Can someone suggest a companion history book for a cross country trip?

1. 63

   hecate-horusposted 11 years ago

   Can someone suggest a companion history book for a cross country trip?
   
   I'm driving from PA to Tombstone AZ. I'm a MAJOR history bluff (hence the reason for picking Tombstone! OK Corral, Wyatt Earp, etc!!)  I would love a companion type history book for the area I'm travel to and even the areas I'm traveling through!  I wonder if their is like a "road trip history book"...something like that!  Help?

   replyreport
2. 79

   RichardPacposted 11 years ago

   It's ashamed you weren't coming to visits here in Florida! There is an awesome book called Weird Florida. If it's part of a series you might be able to find one for your state.

   replyreport
3. 0

   msorenssonposted 11 years ago

   I don't know that much about History..but I do know that the novels of James Clavell are factual with reference to the story. He has (I heard..) twelve researchers that help him with the History part and he weaves the love stories on a real background...

   replyreport
4. 69

   Bretsukiposted 11 years ago

   I would recommend The Last Gunfight The Real Story of the Gunfight at the OK Corral and How It Changed the American West
   by Jeff Ginn
   It gives a good telling of the years up to the gunfight for most involved, plus a brief history of Tombstone and thee Arizona Territtry

   replyreport
   1. 63

      hecate-horusposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'll definitely check this out, thank you!

      replyreport
5. 0

   Old Empresarioposted 11 years ago

   Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry maybe? It's good for a cross-country trip out west.

   replyreport
6. 58

   WD Curry 111posted 11 years ago

   I would recommend "Roughing It" by Mark Twain. He captures the spirit of the western frontier from the Hub format of his day.

   replyreport
   1. 63

      hecate-horusposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Can't go wrong with Twain.  Thank you!

      replyreport
7. 60

   InglenookObserverposted 11 years ago

   There are lots of good road books which are as much philosophy as anything.  They are in their way, historic:
   
   Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance – Persig
   Travels With Charley – Steinbeck
   On the Road – Kerouac
   A Walk Across America – Jenkins
   
   Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin, is great for historical perspective of the Civil War era and Lincoln's cabinet.
   
   Mitchener wrote several historical novels that would apply - Centennial and Texas might fit your needs.  His books start with the geological formation of the territory and work their way to the present.

   replyreport
8. 91

   GoodLadyposted 11 years ago

   Crazy but great "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas".

   replyreport