THE PIONEERS

The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West
by David McCullough

It is still an unusual event when I choose to read a book about history.  Even with my conversion by Doris Kearns Goodwin, I do not find myself naturally drawn to this genre. So again, I must celebrate being a member of the Bates Boston Alumna Book Club for forcing me to read books I wouldn’t have chosen otherwise.  

The Pioneers tells the story of the settlement of the Northwest Territory along the Ohio River, after it was ceded to the United States by Great Britain in the Treaty of Paris in 1783. McCullough enlivens his historical narrative by following five major characters and their families: Manasseh Cutler, a Massachusetts minister; Revolutionary War veteran Rufus Putnam; Cutler’s son Ephraim; Joseph Barker, a carpenter and architect; and Samuel Hildreth, a physician.  

As I started McCullough’s book, it was with a feeling of “girding my loins.”  Surely, I could plow my way through a measly 258 pages of historical text, right? But much to my delight, I enjoyed the book from very early on.  Those of you who read more history than I do, probably know that McCullough writes with a truly engaging, storytelling flair.  In fact, I realized as I got further into the book, that The Pioneers reminded me of a Laura Ingalls Wilder book, only written for adults.  (The Little House on the Prairie books will forever hold a special place in my heart as some of the best read-aloud books my daughters and I shared.)

The Pioneers successfully creates a portrait of how adventurous and dogged these American settlers were.  Even more remarkable were their resolute convictions to prohibit slavery in the newly settled area, to allow freedom of religion and to provide free universal education.  The Pioneers is a gem and I encourage you to read it – especially if you wouldn’t normally read books about history. (Liz)