Hazelet's Journal

My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013.  I just finished book 19.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Old Stone Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hazelet's Journal by George Cheever Hazelet
Summary:  This book is the unedited journal of George Cheever Hazelet, covering the years of 1898-1902 and his experiences in Alaska during the Gold Rush as he hopes to strike it big so he can return to and provide for his family.

I am a history nut and am especially drawn to photos and writings from the actual people as they lived the event.  This journal was very detailed and must have been an absolute treasure to find, both for the family of George Cheever Hazelet and for historians documenting the Alaska Gold Rush.  That being said, it was a little difficult for me to get into on a personal level because I don't have a lot of knowledge about this time period and wasn't terribly interested in the mining process.  Also, while I appreciate that the journal wasn't altered in any way, it might have helped to have an editor's note at times (such as explaining the long lapse between one entry and then returning with an entirely new company in the next entry).  I loved all of the photos and was happy they were included in the digital copy I received.

While I would only recommend this book to people with a specific interest in the Alaska Gold Rush, that is not meant to take anything away from the value of this book from a historical perspective or the interest it would hold for the people in that specific audience.

Quote of the Blog:
"He took with him little more than what was absolutely necessary, except for the luxury of a notepad and a pencil to record his incredible journey" ~ L. Douglas Keeney (describing Hazelet in a forward for this book)