Bernard Augustine De Voto

About the Author

Bernard Augustine De Voto was a distinguished American historian, critic, and novelist whose incisive writings illuminated the American West and its formative struggles. Born in Utah in 1897, De Voto's career spanned journalism, academia, and authorship, earning him the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1953 for his work on the Lewis and Clark expedition. A longtime editor of The Mark Twain Estate, he championed Western literature and conservation, blending rigorous scholarship with vivid narrative flair. His seminal book, Year of Decision: 1846, chronicles the pivotal year of westward expansion, capturing the drama of the Mexican-American War, Mormon migration, and the Donner Party's tragedy. De Voto's legacy endures as a defender of America's wilderness and intellectual heritage, influencing generations of readers and scholars until his death in 1955.