma tomatoes or the manicurist not being able to squeeze in my appointment when I want it, is really not very important. The hardships these women faced and yet struggled on in give the reader a greater appreciation of our times. This book is illustrated with actual photographs of various women who were part of the overland trek and the bibliography is splendid for further research. Our book club here in Newport Beach, CA will be reading this selection in December, and I am looking forward to their comments as well as yours. This review was written by Jacquelyn Beauregard Dillman, Newport Beach Public Library Foundation Board.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Experience an incredible journey!, December 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey (Paperback)

This is an incredible opportunity to journey into the past through the real-life writings of women who traveled west by wagons on the Overland Trail (1841-1867). Read what two women thought when they came across the waters from a hot spring -- one woman expresses her worry that Satan must be close by while another writes about the great convenience of being able to make quick a cup of tea! There are many stories that will make you laugh, cry, and wonder about the hardships and triumphs all these diary writers faced. This is a book you will read over and over again.