"Magnificent. . . . A subtle and often moving account of pioneer life. . . . A truly splendid book."—Choice
"Regional history at its best. . . . Many of the traditional tales of early hardships—grasshopper plagues, Indian attacks, the stress of loneliness and isolation, drought, blizzards, prairie fires, and the unaccustomed hazards of nature—are retold with vigor and a sense of immediacy. These gritty tales of pioneer persistence and stubbornness are used to illustrate the region’s cyclical history of hope and despair. . . . Not the least of Miner’s talents is his engaging style. Images are alive, progression of the story lively, and the analysis convincing. This first-rate book is an important addition to the history of Kansas and, more broadly, to the study of western settlement."—American Historical Review
"Miner treats the stuff of Plains history . . . with true originality and insight."—Great Plains Quarterly
"The settlement history of western Kansas provides a good cross-section of the larger Great Plain experience. . . . With great success, Miner traces the impressions recorded by the pioneers as they rode out the booms, busts, plagues, and droughts that punctuated their lives. His careful reading of the rich store of diaries and letters from the period gives him a sharp focus on the harder, statistical evidence which he also includes. . . . [The book is] rich in detail, warmed by the affection its author obviously feels for his subject."—Journal of American History
"A poignant account of human pathos and triumphs, of dreams and despair, of illusion and disillusion."—Kansas History
"A wonderful book . . . about survivors who faced things head on."—Kansas City Times
