LSSL 5360: Module 4 -- Nonfiction & Biography


Across America on an Emigrant Train
By Jim Murphy


1)    BIBLIOGRAPHY
Murphy, J. (2003). Across America on an emigrant train. New York: Clarion Books.


2)    PLOT SUMMARY
In Across America on an Emigrant Train, the reader rides along on the journey with Robert Louis Stevenson on the coming of age transcontinental railroad.  It’s the 19th century, and 29 year old Stevenson has just received alarming news that his beloved Franny is gravely ill in the United States.  Their love affair isn’t accepted by family and friends, but Robert still scraps money together and tries to get to her as fast as he can.  Stevenson was a struggling writer at the time and is fueled by his love of Franny.  Murphy is able to recount most of the journey from Stevenson’s own personal journal at the time, as he traveled by boat, train, ferry, and carriage to reach his dear Franny.  While on his journey, Robert writes of what he sees on the railroad, emigrants he travels with, and the Native Americans he sees.  Murphy embeds historical facts throughout the recount of Stevenson’s journey, and explains to readers how the railroad came to be, who was an integral part in its success, what became of the Native Americans and their way of life, and what it truly was like as emigrants made the journey across the United States.  Stevenson does eventually reconnect with Franny, they eventually marry, and he later on goes on to write famous works such as Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  Unfortunately the illness Stevenson fought off and on his journey was the early stages of tuberculosis, and at the age of forty four he died.


3)    CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Murphy does an amazing job of recounting Stevenson’s journey with numerous historical facts throughout.  He uses Stevenson’s personal journal to allow the reader to become personally invested in finding out whether Robert will make it to Franny in time, and educates them right along with it.  In this book, Murphy goes into great detail of why the transcontinental railroad was built, how they built it, who built it, and how they convinced passengers to make the journey.  He does a great job of giving a broad picture of the melting pot that is America, and how various immigrant groups were integral in the foundation of the expansion into the West.  Murphy uncovers the truth of the Wild West, and the harsh realities that became of the Native Americans.  He gives very accurate accounts of rush to settle the west, and shares with the reader the tremendous toll the journey took on Robert Stevenson.  Murphy incorporates pictures and illustrations throughout his book that allow the reader to see vivid, accurate representations of what Stevenson describes in his journal.  The pictures allow the concepts that Murphy writes about to come to life, and are a great addition to the text since some young readers might be unfamiliar.  An endpaper is included at the front and back of the book that allows the reader to visualize just how long Stevenson’s journey was, and an index is included too that allows the reader to easily look a subject they might be researching.  I was intrigued all throughout this book, both with Stevenson’s personal journey and the expansion of the United States into the West.


4)    REVIEW EXCERCPT(S)

Kirkus’ Review:  “Murphy draws extensively on Stevenson's own account of his journey, by boat and a succession of trains of varying speed and discomfort, paraphrasing the gist of his experiences and including splendid quotes revealing RLS as a sharp observer--and extraordinarily gifted reporter--with an open mind and an unusually humane attitude toward people of all sorts. A fascinating, imaginatively structured account that brings the experience vividly to life in all its detail: history at its best. Generously illustrated with period photos and prints; endpaper map; extensive bibliography, mostly of sources; index.”  (Reviewed 5/20/2010)


5)    CONNECTIONS
v This is a great book if you are teaching:
o   Nonfiction/Information Text
o   Immigration
o   Emigrants
o   Transcontinental Railroad and its effects
o   19th Century U.S. History
v Other similar stories:
Murphy, Jim.  THE LONG ROAD TO GETTYSBURG  ISBN 9780395559659
Greenberg, Jan.  VINCENT VAN GOGH:  PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST  ISBN 9780440419174
Murphy, Jim.  THE REAL BENEDICT ARNOLD.  ISBN 9780395776094
Greenberg, Jan.  ANDY WARHOL:  PRINCE OF POP.  ISBN 9780385730563

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