Deceived: The Story of the Donner Party

by Peter R. Limburg

Challenging readers to think about what they would do under the same circumstances, "Deceived" tells the true story of the infamous Donner Party, stranded in the Sierra Nevadas during a brutal winter, who resorted to cannibalism to stay alive. Includes maps especially created for this volume.

Genres: American History, History, Nonfiction

249 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1983

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago I read a horror novel that was set in the location where the Donner Party met their fate - it wasn't really about the Donner Party but a fictonalised horror story using those that died as murderous ghosts. I don't remember much more about the book, but it triggered an interest in my non-fiction loving heart - and so I tracked down a copy of Deceived and there it sat, unread, until I had a non-fiction craving.

Deceived takes journal entries and interviews of survivors of the ill-fated wagon party, of experienced mountain men and the men that mounted the rescue attempts after the majority of the people became trapped by snow more than twelve feet deep and uses them to make a narrative of the journey from Illinois to California. The journal entries make it feel more realistic, but otherwise Peter Limburg does a pretty good job of making it into a page-turning story.

There are, naturally, a lot of characters - 81 people formed the Donner Party, so some of them tend to blend into others, but the main characters - George Donner, James Reed, Patrick Breen and William Eddy stand out for their individual characteristics and actions during the journey, whilst trapped in the mountains, and particularly for Reed and Eddy, their brave attempts to save their families.

Being written in the 1980's, this particular book does use some language that probably wouldn't be acceptable in today's writing - the terms for native Americans and mentally-disabled persons aren't exactly politically correct, but at the time were completely acceptable words, so my bringing it up is more of a warning than a criticism.

There are also a lot of descriptions of the landscape, the placement of the cabins around Truckee Lake and at times it does get a little confusing as there is so much to imagine, but I found it very difficult to put Deceived down - I wanted to know what would happen next, and cheer on the people I liked and grumble at the ones I despised. From a non-fiction book perspective, it's quite well written and very engaging - the facts, figures and events are presented in a way that makes them part of the story rather than annoying extras.

Probably most famous for the fact that almost all the survivors resorted to cannibalism to survive, although that subject does play an important part in the story, Limburg is very non-judgemental in his writing - he makes the desperation of the survivors clear rather than just condemning their actions.

Deceived also covers what becomes of the survivors after they finally arrive in California, including the last survivor, Keseberg, who became infamous for his cannibalism and general horribleness, and it was interesting to see how the key characters made their way in the world despite their terrible hardships.

My interest in learning more about the Donner Party was completely satisfied by Deceived - it was interesting as well as compassionate, and the despair and hopelessness of the survivors really came to life on the page.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

The Donnor Party's struggle to reach California despite harsh weather and starvation. This is absolutely one of the BEST and the most DETAILED accounts of the Donnor Party story that I have read. Highly recommended!

-Leslie G.-

[Scott Ericksen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve driven through Donner pass, and the idea of traveling that route without our modern roads seems an undaunting task. Now, do that same route during the dead of winter without proper supplies, and Death Wish is about the best descriptive term I can come up with. It’s hard to imagine enduring those hardships alone, but putting your wife and children/babies through those events seems unimaginable (and that’s if everything were to go as planned). Now, make a couple bad decisions and get stranded in the mountains in the deep snow with dwindling supplies, and your problems magnify exponentially. This book details those scenarios and brings to light the grisly decisions made when put in those predicaments.

[Jenny T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first remember reading this book, at the edge of my seat, on a late, stormy night at my grandma's house after everyone was in bed. What an exciting and scary night, reading such frightful but exciting adventures. This book transported me to another time and place and made me a pioneer among pioneers. I've always loved California history, so thought I'd give this book a try, and I'm glad I did! While I read this in the early 2000s, these notes are from 2012, from my book journal.

2012:
First, Hasting's Cutoff leads the party in the wrong direction, then Keseberg kills and eats George Donner! What's next?! A thrilling adventure of survival and the psychological underpinnings thereof. From being buried in the snow, inhabiting a cabin laden with human remains, caching food and dodging Digger Indians, this is the true dawning of the state of California. This is how the pioneers of 1846 traveled to a sparse land...really roughing it. Scary, exciting, adventurous for sure.

[MadAliceMe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty decent, easy read--especially for a storyline that can be confusing with all the characters & simultaneous events. Towards the end it gets gruesome describing the cannibalism, but this is not the focal point of the book. This is a harrowing story of a million things gone wrong that added up to a major disaster. I am in awe that anyone was able to survive at all!