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Book Reviews of Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico: The Diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin, 1846-1847

Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico: The Diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin, 1846-1847
Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico The Diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin 18461847
Author: Susan Shelby Magoffin, Stella Madeleine Drumm (Editor)
ISBN-13: 9780803281165
ISBN-10: 0803281161
Publication Date: 8/1/1982
Pages: 294
Rating:
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 10

3.3 stars, based on 10 ratings
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

3 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico: The Diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin, 1846-1847 on + 92 more book reviews
The journal of a young bride's travels from Independence, Missouri to Chihuahua, Mexico at the beginning of the Mexican War, covers 1846-47.
reviewed Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico: The Diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin, 1846-1847 on + 42 more book reviews
An interesting perspective from a woman of the period on the Santa Fe trail. I appreciate it for what it is, a diary of a young, entitled woman who met many famous folks of the old west along the Santa Fe trail. It was not originally written for publication. I had a hard time getting over that fact and struggled to enjoy the book. The discriminatory and negative attitude to those of perceived lower status was really hard to swallow at times. It did however fulfill my wish to know more about everyday life in the old southwest and what it was really like to journey on the old Santa Fe trail. And for that, it is an amazing document.
hardtack avatar reviewed Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico: The Diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin, 1846-1847 on + 2719 more book reviews
She came from a wealthy family, but then spent 15 months traveling by wagon, until even she admitted she was tired of wagons. She underwent hardships that young ladies today couldn't imagine. Yes, those hardships were much worse than having your mobile phone signal drop!

She fell sick several times, and lost her first child due to the fact she was ill with yellow fever. She was often faced with death from several directions... lack of water, Indians, bandits, and armed forces opposed to the U.S.

And she overcame all making friends with assorted individuals she would not have consorted with in her home in Kentucky. Sadly, she died when she was twenty-seven.