The Pioneers

The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West

De: David McCullough

Narrado por: John Bedford Lloyd

Duración: 10 h y 23 m

Resumen del Editor

The number one New York Times best seller by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough rediscovers an important chapter in the American story that's "as resonant today as ever" (The Wall Street Journal) - the settling of the Northwest Territory by courageous pioneers who overcame incredible hardships to build a community based on ideals that would define our country.

As part of the Treaty of Paris, in which Great Britain recognized the new United States of America, Britain ceded the land that comprised the immense Northwest Territory, a wilderness empire northwest of the Ohio River containing the future states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. A Massachusetts minister named Manasseh Cutler was instrumental in opening this vast territory to veterans of the Revolutionary War and their families for settlement. Included in the Northwest Ordinance were three remarkable conditions: freedom of religion, free universal education, and most importantly, the prohibition of slavery.

In 1788 the first band of pioneers set out from New England for the Northwest Territory under the leadership of Revolutionary War veteran General Rufus Putnam. They settled in what is now Marietta on the banks of the Ohio River. McCullough tells the story through five major characters: Cutler and Putnam; Cutler's son Ephraim; and two other men, one a carpenter turned architect, and the other a physician who became a prominent pioneer in American science.

"With clarity and incisiveness, [McCullough] details the experience of a brave and broad-minded band of people who crossed raging rivers, chopped down forests, plowed miles of land, suffered incalculable hardships, and braved a lonely frontier to forge a new American ideal" (The Providence Journal).

Drawn in great part from a rare and all-but-unknown collection of diaries and letters by the key figures, The Pioneers is a uniquely American story of people whose ambition and courage led them to remarkable accomplishments. "A tale of uplift" (The New York Times Book Review), this is a quintessentially American story, written with David McCullough's signature narrative energy.

©2019 David McCullough (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

i would prefer david reading it

excellence as always there is no doubting davids absolute skills at storytelling and making any subject he tackles
he is a national treasure
and this work is a delight

Not a great book from the legend

very hard to finish. boring story. not a great book from the master. I dont recommend.

Average

Not the best work from David MaCullough. Basically it was the pioneers in Ohio. I forced myself to finish.

travel story

wished it was more diverse. better if more than just Ohio . it was well read

Worthwhile.

Great story about courageous people who made extraordinary sacrifices to provide even the basics to survive.

Another classic

I missed hearing David McCullough’s iconic voice.
I otherwise thoroughly enjoyed the book. I think a trip to Marietta is in order.

Very informative

A very informative look at what the settlers had to deal with during their trek west. Many stories about individuals that set the stage for others to follow as the western movement began.

Wealth of information

Been traveling the state visiting towns and historic places. What a great way to tie our story and the story of those that came before us together.

How the Midwest became farms

McCullough wrote about the white men stealing land from the Native Americans, by finding a defense for raping the land. I was raised in the Midwest, do I found it historically interesting. I guess this story could be used as a reference for a middle school class. Not impressed.

Another great look into history!

McCullough has again given us a glimpse into history that is both interesting and enjoyable. His ability to make history come alive allows the reader to feel as if they were seeing events with their own eyes. The story is rich with detail and captures the essence of the struggle and danger faced by these brave and adventurous people who opened the new territories of the west.