Across America on an Emigrant Train

Across America on an Emigrant Train follows Robert Louis Stevenson's 1879 transcontinental journey from New York City to California. The narrative traces his experiences aboard an emigrant train, a common mode of transportation for those seeking new lives in the American West. Murphy combines Stevenson's firsthand account with historical context about the construction and impact of the transcontinental railroad. The book includes period photographs, illustrations, and maps that document both Stevenson's journey and the broader story of western expansion. Using Stevenson's journal as source material, Murphy reconstructs the daily realities of 19th-century train travel, from the basic conditions aboard emigrant cars to encounters with fellow passengers and railway workers. The text examines the social and economic forces that drove Americans westward during this pivotal period. The book stands as both a personal travelogue and a broader exploration of how the railroad transformed the American landscape and its people. Through one writer's journey, it captures a crucial moment in the nation's development and the human experience of westward expansion.

Readers describe this book as an engaging look at Robert Louis Stevenson's 1879 journey across America, incorporating both his original travelogue and broader historical context about immigrant experiences. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of railroad history and immigration - Period photographs and illustrations - Murphy's ability to weave multiple narratives together - Accessibility for middle school students - Historical details about train travel conditions Common criticisms: - Deviates from Stevenson's journey to cover other topics - Some sections drag with technical railroad details - Limited coverage of immigrant groups besides Europeans Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (245 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (21 ratings) Multiple teachers note using it successfully with 7th-8th grade students. Several reviewers mention it works well alongside other immigration curriculum materials. One reader noted: "The book brings 1879 America to life through small details, like the cost of meals and descriptions of train cars."

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🚂 Robert Louis Stevenson wrote "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" just seven years after this American train journey that inspired his travelogue "The Amateur Emigrant." 🗽 The journey cost Stevenson about $65 in 1879 (equivalent to roughly $1,800 today) for his passage from New York to San Francisco. 🛤️ The transcontinental railroad had been completed just 10 years before Stevenson's journey, with the famous Golden Spike ceremony taking place at Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869. 📚 Author Jim Murphy has won two Newbery Honor awards and is renowned for making historical events accessible to young readers through meticulous research and engaging narratives. 🚉 Stevenson traveled in "emigrant cars," the cheapest class of railway travel, alongside immigrants and working-class Americans, giving him unique insights into their lives and experiences.