The Donner Party

by George Keithley

Poetically recreates the sufferings and hardships endured by the Donner Party while trapped in the Sierras during winter

Genres: Poetry, Survival, Nonfiction

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[John Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute surprise. It's beautifully written in lush poetic phrasing, but the beauty of the language is tempered by the severe subject matter. A really great book. I actually may read it again.

[Prisoner 071053 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Should have been done in blank verse instead.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a freshman in high school and was enthralled. It was disturbing enough to capture the attention of your average 14 year old.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't read this on a full stomach.

[Anna Citrino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes indelibly memorable the Donner party’s ill-fated journey into the Sierra’s snowy terrain where more than half the people die. A page turner all the more powerful because it’s told in concise narrative verse, the book’s plain, sparse language befits the hard-earth personalities who undertook the journey and who have endured and witnessed what are nearly unspeakable hardships and horrors. The thoughts and actions those in the party experience tell a story all their own about human frailty, as well as strength, and what people in desperate situations might do when trying to achieve a dream in unpredictable circumstances in a world beyond their capacity to control.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the style of writing -- it's basically poetry and it makes the book a fast read. The gruesome parts are VERY gruesome, but it's not so bad because of how quick the reading goes. Overall I enjoyed this book.

[Patrick Wikstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

1846 –’47 -winter wagon train yum yum

[Karen Hogan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Story of the Donner party told in poetic paragraphs. This was a fast read. It was morbidly fascinating how they became stranded in the mountain pass

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A basic list of events, rather than the personal narrative I wanted.