Desperate Passage

The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West

By: Ethan Rarick

Narrated by: Christopher Prince

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

In late October 1846, the last wagon train of that year's westward migration stopped overnight before resuming its arduous climb over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, unaware that a fearsome storm was gathering force. After months of grueling travel, the 81 men, women and children would be trapped for a brutal winter with little food and only primitive shelter. The conclusion is known: by spring of the next year, the Donner Party was synonymous with the most harrowing extremes of human survival. But until now, the full story of what happened--and what it tells us about human nature and about America's westward expansion--remained shrouded in myth.

Drawing on fresh archeological evidence, recent research on topics ranging from survival rates to snowfall totals, and heartbreaking letters and diaries made public by descendants a century-and-a-half after the tragedy, Ethan Rarick offers an intimate portrait of the Donner party and their unimaginable ordeal: a mother who must divide her family, a little girl who shines with courage, a devoted wife who refuses to abandon her husband, a man who risks his life merely to keep his word. Rarick resists both the gruesomely sensationalist accounts of the Donner party as well as later attempts to turn the survivors into archetypal pioneer heroes. "The Donner Party," Rarick writes, "is a story of hard decisions that were neither heroic nor villainous. Often, the emigrants displayed a more realistic and typically human mixture of generosity and selfishness, an alloy born of necessity."

A fast-paced, heart-wrenching, clear-eyed narrative history, Desperate Passage casts new light on one of America's most horrific encounters between the dream of a better life and the harsh realities such dreams so often must confront.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2009 Ethan Rarick (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

I felt like I was stranded with the Donners.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I had heard this story many times in the past. It was a great account of what happened according to the journals and historical information we now have.

Have you listened to any of Christopher Prince’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book made me sad to think of the horrid things these pioneers had to endure and the choices they had to make in order for them or their families to survive. I kept having visions of my own 4 year old grandson having to live thru this. It brought very vivid scenes to my imagination.

Wild

Great adventure with twists and turns. I love how the documentation of the trip was able to be pieced together and provide such a detailed account of the travelers' risky undertaking.

Fascinating! Horribly Fascinating,..

I can't stop thinking about this story. They were just people, well-intentioned, Good people - Doing what good people do. Trying to make a life for their family the best way they knew how. They were hard working, determined people, just a little short on luck. What a story though!

A historical read that makes the miles fly by.

The Donners' story was richly and deeply portrayed with back stories on many of the characters and helpful descriptions of events taking place across the country at that time. It leaves you contemplating the consequence of the smallest decisions. I appreciated the author's efforts to protect each character's humanity by giving them the benefit of the doubt in what was such a grueling predicament.

The descriptive anguish of the entire group and desperate decisions that had to be made.

I heard this narrated by Dick Estelle on radio reader back in 2015-16. Just as intriguing as the first time.

A gripping true story

We listened to this on a long journey - it is the story of a long and ill-starred journey. The inevitability of the tragedy that befell these pioneering families is painful. It emphasised for me the huge risks taken by our pioneering families in the opening up of our countries.

Riveting!!

Where does Desperate Passage rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Much better than I thought! I learned a lot more than the traditional lore about the Donner party. It was much more difficult, gruesome and heartbreaking than history had taught me. What was really compelling was realizing how many times they were warned, "Don't go that way-- it is NOT a shortcut!" They had grizzled experts warning them and so many examples of why they shouldn't have trusted certain people but they refused to turn back.
Which, is an interesting psychological study. Why it's so hard to admit you've made a mistake and backtrack when invested heavily down a certain path in life? It's a lesson for all of us.

Also fascinating is who survives and why. I live 5 hours from where they died and I can't wait to go there after the snow melts and see the monument dedicated to them.

I grew up in Wisconsin and if your car dies in 30 below weather and you're not prepared--you die! Be prepared always, everywhere!

Who was your favorite character and why?

That huge man (one of several rescuers) who refused to let children die just because they couldn't walk. He carried several for a few miles, set them down, came back for the others and repeated- like a relay. Everyone else was content to let them die.

What does Christopher Prince bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He doesn't get in the way of the story at all, very comforting listen. Like you are around the campfire!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me wince, gasp, but most of all, think a lot. What would I do if the rescuers were there and I could walk out with my little children--or choose to stay by the side of my husband who was dying and then I would die for sure, I would be stranded because the rescuers left and wouldn't be coming back. Fascinating.

Any additional comments?

Always have food bars and water in your cars folks!! CB might be a good idea too along with the cell phone.

Dont pass this book up!!!!

Would you listen to Desperate Passage again? Why?

To remember the strength of the human heart and what these brave imigrants went thru. Look at our world now compared to what it must have looked like to them...

What other book might you compare Desperate Passage to and why?

None so far but It's history, its the truth, would I have the strength? the courage?

Have you listened to any of Christopher Prince’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I will be looking for more.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole listen was hard to put down, I put myself in their places, with my children, friends, what decissions would I have made? I probably would have eaten anything or anyone!!!

Heartbreaking Yet Captivating. Highly Recommend.

Well written and superb narration. Heartbreaking but captivating story. Makes you really appreciate modern life.

Enthralling book

This is an absolutely marvellous read; what an epic journey full of sadness and heroism.