Recommended Readings

With a couple of longer train rides ahead, the need for a more substantial piece of literature developed. Usually, a local newspaper or magazine fills the time in between writing and staring out the window, however short readings become laborious while jumping amongst new subjects and writing styles.

Interested in America’s early history, pre-Pilgrims, A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World by Tony Horwitz caught my eye as a useful piece of literature to supplement my touring. From the France’s Louisiana territory to Spain’s New Spain, the development and exploration of these regions eluded my general knowledge of the America. European history briefly mentions such conquests and American history begins with the successful, English settlements. Truths surrounding the conditions and considerations of these European voyages fade amongst the vague, romanticized, and ruffian portraits.

The author, a former Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, uncovers the bones of early America by mixing travel experiences with historical fact, creating an illuminating, inclusive read.