Plot Summary

Ordeal by Hunger

George R. Stewart
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Ordeal by Hunger

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1936

Book Brief

George R. Stewart

Ordeal by Hunger

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1936
Book Details
Pages

392

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

California • 1840s

Publication Year

1936

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Ordeal by Hunger, George R. Stewart recounts the harrowing journey of the Donner Party, a group of American pioneers who in 1847 became stranded in the snowy Sierra Nevada Mountains while en route to California and reportedly resorted to cannibalism to survive. The book is known for its meticulous research and engaging storytelling, offering a detailed and compelling narrative of this tragic historical event. The book contains graphic depictions of cannibalism.

Dark

Unnerving

Mysterious

Melancholic

Gritty

Reviews & Readership

4.3

2,144 ratings

78%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

George R. Stewart's Ordeal by Hunger is praised for its meticulous research and gripping narrative, providing a compelling account of the Donner Party. Critics appreciate its historical detail and vivid storytelling. However, some find the writing style dense and the pacing uneven. Overall, it remains a significant and engaging work on a harrowing chapter of American history.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Ordeal by Hunger?

Readers interested in dramatic historical narratives, the complexities of human endurance, and well-researched accounts of survival would enjoy George R. Stewart's Ordeal by Hunger. Fans of Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild or Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken will appreciate this gripping exploration of the Donner Party's harrowing journey.

4.3

2,144 ratings

78%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

392

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

California • 1840s

Publication Year

1936

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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