At the age of 23, in 1846, Francis Parkman Jr set off on an audacious journey across the 'wild' American West. From the bustling Missouri River outposts to the sweeping Great Plains and the shadow of the Rockies, Parkman and his companion Quincy Shaw immerse themselves in the world of trappers, emigrants and Native American tribes. Living among the Dakota, Parkman captures the thrill of buffalo hunts and the complexity of cultural encounters as he travels over two thousand miles on horseback. His acute observations and naturally engaging sense of narrative spark a timeless story of exploration and discovery, bringing to life a world on the brink of transformation.One of the 19th century's greatest historians, Francis Parkman Jr was an active conservationist, a founding member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and instrumental in the creation of the Yosemite Park.