A meticulously researched and effortlessly crafted tale that transports the reader to another world from history…
Filled with the struggles and hazards of traveling the rugged, hostile Oregon Trail, Dickey’s epic story of limitless hopes, searing losses, and courageous pioneers features a love story between an unlikely pair of protagonists as they try to navigate a hostile terrain while struggling with their inner demons. When Nimrod Lee, a mountain man, is hired as the guide for a wagon converge in Missouri and meet Hannah Blanc, a doctor and mother of two, he has no idea his life was going to change forever. As the convoy begins its five months long journey of two thousand miles, staying alive becomes a priority. Dickey knows his history. His meticulous research and his understanding of the contradictory impulses of human nature not only enables him to envision the era with detailed precision but also bring his various interesting characters to life. He draws them with precision, revealing their deep emotional scars and personal trauma. Fierce, dedicated and complex, a man with many problems, Nimrod remains an intriguing hero, whose sense of rough justice and affinity for violence makes him a worthy hero. Hannah impresses as the remarkable doctor, a willful and resourceful woman way ahead of her time. The secondary characters are equally unexpected, and are rooted in reality and perception. Fluidly written, expertly researched, and brilliantly conceived, this inspiring tale of love, determination, and the pioneer spirit makes for a must-read for lovers of historical fiction.
Days of Hope, Miles of Misery: Love and Loss on the Oregon Trail
By Fred Dickey
Lost River Books
Pub date October 23, 2020
ISBN 978-1735834108
Price $15.95 (USD) Paperback, $22.95 Hardcover, $7.67 Kindle edition