John Bidwell and California: The Life and Writings of a Pioneer 1841-1900, by Michael J. Gillis and Michael F. Magliari

Bidwell’s life finally receives a thorough and unbiased treatment in this combination of narrative and extensive use of his voluminous written legacy. It is a must for readers interested in overland travel, the Gold Rush, western pioneers and California history. Bidwell’s life touched almost every imaginable aspect of California history between 1841 and 1900. From the moment he set out for California in 1841, with the Bidwell-Bartleston party, Bidwell assumed a leading role in the history of California and the West.