📖 Overview
Bernard DeVoto was an influential American historian and writer who shaped the understanding of Western American history through his acclaimed works during the mid-20th century. His contributions earned him both a Pulitzer Prize for History in 1948 and a National Book Award for Nonfiction in 1953.
As a regular columnist for Harper's Magazine, DeVoto wrote "The Easy Chair" column which established him as a prominent voice in American letters. His historical works, particularly his trilogy on the American West - "The Year of Decision: 1846," "Across the Wide Missouri," and "The Course of Empire" - remain significant contributions to American historical literature.
Born in Ogden, Utah, to an Italian Catholic father and Mormon mother, DeVoto's complex cultural background influenced his perspective on Western American history and culture. His academic foundation at Harvard University, combined with his Western upbringing, provided him with unique insights into the American frontier experience.
Beyond his historical works, DeVoto was a dedicated conservationist and served as a speech writer for political figure Adlai Stevenson. His career from 1932-1955 produced several influential novels and scholarly works that continue to inform discussions of American Western expansion and environmental conservation.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate DeVoto's detailed research and his ability to capture the scope of Western American history, particularly in "The Year of Decision: 1846" and "Across the Wide Missouri." Multiple reviews note his thorough documentation and vivid descriptions of frontier life.
Common criticisms include his dense writing style and tendency toward lengthy tangents. On Goodreads, several readers mention struggling with the pacing, with one noting "he takes 3 pages to say what could be said in 3 paragraphs."
Readers value his wit and sharp commentary in works like "The Hour: A Cocktail Manifesto," though some find his strong opinions off-putting.
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- The Year of Decision: 1846 - 4.0/5 (238 ratings)
- Across the Wide Missouri - 4.1/5 (196 ratings)
- The Hour - 4.2/5 (412 ratings)
Amazon:
- The Year of Decision: 1846 - 4.5/5 (89 reviews)
- Across the Wide Missouri - 4.3/5 (42 reviews)
📚 Books by Bernard DeVoto
Across the Wide Missouri (1947)
Chronicles the American fur trade of the 1830s, focusing on the mountain men who explored the Upper Missouri River and Rocky Mountains.
The Year of Decision: 1846 (1943) Examines the pivotal year when the United States acquired much of its western territory through war with Mexico and settlement of the Oregon boundary dispute.
The Course of Empire (1952) Traces the exploration of North America from early Spanish conquistadors through Lewis and Clark's expedition.
Mark Twain's America (1932) Analyzes the social and cultural environment that shaped Mark Twain's writing and worldview.
The Western Paradox (published posthumously, 2000) Explores the contradictions between myth and reality in the American West's development.
Mountain Time (1946) A novel set in Utah exploring themes of family relationships and Western cultural identity.
The World of Fiction (1950) Examines the craft of fiction writing and literary criticism through analysis of notable works.
About the Author (1937) Provides critical essays on literature and writing, drawing from DeVoto's experience as a writer and critic.
Forays and Rebuttals (1936) Collects essays addressing various cultural and political issues of the 1930s.
The Literary Fallacy (1944) Critiques contemporary approaches to literary criticism and academic study of literature.
The Year of Decision: 1846 (1943) Examines the pivotal year when the United States acquired much of its western territory through war with Mexico and settlement of the Oregon boundary dispute.
The Course of Empire (1952) Traces the exploration of North America from early Spanish conquistadors through Lewis and Clark's expedition.
Mark Twain's America (1932) Analyzes the social and cultural environment that shaped Mark Twain's writing and worldview.
The Western Paradox (published posthumously, 2000) Explores the contradictions between myth and reality in the American West's development.
Mountain Time (1946) A novel set in Utah exploring themes of family relationships and Western cultural identity.
The World of Fiction (1950) Examines the craft of fiction writing and literary criticism through analysis of notable works.
About the Author (1937) Provides critical essays on literature and writing, drawing from DeVoto's experience as a writer and critic.
Forays and Rebuttals (1936) Collects essays addressing various cultural and political issues of the 1930s.
The Literary Fallacy (1944) Critiques contemporary approaches to literary criticism and academic study of literature.
👥 Similar authors
Wallace Stegner
A fellow Western historian and conservationist who wrote about the American frontier experience with similar depth and historical precision. His works like "Beyond the Hundredth Meridian" parallel DeVoto's focus on the development of the American West.
Frederick Jackson Turner His frontier thesis fundamentally shaped the study of Western American history and influenced DeVoto's approach to the subject. Turner's historical analysis of American expansion shares DeVoto's interest in how the frontier shaped American identity.
Stephen Ambrose His work focuses on American Western expansion and exploration, particularly the Lewis and Clark expedition which DeVoto also studied extensively. Ambrose's historical narratives share DeVoto's commitment to thorough research and accessible writing style.
Patricia Nelson Limerick As a key figure in the "New Western History" movement, she builds upon and challenges aspects of DeVoto's interpretation of Western history. Her work "The Legacy of Conquest" examines many of the same themes DeVoto explored but from different perspectives.
Donald Worster His environmental histories of the American West expand on DeVoto's conservation interests and analysis of Western development. Worster's focus on the ecological aspects of Western history complements DeVoto's work on frontier expansion and resource management.
Frederick Jackson Turner His frontier thesis fundamentally shaped the study of Western American history and influenced DeVoto's approach to the subject. Turner's historical analysis of American expansion shares DeVoto's interest in how the frontier shaped American identity.
Stephen Ambrose His work focuses on American Western expansion and exploration, particularly the Lewis and Clark expedition which DeVoto also studied extensively. Ambrose's historical narratives share DeVoto's commitment to thorough research and accessible writing style.
Patricia Nelson Limerick As a key figure in the "New Western History" movement, she builds upon and challenges aspects of DeVoto's interpretation of Western history. Her work "The Legacy of Conquest" examines many of the same themes DeVoto explored but from different perspectives.
Donald Worster His environmental histories of the American West expand on DeVoto's conservation interests and analysis of Western development. Worster's focus on the ecological aspects of Western history complements DeVoto's work on frontier expansion and resource management.