A Vanished Era: Parkman's history is a valuable first-person record of Plains Indians and life on the frontier before the West was settled and removal policies imperiled Native Americans. Originally published in 1849 as The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life, the book became one of the best-selling personal narratives of the 19th century. Enduring Tale: Generations of readers have treatured Parkman's ability to capture the pioneer spirit in America. His detailed description of the journey, set against the vast majesty of the Great Plains, has emerged as a classic narrative of one man's exploration of the American wilderness. Adventure historian Tony Brandt illuminates Parkman's classic with a thoughtful introduction detailing Parkman's role in popularizing the American West to a generation of pioneers and his later role as the preeminent historian of the West, whose skill in recognizing the dramatica potentials in the raw materials of history enabled him to create a harrative both historically accurate and, as Parkman said, "consistent with just historic proportion." Handsome editions, competitively priced: Gathered together for the first time in inexpensive, accessible editions, Adventure Press Classics offer readers the opportunity to build a comprehensive library of the most adrenaline-packed tales of adventure ever written.