The Fields of Eden

by Richard S. Wheeler

In the mid-1840s, the trails west from the Missouri frontier were clogged with pioneers searching for a new life in a remote land they thought was another Eden.

In The Fields of Eden Richard S. Wheeler shows us a handful of these emigrants who arrived at the gates of Arcadia at a time when the British Hudson's Bay Company controlled the Oregon country and resisted every American effort to push the republic’s boundaries to the Pacific.

This is a story of people who fought to overcome their shattered dreams and made possible the settlement of Old Oregon.

Genres: Historical Fiction

382 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

There are other authors with this name. One writes Marine Corps history. Another, Civil War history. Another writes in the political sciences.

Richard S. (Shaw) Wheeler was born in Milwaukee in 1935 and grew up in nearby Wauwatosa.

Reviews

[Her Royal Orangeness · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book at a thrift shop for 25 cents, thought it sounded like an interesting novel about pioneers, and figured I could use it to cross Oregon off the list for the 50 States Challenge. I was surprised (and dismayed) when I logged the book on Goodreads and saw that pretty much no one has read this book.

I discovered, though, that this obscurity is not an indication of the book's quality. Apparently it just had a zero budget for promotion or something. Don't get me wrong...I'm not saying it's a fantastic piece of overlooked literature. But it is quite good.

The author knows how to construct a sentence and has an impressive vocabulary - both qualities that I appreciate in a book and admire in an author. "The Fields of Eden" has a good balance of historical information and fictional plot, the progression of the story is well-paced, and the characters are intricate and believable.

There was, however, just something missing. I enjoyed the book, and read through it quickly, but the author failed to mesmerize or amaze me. The author included a note at the back of the book which is full of fascinating information about how Oregon was pioneered and named one of the U.S. states. There is quite a bit that is unknown about this piece of history, according to the author, and I think this novel was his way of fictionalizing his theories regarding those unsolved mysteries. Knowing that the book was written by a historian rather than a novelist might explain why something seems to be lacking about it.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. These people were courageous to leave all they knew to travel to Organ. Thousands of miles on foot, not knowing if they would even survive. I love the pioneer spirit.

[Bhada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really didn't realize how beautiful this book would be when I first opened it. Wow. I'm surprised it's not some sort of American classic.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

a detailed account of brave pioneers.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's much I didn't know about the establishment of the state of Oregon. I do know about the geography, the unforgiving weather and the wilderness. The characters described in this book are probably close to the real settlers; dreamers in search of they knew not what really. Its still a state finding its on way, attracting every sort of adventurer, entrepreneur or vagabond offering limitless possibilities

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hopes and dreams of Oregon pioneers meet the realities of frontier life. Good portrayal of the role of the Hudson Bay's Company in settling Oregon.