Pulitzer Prize Fiction Winner

The Way West

by A. B. Guthrie, Jr.

Summary

A meticulously researched novel about a wagon train traveling from Missouri to Oregon in the 1840s. It captures the physical hardships and shifting social dynamics of the pioneers.

Historical Context & Significance

Guthrie sought to strip away the "Hollywood" glamour of the West, providing a gritty, realistic look at the actual mechanics of the Oregon Trail.