In the mid-1800’s, it became a popular desire for people to head out west to California, which offered vast farmland, rich natural resources and an abundance of minerals. Two families, in particular, the Donners and the Reeds, were over the moon about “California Life”. Before their journey began, George Donner posted an advertisement, in the San-gamo Journal. “Who wants to go to California without costing them anything? A team of eight young men, of good character, who can drive and ox team will be accommodated by gentlemen who will leave this vicinity about the first of April. Come boys! You can have as much land as you want without any cost to you.” Just imagine, many families with all of their belongings, traveling from Illinois to Oregon or California. They had to construct the wagons and hire teamsters to help with the oxen to follow the long, arduous path ahead. While they were making their way, babies were born, several weddings took place, and many deaths occurred.

The story of this journey and its consequences is the subject of Michael Wallis’s riveting book, “The Best Land Under Heaven,” which I wholeheartedly recommend.

There were two routes to choose from, a shortcut that Lansford Hastings, the author of the “Emigrants’ Guide to Oregon and California,” and the advice from James Clyman, who strongly advised not to take the shortcut that Hastings was recommending. Clyman, a veteran of the War of 1812, had first-hand experience with traveling through the Rockies. Unfortunately, the Donner Party, anxious to get to California, chose the path of Hastings. This fatally changes their journey, as they were not warned of the disastrous weather that they would encounter, the lack of food, resulting conflicts between families, the biting cold and treacherous roads, encounters with Indians, mosquitoes and ticks, etc. Hastings played down the negative parts and it was a nightmare from then on for the families who took the shortcut. When food ran out, and no wildlife to hunt for, some turned to cannibalism, they were so desperate. A man by the name of Keseberg was promoting this; he would lie and say someone had died when in reality he had killed them in order to have sustenance.

Some survived this arduous journey, but many perished. I could not put this book down; Wallis writes beautifully, you feel like you are right there experiencing it. What I learned from reading this book is how fortunate we are in modern society to have food, medicine, education, and transportation, just to name a few of our blessings. I now plan to read Wallis’s earlier book, “Route 66”.