Reviewed by Rachel A Hyde, MyShelf.com
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Inside this book are tales of true adventure, heroism, tragedy, villainy, faith and endurance. They aren't fiction either and don't involve the rich and famous in the main but ordinary farming people who braved terrible conditions to venture into the unknown and settle in Oregon and California. They left behind the world back East and headed off with mountain men as guides…and the rest is history.

Its her story too as this isn't just about male endeavors, which is one thing that gives a book like this a lot of modern appeal. Illustrated with contemporary photographs and a few maps (not enough of the latter and not on a large enough scale in some cases), McLynn tells the stories in his own words and manages to convey much of the atmosphere, although I felt that more accounts in the settlers' own words would have made the book even better. This is an exhaustive account of the entire "Oregon Trail" period and covers the earliest trail-blazing journeys, meetings with Native Americans, the Gold Rush, the Mormons and the ill-fated Donner expedition. I found the book fascinating reading, and anybody interested in the period - or writing a novel - would find this book invaluable. Stirring stuff.