Francis Parkman

Francis Parkman is primarily known for his monumental series of histories, "France and England in North America," which chronicles the struggle between the two European powers for control of the continent.

A good starting point for new readers is "The Oregon Trail," which offers a vivid account of his personal experiences and observations during a journey through the American West.

The series can be read in chronological order of the events described, starting with "Pioneers of France in the New World," followed by "The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century," "La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West," "Count Frontenac and New France Under Louis XIV," "A Half-Century of Conflict," and concluding with "Montcalm and Wolfe."