The Way West

A.B. Guthrie's "The Way West" (1949) is a western historical novel that describes a journey on the Oregon Trail in 1845. In 1950, the book received the Pulitzer Prize, and in 1968 it was made into a movie. The book is part of a series of western novels by Guthrie (1901 -- 1991) of which this book and its predecessor, "The Big Sky" are the best known.For many years, my work had a great deal to do with the American west and with American history. If I had known this novel, perhaps I would have had a fuller, more informed perspective on what I was about. In a simple, rough prose, Guthrie explores the characters of the early American pioneers who risked the arduous journey to Oregon and their motivations for doing so. The book describes the hardships of the journey in terms of difficult terrain ranging from desert to rivers and mountains, illness, stampedes and rattlesnakes. Much of the novel is about the relationship between the settlers and the various Indian tribes. The book is replete with scenic descriptions from sand and barenness to majesty. The story at times moves forcefully and with drama and tension while in other places like an old wagon train it seems to plod along. The book is told in a third-person narrative voice, but Guthrie frequently gets inside his characters as they discuss or meditate on intimate thoughts.The book begins in Independence, Missouri in 1845 as a group of residents gather together to risk the long journey. Most of the primary characters get introduced early, and they are fleshed-out and differentiated as the book progresses. The three major figures are Tadlock, an ambitious, agressive former politician from Illinois, Lije Evans, a farmer with a wife Rebecca and 17-year old son, and Dick Summers, a former mountain man familiar with the ground who is hired to pilot the wagon train to Oregon. Leadership and its nature forms a strong theme in the book. Tadlock initially is chosen as the leaders of the expedition, but the travelers rebel at his arbitrary and frequently harsh decisions. A reluctant Evans becomes the leader in his stead and gradually gains the confidence and wisdom that comes with maturity. With his knowledge and tact, the mysterious Summers is the key to the successful navigation of the trail.The book describes the many different reasons that people often pulled up roots and undertook a long, dangerous journey with no guarantees at the end. The search for a better life, restlessness, and a belief in the United States, among other things, played roles. Near the mid-point of the book, Evans meditates on his own reasons and "yonderings" for the trip and those of his companions."Again he felt greatness, smallness and greatness both among such wild riches. And, seeing the train widing behind him, he thought with pride of it, of the onwardness of its people, of their stubborn, unthough-out yondering. It wasn't a thing for reason, this youndering, but for the heart, where secrets lay deep and mixed. Money? Land? New chances? Patriotism? All together they weren't enough. In the beginning, that is, they weren't enough, but as a man went on it came to him how wide and wealthy was his country, and the pride he had talked about at first became so real he lost the words for it."Much later in the journey, Evans reflects again on the gritty persistence required to undertake the trip and to reach the goal:"Now when they were about to come to it again, to lower down the bluff and try the ford, Evans told himself that if any train could get to Oregon, this one could. It had the best pilot that he knew of, best man and pilot both. Its stock was poor but no poorer than would come behind. Its wagons were as good as others would be by the time they reached the ford. But it was the men he counted on, the men and women and spirit of the company. They had their faults, he knew. They had their differences and sometimes spoke severe, what with sand in their teeth and worries in their heads, but they wished well for one another and they hung together. Lere where sometimes he heard the trains split up, old On-to-Oregon stayed one."Besides describing the hardships of the journey and the nature of leadership, the novel perceptively discusses gender roles, (women receive a large, highly sympathetic portrayal in the book for their efforts on the trail, for their fortitude, and for their relationships with men), sexuality and its difficulties along the way, religion, and the tortured relationship between the settlers and the many different Indian tribes en route and at the destination in Oregon."The Way West" seems to me part of a long tradition of American "road" novels from "Huckleberry Finn" through "On the Road" in addition to being a historical novel and a western. The book offers a positive, largely heroic vision of the American ideal, as befitting a winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Although the characters are frequently flawed and selfish, their collective story and vision are inspiring. "The Way West" is a moving novel that will encourage reflection on character, the settlement of the American west, and the American experience.Robin Friedman

I really can’t get enough of AB Guthrie’s western novels. The Way West, his sequel to the excellent The Big Sky, does not disappoint.This time we follow Lije Evans as he captains a wagon train from Missouri along the Oregon trail in the year 1843. Lije is a likable and gentle everyman with his heart in the right place. What he lacks in experience he makes up for in good character, and luckily he has Dick Summers - a returning Big Sky character - along to help.Just like the first book, The Way West is all about the journey, about man’s yearning for a better future, about hopes and dreams and, often, about what happens when those things brush up against cold and hard reality. The 1,000+ mile journey isn’t easy, not with dangerous river crossings, steep mountains, natives, sickness, and wildlife to contend with. It’s a joy to read about the trail’s obstacles and how the wagon train meets and overcomes them, and all of it is rendered in good detail by an author who clearly has a deep appreciation for history, people, and nature.While Lije is the protagonist, we get many chapters that are told from other character’s perspectives, such as Curtis Mack, a man dissatisfied with his marriage, Mercy McBee, a teenage girl desperately - and at her own peril - yearning for adulthood, Brownie Evans, Lije’s son, and many more. Women were not a large part of The Big Sky, but they factor much more heavily into this book which I thought was welcome.If you’re looking for a detailed and accurate account of the Oregon trail in novel form, I’d consider this a must-read. It’s also a great book for naturalists and fans of the western genre. If I had to make a complaint, it is only that it ends a bit abruptly. I definitely wanted more. Luckily, there are two more books in the series!You won’t regret reading this accurate historical fiction novel. Guthrie is a master at telling stories and writing dialogue fitting to the time period. I wish I’d discovered these books sooner. As someone very interested in the west, this book is close to perfect.

So this review is more for the seller,than for the author. If you're reading this for the author -he won the Pulitzer because he did have talent and skill. It's a simple story suitable for anyone from 10-100 to read but it's simplicity does not mean it conveys a simple story. It means it reads like truth,and the best stories do.This seller has quality books,handled with love and care. This book was printed in the 1940's. I know this because the lrint date inside corresonds to the two yellowed but pristine newspaper clippings glued to the inside end paper. The clippings referenced a local teacher & author winning the Pulitzer prize that year. But there was no date. However the reverse side of the clippings was an article about a p!ane crash in Washington DC between a DC 3 and a P-38 flown by a Bolivian pilot test flying a military plane for purchase by his government. The crash killed everyone on board the DC 3 including a Senator,and a well known journalist. Research showed this incident happened November 1 1949,Eastern Airlines Flight 537 and was the deadliest flight on record at that time. The clippings had to have been cut and glued(with 1949 glue!)within a week of that incident but likely within days because the pilot was referred to as still being in an American hospital. Can you see how well this book has been handled in its life? The seller obviously takes quality books and does everything to preserve the quality. I'm so happy with this purchase.

If you grew up in the 1950s and '60s as I did, you grew up with Westerns and cowboy movies. Science fiction was for weirdos, and there was almost none of that on TV or on the big screen. "To boldly go where no man has gone before" meant Going West.I only knew "The Way West" as one of those movies, until I bought this book. It captures all of my memories of the film, and yet opens up more of the earthiness and the reality of how the Way West might have been. It has the heroes - mild mannered and of few words - and the strong heroines, but mostly it has Space. The Way West only ended when you got where you were going to - if you got there. No satnav, no tricorder - just hope and faith, and trust in your guide.If you want to know how a book becomes a Pulitzer Prize-winner, read this. If you want to know why Hollywood made the film - read this. If you want to know what it is like to seek out new life - read this.

A B Guthrie's follow up to his Big Sky novel about the opening up of the United States.The story of the pioneers, mountain men, fur trappers, frontiersmen and wide open spaces. The Way West is the sequel and follows a wagon train of early pioneers and settlers, heading west to the promised land.

Very enjoyable

If you are interested in pre-Civil War West, and mountain men etc, you will love this book! I still miss Boone.

Excellent book!