Product Description
The journals of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark remain the single most important document in the history of American exploration. Through these tales of adventure, edited and annotated by American Book Award nominee Landon Jones, we meet Indian peoples and see the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and western rivers the way Lewis and Clark first observed them -- majestic, pristine, uncharted, and awe-inspiring.

Customer Reviews (6)

The Essential Lewis and Clark
Book came in great condition in a matter of just a few days.I was pleasantly surprised.Haven't been able to get it read yet so don't have any opinion at this time on the content.

I recieved this item folded in half..
The book itself is good, but I wasn't sure if this is a review of the sender as well. If so, the book I recieved was folded. The sender said that the book was new but if it's folded and damaged that doesn't mean it's new...

Clark Heals the Natives while Lewis become suicidal
Landon Jones has extracted the most essential parts of the Lewis and Clark Diaries.This is good news for us, as the diaries are incredibly long, hard to read, and focused on detailed accounts of botany, geography, meteorology, and other requests of President Jefferson.

We hear about a full range of relations with the natives.Generally the Indians traded fairly and were helpful to our heroes. In the west, this was less the case, Lewis & Clark only survived a few encounters due to the credible threat of their US Army issued superior firepower. Our heroes also relate everything else that happened, fortunately Clark was an experienced medical man, familiar with treating social diseases common on the frontier.

Regarding their diet, I dont even like eating pork, yet these hardy figures subsisted on dog and horse.They had their lucky days when bear, deer, and salmon were handy, but more often then not, it was a dinner of roots and less desirable meats.

Lewis penned a letter to Jefferson upon the return to St. Louis. He was a bit optomistic in saying that the transcontinental route was a competitor to established water routes. That was not true for another 60 years until the railroads were built.

This is a fun book to read, even better to listen to.

You Are There
This review refers to the Unabridged Audio Cassette edtion of "The Essential Lewis and Clark" Landon Y. Jones, editor

These selections from the journals of Captains Lewis and Clarkduring their explorations in the early 1800's is not the complete text of their writings, but after 6 hours of listening you will come away with more then 'essential ' knowledge of what took place. The selections will take you the entire distance of this important and historical journey, and you will feel like you are part of it. Read by two great voices, Peter Friedman ("Brooklyn Bridge"), and Tom Wopat ("The Dukes of Hazzard"), each giving the Captains very individual and wonderful voices, and making it easy to know who's journals you are listening to.

Through the rivers and mountains, the Great Plains, you are there with them. It's not only an important piece of American History, but great adventures to get caught up in every step of the way, as they navigate unknown and untried routes, meet with native Americans, friendly and unfriendly, fight the elements, wild animals and mosquitoes that nearly ate them alive. So many adventurous episodes to savor in their words. They named the rivers, carved routes for the future, at times facing danger and hunger. I especially enjoyed hearing of their meetings and relations with the various tribes of Indians.

The selections read are unabridged and their every thought captured for us to savor. I found Lewis's writings to be veryanimated and lengthy detailed accounts of the journey. Clark's seemed more abbreviated, but, to the point. Both put you right there with them and are eloquently written. Exciting and adventurous as they are an important and treasured part of American History. There is also a narrator to set the scenes and follow the path.

Highly recommended not only for history buffs, but for those studying this part of American History in school.If I had had this audio edition 40 years ago in History class, I certainly would have paid more attention! The journals can't help but spark your interest. It is great for adventure story lovers.
There are 4 two sided cassettes with excellent sound quality.

For those looking for more explorations of the sea,check out:South a Memoir of the Endurance Voyage
also recommended:
The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty

Enjoy the read... I did...Laurie

If this were a movie you'd say it's a good story but...
... but the events described in the journals actually happened, and they are fascinating! Their means of travel, of survival, of communicating with the Indians, of hunting game and chasing and being chased by bears -- all described in such detail that you can easily picture it. In addition to being adventurers, these men were romantics and intellectuals. It is no wonder that once their journals reached the east, people started coming west in droves to see the beautiful lands and abundant game they described. The CDs are great for a long drive or the daily commute. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the expedition led by Lewis and Clark to explore the unknown western regions of America at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Includes related activities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The basis of our home school unit on Lewis and Clark

When it comes to putting kids in the driver's seat for learning, Kaleidoscope Kids books are truly great.It's the activities that do the job.I'm raising only boys, and certainly they are good readers, but they are wild about DOing.

This book has them learning about surveying and dead reckoning, building keelboats and bull boats, creating an earth lodge and a tipi, making a dugout canoe, stitching moccasins from grocery bags, learning the rudiments of Shoshone sign language, and imagining some of the ethical and leadership challenges the L&C expedition faced.**I added some photos from my second-grader's Mandan earthlodge.**


Most of the activities can be done with NO HELP from mom -- very important!An exception would be building the boat, which requires quite a bit of balsa wood to be cut and shaped.But don't miss the opportunity to make the boats -- doing them together makes it even more fun.Older kids get even more from the book than younger ones do -- our family ranges from kindergarten up.

Wonderful Activity Book!
I bought this book after meeting the author.The book cover doesn't look as pretty as other books but they are wonderful!The writing is marvelous!I learned a lot about the Lewis and Clark Expedition from this book.I was also impressed with the activities that go along with the book.Very nice.I wish I had bought the book on Columbus and the exploration of the New World, it is out of print, but I bet it's good!

The best Lewis & Clark book for this age group!
This book is full of information and activities that are interesting to kids.Many pieces of information that I never came across in other books.For younger children (4-7), the best one might be Lewis & Clark: A Prairie Dog for the President.

Children - Go West With Lewis & Clark!,
What a lot is packed into this brief (112 pages) activity book for children! It's a vivid account of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, rich in adventure, yet also presenting the journey from many political and cultural angles. Activities and lively descriptions bring out not just the physical conditions of the trip, but leadership dilemmas, and moral issues faced along the way.

The book is filled with apt and frequently witty illustrations. Also, numerous intriguing asides about the trip mesh nicely with the main narrative.

Facts are presented; questions are posed. Children are asked to think - and after the mental activity - they'll come away from the book feeling they were there

Children- Go West With Lewis & Clark!
What a lot is packed into this brief (112 pages) activity book for children! It's a vivid account of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, rich in adventure, yet also presenting the journey from many political and cultural angles. Activities and lively descriptions bring out not just the physical conditions of the trip, but leadership dilemmas, and moral issues faced along the way.

The book is filled with apt and frequently witty illustrations. Also, numerous intriguing asides about the trip mesh nicely with the main narrative.

Facts are presented; questions are posed. Children are asked to think - and after the mental activity - they'll come away from the book feeling they were there. ... Read more

Product Description
45 accurate, precisely rendered illustrations recapture highpoints of expedition. Captions identify action and provide background information.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A little disappointing, but it serves its purpose
We have really enjoyed studying Lewis and Clark, so I bought this to serve as a review and fun history activity.However, I feel that this coloring book overlooks the Corps of Discovery's positive encounters with Native Americans and instead plays up the aggressive ones.Most of the Indians received them well and were curious.The book, for example, mentions the Sioux, but fails to mention that the Yankton Sioux were friendly, but the Teton Sioux were not.I think it is important when learning about Native Americans that children understand the differences among tribes and the fact that most were/are peaceable.Also, Lewis's dog Seaman was a HUGE black fluffy Newfoundland, and the only picture that portrays him is nothing like that breed at all.I mention this, as there are a few great books we've used to study Lewis and Clark that were written from the dog's perspective (Seaman's Journal, Lewis and Clark and Me, and The Captain's Dog).Of course these type of coloring books are pretty handy if you have a child that is reluctant to study history, but enjoys coloring; however, if your child enjoys history and reads a lot, they may find some inaccuracies.The major details in this book seem to be correct though, so I believe that whether as a review or introduction, it serves its purpose.It is definitely incomplete and should be supplemented with a more favorable portrayal of Indians (and Seaman too!).

No More Winnie-the-Pooh Coloring Books for My Kids
Little Johnnie and Betsy and Allison will no longer spend mindless hours coloring bunnies and squirrels- now they can learn important American history lessons from the comfort of their own kitchen table. I'll tell ya-these pictures are going up on the frig!

Really good
I can't say enough about this one - this is way beyond your usual coloring book.Are your kids tired of coloring simple bunnies and trees?This is beautifully drawn and has an educational edge as well.A good one! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

A good read
I am really enjoying this book. It does a good job of presenting all of the diaries written on the trip.My only complaint is that the footnotes are in very small print and sometimes they are the most interesting part of the entry.I would recommend this version for anyone who wants to read the journals.

Dover Books Lewis and Clark Expedition-3 volumes
These 3 volumes of The History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition,published by the ever-affordable Dover Press,should be a welcome addition to anyone's American history collection. A complete and unabridged reprint of the 1893 Coue 4-volume edition,these paperbacks include wonderful foldout maps and facsimile letters of the explorers. Anyone who loves fascinating works of exploration and discovery should not miss these books by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.

Should be required reading
Lewis and Clark's descriptions of their epic overland journey is a deserved American classic. So many students must memorize the Gettysburg Address or the Preamble of the Constitution, but too few are ever introduced to this magnificent trilogy, told in Lewis and Clark's own words. They were the first white men to lay eyes on the interior sections of the Unites States, when the land was unspoiled, unpolluted and obviously quite spectacular. In great detail, they relate their indescribable amazement to see giant Sequoia trees, grizzly bears and endless miles of barren desert.

Lewis and Clark's experiences are the stuff of legend, but the question that begs to be answered is: could they write? The answer is a resounding yes! The narrative flows smoothly, the descriptions of the animals and landscape come alive with their vivid use of language and metaphor. Perhaps the most vivid sections of the book revolve around their numerous encounters with Native Americans. This book should be required reading for anyone with an history in the history and exploration of the United States.

Heroes Go Home
Before breaking camp in Fort Clatsop, the expedition had hoped to encounter British traders who ply the coasts, in order to buy provisions and ammunition with "their ample letters of credit." These weredrawn on the Executive office of the United States, in other wordsJefferson, who after getting $2,500 from Congress to finance, he seemedprepared to bring them back to Washington at any costs, includingcircumnavigating taxi if need be (this is no joke).

However, the waitingfor the traders delays them from their start, and their hopes of returningto St Louis during the season are as warm and finally decisive as theirprevious push to the West. They break camp, return up the Columbia River,and with Sacajawea's vital help, find their way over the mountains wherethe snows are so thick that trails are impossible to discover. Thankfullythe expedition resumes the Missouri, and after averaging 20 miles a day onthe ascent (using oar and sail), they frequently make 80 miles a day on thedescent.

After such a long and harrowing journey, full of hardships anddecorated with delights, the men are anxious to press for home, sometimesnot landing for rest or game during their earnest advance.

This trio ofbooks is among the best reads I've ever had of men journeying into theunknown, discovering the best in themselves, and holding to the notion thatperseverance will ultimately endure.

I loved the book, a satisfyingcompletion to a wonderful tale.

Neither rain nor snow can slow the Expedition
The narrative picks up in June 1805, after a night of rain "but it cleared off and became a fine day." By the end of that year when the expedition next wintered near modern day Astoria, OR, the expedition wouldface rains almost constantly, having a dozen or so dry days all winter, andof those only half provided sunshine.

This year is the most difficult ofthe expedition (or rather the period covered by this volume). The teammeets its greatest hardships, not least of which is choosing the bestoverland route when the Missouri is no longer navigable. The correct choice(and the correct choice was made) is vital to preserving the goodwill ofthe men and the success of the expedition. Grizzly bears continue to harassthe men (many hunters are treed), the mosquitoes become horriblybothersome, and when game becomes scarce, they trade for horses, sometimeskilling the colts for food; elsewhere they trade to feed upon dogs, atfirst a meat loathsome to the men, but after adaptation and long usage, itbecomes a favorite food, as the expedition trades for that articleparticularly. Many times plant roots and dried fish served as the only foodfor days on end, which made the men sick, who were so drenched with rain(they built their winter cabins in the rain), that many were too sick toparticipate in the necessary subsistence.

Here Sacajawea and her husbandare saved from drowning by the vigilance of Captain Clark.

This volumeprovides many instances of bighorn and behavior, pronghorn antelope andbehavior, and of course grizzly bears. This wonderful volume of harrowingescapes, exciting scenes of the endurance of man, and the wonderful rewardsfrom severe hardships ends in March 1806, just before the expeditionevacuates Fort Clatsop on the Pacific Coast.

A wonderful read for earlyAmerican exploration, and an excellent resource for the American wildernessat the beginning of the 19th century. ... Read more

Product Description

Few events in American history have shaped the nation like the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It opened the American West for settlement. It redrew the map of the United States. It identified an array of native peoples, spectacular places, fascinating creatures, and extraordinary flora unknown in civilized America. It defined the American nation as a land stretching from coast to coast--and it launched the spread of population in a mighty frontier migration unlike anything ever witnessed in America before or since.

Lewis and Clark on the Trail of Discovery contains 19 chapters, detailing the expedition chronologically. A museum in a book, this fascinating volume contains re-creations of original documents such as diary entries, letters, maps, and sketches--all meticulously reproduced so that the reader can actually handle and examine them.

Among the documents included in the book are:

• The actual letter of credit Jefferson wrote to Lewis committing the U.S. government to pay for the expedition.
• The code Thomas Jefferson provided to Lewis for sending secret messages.
• Clark's sketch of the technique some Indians used to flatten their heads, a sign of prestige.
• Clark's letter of gratitude to Sacagawea, a Shoshone teenager who helped the expedition.
• A newspaper account of the expedition's return to St. Louis.

Customer Reviews (10)

Lewis and Clark - a museum book
Lewis and Clark museum and artifacts is a wonderful book for anyone interested in the West.I ordered this book for my son-in-law who lives in Wy.We took a trip to the Yellowstone National Park and the book made all memories come back.I rate it as a 5 star.Well worth the money

Lewis and Clark - On The Trail Of Discovery by Rod Gragg
As an aficionado of Lewis and Clark and the owner of many books, brochures, and other material relating to The Corps of Discovery, this new publication I find to be an excellent condensation of The Journey That Shaped America and would highly recommend it to all who are interested in the early history of our country and especailly to those who have never read any material about Lewis and Clark. I found of special interest the copies of letters and other documents relating to Lewis and Clark which as the title to the book suggests makes it truly A Museum In A Book. I must thank the author, Rod Gragg for writing and preparing this excellent book along with the copies of letters and other douments and I consider it one of the prize books of my collection of Lewis and Clark material.

Good Book. A great deal of Information.
Received very quickly in great condition. Lots of information, gives a good understanding on Lewis and Clark.

History at your finger tips
This truly is a masterpiece! Wonderfully illustrated and historically accurate book for young and old. Every student and household should own this amazing book. The personal letters of Merriweather Lewis to his mother were very interesting, they made you feel as if you were there with them. Reading this book makes you more appreciative of the country we live in and the wonderful contributions Lewis and Clark did for this nation. This is certainly a MUST read!

A fantastic book, and great value
Much has been written, let it simply be said this is the type of book you can pick up for ten minutes and learn something new and fascinating.The pop-outs and pull-out copies of historical documents is wonderful. I've stumbled on it at a retail outlet and have since bought several more as gifts. A good investment for all ages. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good read
This is a pretty comprehensive account of the journey across the Louisiana territory by the famous explorers.Primarily quotes from the journals with minimal editorial commentary to clarify or inform.Enjoyed it and learned much. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Ideal for today's young investigative reader, each A True Book includes lively sidebars, a glossary and index, plus a comprehensive "To Find Out More" section listing books, organizations, and Internet sites. A staple of library collections since the 1950s, the new A True Book series is the definitive nonfiction series for elementary school readers. ... Read more

Product Description
The Lewis & Clark Cookbook

Historic Recipes from the Corps of Discovery and Jefferson’s America by Leslie Mansfield

Just in time for the 200th anniversary of the Lewis & Clark Expedition in 2003 comes Leslie Mansfield’s LEWIS & CLARK COOKBOOK. A unique record of culinary life in 18th- and early 19th-century America, THE LEWIS & CLARK COOKBOOK features 150 historically accurate recipes that use ingredients meticulously researched for authenticity. Despite the extraordinary hardships endured throughout this three-year odyssey, the variety and inventiveness of the expedition’s meals are surprising. Along with the recipes, excerpts from Lewis and Clark’s journals and Thomas Jefferson’s correspondence relate colorful accounts of the journey and hair-raising adventures of daily survival, introducing a new generation to the sights, sounds, and flavors of a pivotal time in our nation’s history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Fabulous Recipes
The recipes in this book are excellent. Every one better than the next. The venison and buffalo recipes are standouts. With all their hardships, Lewis & Clark seem to have been eating gourmet meals, and probably didn't know it. I would recommend this book to anyone with a sense of adventure.

Delicious recipes you would expect from an excellent restaurant
My husband and I love this cookbook.It's our go-to book for really delicious fare.We make some of the recipes for weekday meals, though most we cook on the weekend (they require a little more effort than typical throw-it-together meals).

I highly recommend this book for entertaining, especially small dinner parties.The quality of the dishes approaches that of a fine restaurant, so your guests will be wowed and all palates will be happy.The recipes are also perfect for creating conversation at the dinner table, since the book is filled with L&C lore.Your guests will no doubt rave about the recipes, and the book is so pretty you can pull it out and show it off!The pages are filled with period engravings and pictures of the flora and fauna that are featured in the food.At the bottom of each recipe page is a quote from the L&C journals, in a font adapted from Thomas Jefferson's own handwriting.

Our favorite recipe by far is the Buffalo and Forest Mushroom Shepherd's Pie.The seasonings are perfect, and I'm salivating thinking about it right now.We've also tried the mouthwatering Cherry-filled Butter Cookies, delicious Cream of Tomato Soup, Venison Shanks Braised with Fennel and Onions, Rice Pilaf, Smoked Salmon and Corn Chowder, Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish, Goose and Mushroom Soup with Dumplings, and Pork/Apples/Prune Stew.I also have Chocolate Pots de Creme chilling in the refrigerator right now!

The author of this book really knows what she's doing.I think the only drawback to the cookbook (though this is minor) is that it doesn't stay open while you're cooking.Other than that, you won't be disappointed.

Bon Appetit!

Best Cookbook Ever!!!
This is the most awesome of cookbooks! I love the recipes and really recommend the Maple Glazed Salmon, Buffalo Meatloaf, Spoonbread, and Pumpkin Pecan Loaf! I love cooking and always look for unusual cookbooks and this one is my favorite of more than 200 hundred that I own. I've given this cookbook as gifts to over 30 family and friends. Thanks to Leslie Mansfield for an outstanding cookbook!!!!!

Lewis and Clark Lovers be aware
This is THE L&C cookbook.Took a course on L&C where at end of term, we had to do a project.One group cooked various foods using this book.HUGE hit with class.Granted some recipes are from Jeffersonian VA to make a book (hey he sponsored it as well as being in the right era) but all are authentic and ones tested so far were quite tasty.

Well worth waiting for!
I also am a big Lewis and Clark buff; in addition, an avid cook, with my own cookbook.This book finally came out several months after it was supposed to, but it was worth the wait!

Most cookbooks, even the ones that sound like they should have exotic recipes, have the same old stuff, based on boring ingredients that produce ho-hum meals.Not this book!The author clearly knows about good food, and the recipes are a breath of fresh air.They're not terribly hard to make, either.

Visiting my folks over Christmas, the whole family decided to have a Lewis+Clark dinner, just for fun.Everyone helped, and we had: Parsnip Fritters, Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage, Shrimp Bisque, and since we couldn't decide between the Rack of Venison with Rosemary-Dijon Crust and Roast Duck with Blackberry Sauce, we had both of them!For dessert, it was Mocha Creme Pie.All were outstanding.

This book is a class act; I just wish there were a hardcover version. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Readers (Primary); Lewis and Clark Expedition/ (1804-1806); Primers; Readers and speakers; Fiction / Historical; History / United States / 19th Century; Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography ... Read more

Product Description
When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark embarked on their landmark journey of discovery in 1804, President Thomas Jefferson directed them to notice "the soil and face of the country, its growth and vegetable productions." The explorers collected and preserved nearly two hundred seeds and specimens, from small prairie flowers to towering evergreen trees, many of them previously unknown to science. From the Indians they encountered, they learned which plants were edible—thus avoiding starvation—and which could be used as building materials for their canoes and shelters. Looking to find a water route across North America, map the uncharted territory, and discuss peaceful trade with the Indians, Lewis and Clark became central figures in the country"s westward expansion and major contributors to its scientific scholarship.

In this welcome companion to Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark, Dorothy Hinshaw Patent traces the celebrated journey, examines the rich array of plant life the men sighted, and tells what became of the specimens over the ensuing two centuries. Adorned with William Muñoz"s beautiful photographs of a variety of colorful plants, this visual feast is sure to captivate nature lovers and historians alike. Route map, suggestions for further reading, chronology of plants collected, index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An informative book for elementary & middle school students
The harrowing 1804 expedition of Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark across the American wilderness has been well-documented on a library full of history books. Western expansion was the dream of then-President Thomas Jefferson, and so the co-commanders Lewis and Clark began a cross-country trip through the pristine wilderness stretching across North America to the Pacific Ocean to not only stake a claim in the west, but also to collect specimens of plants and animals, map the unfamiliar frontier, find a northwest passage for men to follow, and to establish trade with Native American tribes. This informative book for elementary and middle school students touches on all those matters, but takes a unique approach by concentrating on one particular aspect of the expedition: North American flora and fauna. What new and exotic plants did Lewis and Clark see during their cross-country trip through the pristine wilderness? What specimens of plants and animals did they encounter? Why were trees so important to the success of the expedition? What new sources of food did they discover? How did they discover uses for wildflowers? What was the fate of Lewis's specimens? Most species collected were new to science at the time Lewis collected them, so this historical look at the scientific nature of the journey is a valuable one indeed. "Plants on the Trail with Lewis and Clark" will not only instill knowledge in its young readers, but also a healthy desire to preserve the natural and historical places of the western U.S. ... Read more

Product Description
James P. Ronda holds the H. G. Barnard Chair in Western History at the University of Tulsa. He is also the author of Finding the West: Explorations with Lewis and Clark and Astoria and Empire, available in a Bison Books edition.. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Too Much Detail Not Enough Story.
Wow this book is tedious. I didnt need to hear about every single meeting that Lewis and Clark had with the Indians; an overview would have been enough. It was interesting that the Native Americans had there own economy and trade relationships. Why wouldnt they? Maybe Jefferson should have sent along a few bankers because L&C seemed to be oblivious. I would have loved this book had the author expanded on the realtionships between tribes both commercial and cultural and used Lewis and Clark as a vehicle to move that story along but this book reads like minutes from Chamber of Commerce meetings. I gave up after 90 pages.

a great academic study on lewis and clark
Okay, so the Lewis and Clark bicentennial era has come and gone, but this remains a very good study of a sensitive subject - lewis and clark's encounters with Native Americans.Not given to empassioned conjecture or political polemic, Rhonda considers context, comparable expeditions, and lots of careful, well-documented research in telling the story of and drawing thoughtful conclusions about the expedition's recorded perceptions of the inhabitants they encountered and their responsibility for subsequent treatment of Native Americans in the West. The late historian cum history-book-factory Stephen Ambrose deemed this book worthy enough to fill an entire (albeit footnoted)chapter of his popular work Undaunted Courage almost exclusively from Rhonda's text.

Excellent and valuable book that appeals to the head, not the heart
Lewis and Clark among the Indians by James P. Ronda is one of the most respected books in the L&C literature. It is not a general history of the expedition, but instead focuses entirely on Indian relations of the Expedition, explaining not only L&C's responsibilities, actions, and mistakes in dealing with the native people they encountered, but also on the motivations and views of the Indians.

The most interesting aspect of the book for me was the discussion of Lewis and Clark as ethnographers (or recorders of primary data about native American life). Several members of the Expedition made particularly valuable notes on the lifestyles of the Indians they met. Sergeant John Ordway had a talent for recording homey details that give us a glimpse into a long-vanished world of Indians at the moment of first contact with whites. Sergeant Patrick Gass, a carpenter, perceptively described the houses of the Indians. William Clark gravitated instinctively toward political analysis, grasping who the leadership was and how Indian power politics worked. It's not surprising he later proved so talented as a diplomat managing Indian affairs in the West long after the Expedition. But it was Meriwether Lewis who emerged as the premier ethnographer of the Expedition. Food, clothing, cooking utensils, weapons all caught Lewis's eye and were recorded, and often drawn, in painstaking detail.

Thankfully, Ronda steers clear of political correctness, refusing to portray the Indians as saintly victims or L&C as the vanguard of American imperialism. Lewis and Clark among the Indians is academic history at its finest. The research is fresh, measured, and dispassionate. As such it will appeal to those readers with a particular interest in the topic.

It's worth noting that Ronda sets a goal in the introduction of avoiding the themes of "high adventure, national triumph, and male courage." One sometimes senses that he bends over backwards to drain excitement and humor from the narrative.

Well Written and Exciting Look at the Explorers' Interactions withAll the Tribes Along the Way
As the title indicates, Ronda's book concentrates primarily on Lewis and Clark's interactions with Indians along their journey to the Pacific. Aside from the exploration, Jefferson's other mission, as described by Ronda, was to make peace with the Indians, establishing not only a relationship with the U.S. but to also broker peace among the tribes. As the author points out, the latter was very naïve as the two explorers' did not comprehend the complex relationships among the various tribes. For example, the tribes closest to tradershad a distinct advantage over the interior tribes due to their access to guns, ammunition and other material sought by the interior tribes such asthe Mandan and Hidatsa tribes living well up the Missouri. Tribes such as the powerful Teton Sioux were protective of their roles as dominant traders while their enemies the Mandans and Hidatsas traded with many plains tribes due to their ability to grow vegetables and corn that the plains Indians lacked. Although trying to bridge gaps between rivals such as the Mandan and the Arikaras seemed plausible to the explorers, Ronda points out well that presents and well meaning speeches by Lewis and Clark could not realistically alter relationships until the whites provided a dominant presence among the tribes. A good portion of the book concentrates on the Mandan and Hidatsa since the explorers spent their first winter on the upper Mississippi enduring a very supportive relationship. Strong bonds were made with the Mandan but Ronda well documents the intricate relationships that the explorer's had with the various tribes including sexual contact that Ronda describes had a mystical tribal benefit aside from some cases of trade. It is quite impressive that the explorers were well treated among the less fortunate Indians such as the Flatheads, Shoshone and Nez Perce who assisted L & C over the most crucial part of the trip supplying needed horses, food and guides. After reading of L & C's fortunes with the mountain and plains Indians, Ronda described a different contrast with the Indians closer to the Pacific who had either direct or indirect contact with traders. The Chinooks prove to be savvy traders as well as other tribes along the Columbia River. This change and more aggressive stance toward pilfering, which Ronda describes as possible cultural misunderstandings, try the corps almost to violence altering the more congenial relationship that the expedition featured for the most of their contacts with the natives. Ronda goes beyond describing the contacts between the corps and the Indians; he also explains the cultures of each tribe and clarifies issues that were not clear to the explorers. This is most notable when Lewis and his three man platoonmake contact with the aggressive Blackfeet that ends in the only bloodshed between Indians and the corps.Ronda indicates that Lewis may have unintentionally raised tensions by explaining that the U.S. would be aiding the Blackfeet's traditional enemies and in turn under cut there trade dominance. Interesting that later, the Blackfeet become the most feared tribe of future Mountain men. Excellent book that fits well after a general read of the journey since the book covers activities of only key corps members concentrating primarily on Indian relations.

Interesting and thoughtful read
A well researched book that is not meant to replace a reading of the original journals.Dr. Rhonda did an excellent job putting the American Indians back in to the narrative of Lewis & Clark's expedition.The information regarding the various tribes and nations is quite accurate and helps to give an introduction to American Indian history for someone who might not have any familiarity of the western nations.Generally, the book is well-written and interesting.It could be interesting and entertaining for both academic and general readers. ... Read more

Product Description
This book for reading level kindergarten to grade 3 is about Seaman,the Newfoundland dog belonging to Meriwether Lewis. The story tells of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Ocean and back to St. Charles, Missouri where the adventure began. Issustrations are in the styles of the Lewis and Clark Journals and feature the Native America tribes encountered and the plants and animals discovered. The book comes with a bookmark of Seaman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

This book is awesome!
This book is amazing.It has great pictures and wonderful detail.I am nine and this is a book for all to enjoy.

History from a Dog's Point of View
I discovered this book in an art gallery, which is exactly where it belongs. (Well, it belongs on Amazon and in book stores, too.) This book is so charming that, after glancing through it, I felt compelled to buy it for my grandchildren--once I'm done feasting on it myself.

I had no idea Meriwether Lewis had a Newfoundland dog, nor did I know that it accompanied him on the historic Lewis and Clark expedition. That's a tough dog.

And this is a lovely way of introducing history to young readers. The illustrations are beyond gorgeous.

Terrific book!
This was an excellent companion to our children's unit on Lewis and Clark. The book was very engaging and the illustrations were truly beautiful. It provided our children with an informative yet highly enjoyable account of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The book was written from the perspective of Seaman, Lewis's dog, and this allowed for an interesting view of the events that occurred on the expedition. My children also enjoyed using the attached Seaman bookmarker. This was a very cute addition to a well-written and delightful book.

Animal lover's Tale
Patraica Reeder Eubank's fun loving doggy tale, "Seaman's Journal; On the Trail of Lewis and Clark" (Ideals Children's Books, 2002),is a beautifully illustrated book about Seaman, a Newfoundland, who goes on the famous expedition with Lewis and Clark.Seaman guides the reader on the trails through his journal entries; pulling the reader along with him as he tells of his experiences. For instance,meeting with many different indian tribes,even traveling with Sacajawea and her family.Seaman tells of his kidnapping and his return, his act of bravery, when he scares a charging buffalo away.The plot and illustrations work well together, they are life-like and exciting, Eubanks uses the earth tones in her paintings, which adds to the effect of the pages looking like an old journal, complete with three rings and aged looking pages.The reader will enjo learning the historical facts drawn on each page,as they experienc this adventure through Seaman's eyes.

Wonderful Book!
This book is absolutely beautiful! The illustrations and colors are incredible. The story is great too. The dog's perspective is a wonderful way to learn about this important journey and appreciate the historical facts. My son and I never get tired of looking at this book. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
In 1803, when the United States purchased Louisiana from France, the great expanse of this new American territory was a blank -- not only on the map but in our knowledge. President Thomas Jefferson keenly understood that the course of the nation's destiny lay westward and that a national "Voyage of Discovery" must be mounted to determine the nature and accessibility of the frontier. He commissioned his young secretary, Meriwether Lewis, to lead an intelligence-gathering expedition from the Missouri River to the northern Pacific coast and back. From 1804 to 1806, Lewis, accompanied by co-captain William Clark, the Shoshone guide Sacajawea, and thirty-two men, made the first trek across the Louisiana Purchase, mapping the rivers as he went, tracing the principal waterways to the sea, and establishing the American claim to the territories of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. together the captains kept a journal, a richly detailed record of the flora and fauna they sighted, the Indian tribes they encountered, and the awe-inspiring landscape they traversed, from their base camp near present-day St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River. In keeping this record they made an incomparable contribution to the literature of exploration and the writing of natural history. The Journals of Lewis and Clark, writes Bernard DeVoto, was "the first report on the West, on the United States over the hill and beyond the sunset, on the province of the American future. There has never been another so excellent or so influential...It satisfied desire and created desire: the desire of the westering nation." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Remarkable Journey - of Remarkable Mortals
I kept an older version of this John Bakeless book on my nightstand for many months at one time in my life; rereading it over and over again as one of the most intriguing travel adventures ever written - by anyone, anywhere - and Bakeless did not tamper with it much, preferring to keep it in it's original state which is why I chose to read his editing of the famous manuscript.

This is far, far more than simply an accounting of the expedition of the Corps. of Discovery searching for the Northwest Passage under the order of President Thomas Jefferson.It is a glimpse into the magnificent, wide open splendor that once was the territory of The Louisiana Purchase - and farther West, unexplored as yet by any but the few French traders/trappers and the Native Americans who called it Home.But perhaps even more importantly, it is clear demonstration of what can be accomplished when people put aside their differences and concentrate on the task at hand.

Lewis writes with intense, bright feeling; Clark is more reserved and taciturn. My own natural preference, because of this, became the writings of Lewis. The reader, if possessed by any depth of imagination, feels as though standing at the shoulder of this remarkable, sensitive man as he writes and describes with awe the staggering numbers that comprised the herds of buffalo spreading across the plains; the grizzly bears that roamed unfettered on the same plains, not confined to mountains; the Gray Wolf as he followed the herds; the vast, wide open prairies of grass and sage; the Dakota villages of the Mandans, Native people, simple, open and as one with the natural world, untouched by the dire events that were about to come upon them; the Great Falls of Montana as they reach the mountain country; the chance and very fortunate meeting of the expedition with Sacajawea's brother, Cameawait as they were about to enter the peril of the mountain passage without horses or enough of anything else. The success of the Corp. could have ended there, were it not for Sacajawea and Cameawait and their family ties.You see it all as though in a time warp through the visual pens of the two Captains as they travel, taking specimens of things yet unseen back East, taking gps measurements without aid of the same quality of instruments used today, yet surprisingly accurate against the figures under higher technology.

Their company consisted of whites, a black, and Indians and points in between with the mingling of the diverse cultures seemingly undertaken successfully and matter-of-factly, while maintaining order and discipline.They undertook this dangerous journey and managed to coexist in honor to it's end, losing but one man, giving credit where credit was due to an Indian woman, and brought even her child safely back with them.I confess I have an idea of my own regarding the illness of Sacajawea ("the Indian woman is very ill") and the "absence of the menses" that Lewis treated, but since Historians shy away from it (or have never brought to bear thought about it in depth), so shall I.

Thirty miles out of Billings, Montana, lies the spot on the Yellowstone River where the Corp. camped - and where Captain Clark carved his name into the side of the bluff - "Pompey's Pillar". There is a simple yet beautiful visitors center there now.The original campsite is still there with 'old growth' Cottonwoods still standing and exhibiting immense size and as yet still vigorous. The site is haunted, hallowed ground, and is highly recommended by myself as a place to visit, because the spirits of the Corp. of Discovery still seem to reside there; the Yellowstone makes it way between two bluffs, and beneath the Old cottonwoods one can close the eyes and visualize all of them there, as they were then, where the little meadow meets the river.The bluffs are closely bound to the River as it flows serenely through them, and as a result, throws sound back and forth as in "surround sound"; the bird voices are magnified in the treetops until it is almost an out-of-body historical experience - if one thinks hard enough about it while there.

In closing, and while enough can never be said about the importance of these "men of might" and their contribution to our nation, I will mention that I feel Merriwether Lewis was maligned even as he made these vast contributions to his country; I would like to see capable historians re-open and do better research work regarding the mysterious events surrounding his death, and the 'investigation'which I find hard to believe at best, and preposterous at worst. Vardis Fisher, in his 1962 work "Suicide or Murder" comes closest in striving within the limited and often frustrating constraints of "documented facts" and "pitifully undocumented events" to get at the truth.

Maps
This book I can not put down.
As I read it my mind wonders to the time and place, slowly going upriver, and seeing what they must have seen.

I have seen a map that had the day to day movement and wish I would have printed it.

What I would give to go on a trip like that.

Now that I have started reading this book, I am looking for the personal journals of the rest of the members.
Yes Lewis and Clark kept journals of what they say and things they did, but I would love to know about everyday things, life in camp, out hunting and what they saw when they were hunting.

If you love American History, you have to read this book.
This is my personal opinion but these were real men not the sissies some people are today.

Lewis and Clark
Being a history teacher I am pleased with the scope and depth of the book. It gives a complete and accurate description of Lewis and Clark's journey into the Lousiana Territory. It's a great book.

Great book - in the words of Lewis and Clark
While reading the preface of this book, I learned so much that I had not learned before regarding our nation's early history and expansion, including how the early explorers were picked for this journey.What they went through on the journey was almost herculean.The trials and tribulations of these men (and one woman with a child) were unimaginable.They were amazing people and I cannot recommend too highly this book.This is probably the best book I have ever read.

An amazing historic journey related by the travelers themselves
It's amazing they pulled it off and lost only one man (and got into a realfight with the natives only once) and despite all the incredible difficulties wrote it all down. There is no substitute for getting it directly from the horse's mouth. Bernard DeVoto does a great job keeping the story flowing with footnotes, editorialexplanations and maps. This book will help you connect the dots at all those Lewis and Clark displays when you take a rest in the West from driving. ... Read more

Product Description
In graphic novel format, tells the dramatic story of Lewis and Clark s exploration of the unmapped American west. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Covers the basics, great drawings, could tell more about Sacagawea.
I love this story. My family is planning a major Lewis & Clark trip so we are reading as much as we can about the journey. We've read plenty of books, so there wasn't really anything new in here. But we love the format. Great drawings, etc. It's short, so you have to expect it to miss a lot, which it does.

One complaint: While Sacagawea is credited for being the sister of Shoshone chief Cameahwait (he's the one who provided the expedition with much needed horses on their way west), her only thought in the book is to wonder if she can find potatoes to dig up. No talk of her rescuing L&C's journals as they went overboard, etc. No mention that her husband, Charbonneau was a complete coward and awful boatsman to boot. I think they could have tucked that in.

The book does mention York being asked for his vote on where to winter (the first recorded vote of an African-American in U.S. history).


If you are looking for a quick introduction to the trip, this is a nice one. I would have given it 5 stars if Sacagawea had more of a proper role.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

What this book is about
Without Sacagawea's help the Lewis & Clark expedition might not have been able to secure horses to carry themselves and their baggage over the mountainous terrain that surprisingly presented itself to the explorers, who thought they would be taking an all water route to the Pacific. Her job as an interpreter to the expedition was no more important than the symbolism she represented to the Indian tribes that were encountered on the expedition. She and her infant son were symbolic of peace, because war parties did not carry women and children with them. This is a biography that clarifies Sacagawea's important contributions to the Lewis & Clark expedition.
"Sacagawea made one of her two contributions to the guiding of the Lewis & Clark expedition two afternoons later. Sacagawea recognized the plain at once"(72). Ella Clark explains the directions given by Sacagawea on the expedition, these directions brought the party of explorers through Gibbons Pass. The expedition group had split up for several weeks, Captain Clark was with Sacagawea and twenty men, the rest of the Corps with Captain Lewis. Sacagawea's directions brought the men to their cache of supplies and the canoes that they had left on the way to the Pacific. This was the highlight of Sacagawea's guiding on the expedition.
Ella Clark quotes William Clark's journal passage regarding the scene described above, "The Indian woman (Sacagawea) has been of great service to me as a pilot through this country. She recommends a gap in the mountains more south which I shall cross" (74). Ella Clark chose this journal passage specifically to support the thesis of her book, aiming to strip away the myth that surrounds Sacagawea in literature. In the prologue Ella Clark says that, "In truth, the legend obscures both the person and the very real contributions Sacagawea made" (1). In this biography of Sacagawea's life Ella Clark peels away these myths to reveal the actual accomplishments made by Sacagawea in a more accurate historical perspective.
Sacagawea's life after the expedition is also recorded through a series of studies completed by the author. Ella Clark researches the sworn statements given by the sons of Sacagawea, Bazil and Baptiste. Also other tribe members who lived with Sacagawea during her remaining years were accounted for and reexamined by the author. The validity of literary sources are also evaluated giving the reader the ability to distinguish history versus legend in encountering literature on Sacagawea. Having done her research thoroughly and objectively Ella Clark presents an honest rendition of what can really be known about the life of Sacagawea while simultaneously critiquing literature written about her. This biography is full of quotations from other authors who have written about Sacagawea and could be considered a great resource for a student looking to further investigate the literary trail of this Shoshone born Indian's life.

Different view on Sacagawea
This book gave a different point of view of the Indian Shoshone woman whotraveled with Lewis & Clark's expedition.I've read several booksregarding Sacagawea and just returned from the Montana to Idaho historicaltour on Lewis & Clark's trail.I would recommend this book to anyoneinterested in Sacagawea. ... Read more

Product Description

In a story muscled with truth and imagination, Stephen E. Ambrose (1936-2002) recounts the epoch-making 1803 expedition of Lewis and Clark through the words of a young man. Finding foes and friends among Natives, surviving sickness and hunger, choosing between a woman and the life he left behind, George Shannon grows up as the corps forges a way west.

Drawing on his encyclopedic knowledge of the subject, Ambrose creates the fictional diary of nineteen-year-old George Shannon, who was in fact the youngest member of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery. He conjures the journey west with stunning clarity, calling on the bravery of Daniel Boone, the pragmatic courage of Sacajawea, the overarching, relentless vision of Meriwether Lewis.

This is a book for young readers as well as for those who are looking for new insights into the Northwest Passage. Ambrose's vivid characters, his page-turning account, and the map that charts the explorers' route manifest the spirit of one nation and her indelible destiny.Amazon.com Review
Renowned historian Stephen Ambrose vividly brings to life Lewis and Clark’s famous westward expedition (1803-1806) through the fictionalized diary of George Shannon--the youngest member of the famous explorers’ team. This Vast Land is filled with colorful examples of life on the trail, (baiting grizzly bears for sport, chasing after stolen horses, etc.), and Ambrose creates a credible teenage character in George Shannon. Shannon starts out as a complete "greenhorn" who must beg and plead with Captain Lewis to take him along. He learns quickly and develops into an accomplished hunter and tracker, but when tempers flare and he gets into a fistfight, he becomes worried: "I fear...I am becoming as wild as this river...this is not right." Shannon matures on the journey, taking an Indian wife, fathering a son, even learning that he is capable of taking human life. At the end of his life, Shannon finds himself offering advice to a young cadet named Robert E. Lee: I learned...never to give up, even when you are lost without your balls." Rifle balls, that is.

This Vast Land was Ambrose’s last book, edited and published by family after his death in 2002. Full of expertly wrought historical detail and earthy humor, the novel is a lively addition to the award-winning writer’s significant body of work . (Ages 13 and older)--Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Totally inappropriate
I bought several copies of this book to store away for Christmas presents for my grandchildren and other young friends....ages 7-12.
The book, in diary form, starts off well and is, actually, delightful reading.
Why the author(s)(I think Ambrose's family contributed to the final copy) decided to throw in totally inappropriate sexual scenes is beyond me.
The young man who is the protagonist of the story loses his virginity and impregnates a young Indian girl by the 4th or 5th chapter. The description of his sexual debut is frank and tasteless.
Now all I have to do is try to figure out what to do with 10 useless copies of what could have been a wonderful opportunity to learn American history in an interesting format.

a good read that cripples itself
I enjoyed this book as an inspiring look at the Lewis and Clark expedition and a good exploration of the savage versus civilized theme, but the sexual content detracts from the book in two ways.

First, ~This Vast Land~ seems aimed at young teens.It would have been ideal for this audience (I was hoping to assign it in class), but the sexual content makes it an inappropriate choice.I wouldn't stop my own children from reading it, but many parents would.

This is unfortunate because the sex seems entirely out of place.I would be surprised to find that any 18 year old in the turn of the 19th century would be comfortable writing in such detail about the motions and pleasures of his "member."Also, the book is written as Shannon's journal, which the character later writes he intends for his children.Even if we ignore historical sensibilities, who wants to give the kids a play-by-play about how dad and mom lost their virginity together?

So the inclusion of such frank sexual content is an odd choice that ultimately detracts from the book by forcing the reader out of the historical context and forcing the book out of its young-adult genre.

One other criticisms.The ending of the book contains an abrupt shift in tone from triumphant to melancholy that seems too contrived.Putting my two criticisms together, it seems that Ambrose was trying so hard to make his book more "serious" than genre fiction that he caused it to fail as genre fiction.

do not buy
We threw this book away and would not recommend this book to any young man due to too much sexual content.

Some Mature Content
As an adult, I would first like to mention that this book has some brief sexual content that some parents may not find suitable for children.Overall, however, it is an engaging and informative glimpse into the Lewis and Clark expedition that left me wanting to know more, and wanting to travel the path myself.I found the diary style of storytelling an interesting one that led authenticity to the story as well as made it easier to read than some straightforward history texts.Of course, this is a fictionalized account, but I think it gives the reader a good idea of the conditions and feelings likely experienced by the Corps of Discovery.The language and even spelling and grammar are consistent with the time period and the education level of the narrator.I found this to be an exciting book that made you wonder what lay ahead, what the next discovery or encounter would bring.I do think this is a valuable book for younger readers, but it should be read with parental guidance due to the sexual content.I also think adult readers looking for an easier portal into the world of Lewis and Clark would enjoy this book as well. ... Read more