The Indifferent Stars Above

The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party

by: Daniel James Brown

in: U.S. History

Summary:

The book chronicles the tragic journey of the Donner Party, a group of American pioneers who in 1846 set out for California but became stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains during a brutal winter. It delves into the hardships and extreme measures the party members faced, including starvation, illness, and controversial acts of cannibalism, while also exploring the personal stories and historical context of their ordeal.