 |
| A statue to commemorate the 'handcart' people. |
I listened to the audio book and was so close to the end that I listened to it on my way to work and heard "The End" just as I reached the door. That was close! Obviously it was such a good book that I didn't want to wait 3 more hours to finish it. Ironically I read the jacket of the book when it arrived and wasn't that excited about it. When the audio book came I decided to take it home because audio books are harder to come by and I am not always so picky! This is an historical novel that tells the story of a group of Mormons who were converted in Great Britain and convinced to go to Utah. Their new fervor caused them to leave their old lives - for some they gave up successful careers and gave their money to the leaders - and go on a journey that killed many of them. After a ship brings them to America they take a train to Iowa City. There they constructed handcarts to push (and pull) over a thousand miles. The conditions and the stories are horrific. Fascinating book.The picture will give you an idea of the size of these carts. As the journey continued they would be forced by the elders to get rid of more things -downsizing on steroids!
1 comment:
This particular book focuses on the story of a group of Mormon converts traveling from Iowa City to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Many of these folks emigrated from England and Scotland after being converted to the Mormon religion by missionaries serving in that area. The missionaries convinced the people that America was the land of milk and honey and that they should come to this country and settle in the Salt Lake Valley. Once their journey lead them to Iowa City, the next 1300 miles were to be traveled by foot with the families pushing handcarts loaded with their possessions. There were a few wagons along to help with the sick and infirm, but the expectation was that everyone would walk the distance. There were to be resupply stations along the way to help with food, clothing and medical supplies. I am not giving anything away by saying things didn't turn out that way and the emigrants faced an incredible amount of hardship with many people not making it to the valley.
Post a Comment