BOOK BRIEF

Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West

Ethan Rarick
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Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2008

Book Brief

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Ethan Rarick

Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2008
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Genre
Action & Adventure

Western

American Literature
Setting

Western United States • 1840s

Topic
World History

US History
Publication Year

2008

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West recounts the harrowing 1846 journey of the Donner Party, a group of American pioneers traveling to California. Facing dire hardships, these individuals endure extreme conditions and make life-altering decisions, illustrating the human spirit's resilience under adversity. Ethan Rarick delves into their struggle and ultimate survival ordeal.

Mysterious

Dark

Unnerving

Suspenseful

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

4.3

4,326 ratings

81%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Ethan Rarick's Desperate Passage offers a compelling, well-researched narrative of the Donner Party's tragic journey. Readers appreciate its engaging storytelling and historical detail, though some find it emotionally intense. The book excels in humanizing its subjects, though a few desire more context about the broader migration trends of the era.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West?

A reader captivated by tales of survival, history, and the American frontier would enjoy Desperate Passage. Fans of Ambrose's Undaunted Courage or Krakauer's Into Thin Air will appreciate Rarick's gripping narrative and detailed research into the ill-fated Donner Party expedition.

4.3

4,326 ratings

81%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Genre
Action & Adventure

Western

American Literature
Setting

Western United States • 1840s

Topic
World History

US History
Publication Year

2008

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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