Product Description
Two centuries ago an American epic unfolded as Lewis andClark’s Corps of Discovery mapped the lands, described the naturalwonders, and encountered the peoples of western NorthAmerica. Following orders from President Thomas Jefferson, CaptainsMeriwether Lewis and William Clark set out from Saint Louis in 1804 tosearch for a river passage to the Pacific Ocean. In their own words,recorded in the famous journals of Lewis and Clark, the members of theCorps of Discovery tell their story with an immediacy and powermissing from second-hand accounts. All their triumphs and terrors arehere—the thrill of seeing the vast herds of bison on the plains,the tensions and admiration in the first meetings with Indian peoples,Lewis’s rapture at the stunning beauty of the Great Falls, the fearthe captains felt when a devastating illness befell Shoshoneinterpreter Sacagawea, the ordeal of crossing the Continental Divide,Clark’s joy at seeing the Pacific, miserable days of cold and hunger,and the kidnapping and rescue of Lewis’s dog, Seaman.

The natural wonders of an unspoiled America are captured in these pages. The lives and customs of its Native peoples also come vividly to life: Lewis and Clark’s friendship with the Mandans and the Nez Perces, a deadly fight with the Blackfeet, and a series of intricate interactions and negotiations with numerous northwestern tribes. The cultural differences between the corps and the Indians make for living drama that is sometimes comic but more often poignant and, at least once, tragic.

In this riveting account, editor Gary E. Moulton blends the narrative highlights of his definitive Nebraska edition of the Lewis and Clark journals. For the first time the voices of the enlisted men and of the Native Americans are heard alongside the words of the captains. New maps and illustrations enrich this American epic of discovery.

Gary E. Moulton is Thomas C. Sorensen Professor of American History at the University of Nebraska. He is the recipient of the J. Franklin Jameson Award of the American Historical Association for the editing of the Lewis and Clark journals, and he won the Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award from the University of Nebraska. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Bold Endeavor for Early America.
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sought to expand westward for commercial purposes which ended in obtaining land from France.He was confident that an expedition on foot seeking a route for establishing a waterway all the way to the Pacific Ocean was viable.When he needed an "errand" done right, he sent his Secretary of the President of the U S., Meriwether Lewis.As a result of his need for his legislature to appropriate $2500 to cover the cost, not realizing it would result in the death of Lewis -- after years of surveying, fighting off bears and other dangerous animals, Congress passed an act which Lewis as co-leader would abide by as appointed by his boss "to carry into execution."

They were to start surveying at the mouth of the Missouri river to explore ways and to map out the territory from detail orders and instructions from the president himself.The object would be to discover a direct water "communication" across this continent "for the purpose of extending the external commerce of the United States."It was to culminate in a transcontinental route for interoceanic trade.

Months later, on May 14, 1804, the adventure began with the departure of the Lewis & Clark Expedition into unknown territory.Thus, one of the most important events in history took place, called the Louisiana Purchase.Along the way, they were to be-friend the natives ("treat them in the most friendly and conciliatory manner which their own conduct will admit") and complete a census of all the nations.It was especially necessary to have the detailed information set out by President Jefferson on June 20, 1803, even to the point of choosing his successor as commander "on the accident of your death."Lewis was on his way (alone?) to give a report to his boss when he was killed in Tennessee on the Natchez Trace, not too far from the Alabama border.On a Sunday excursion down the trace, I had the opportunity to read the marker at the cabin where he died.It is one of life's mysteries one can only surmise, an anecdote of history and its consequences.

If you only read one book about L&C, this ought to be it
This one-volume abridgement of the 13-volume "definitive Nebraska edition" of 2001 is a fascinating read from historical and anthropological perspectives as well as being a gripping adventure story. The presentation of the 1804-06 trek of the Corps of Discovery is superb; the editor provides a comprehensive introduction that tells the story crisply, then presents selections from the journals of the officers and men of the Corps (judiciously annotated with sidenotes), and finishes with an afterword that lays out the fortunes of the Corps members after their return home. A really satisfying book!

Best one-volume L&C journals ever produced!
As an historian with an interest in the L&C expedition, I have dozens of books on my shelves detailing their adventure, including at least a half-dozen one volume editions of the journals. Until recently, Bernard DeVoto's 50 year old edition was the best.Now Gary Moulton's masterful editing of the definitive 13 vol edition of the journals is echoed in this single-volume abridgement that is destined to become the standard for the foreseeable future.If you must read a popular accounting of the Corps of Discovery, Stephen Ambrose's _Undaunted Courage_ is quite readable and provides ample context for the expedition. But then do yourself a favor and read Mouton's abridgement of the journals, and learn firsthand the thrill of reading L&C's original words. Recommended for all with an interest in the expedition.

Fascinating and Fun
The only better source for understanding the adventure of the
Lewis and Clark expedition would be the full 11-volumn set
edited by this same author for the U. of Nebraska.As a readable one-volumn summary of their fabulous and hair-raising
expedition, the editor has selected many of the most interesting
passages from the actual diaries of the participants, and many
readers will be able to vicariously experience the wonder at
what the men saw and how they reacted to the natives of the large region, as well as to the flora and fauna of a then-unknown part of the continent.
Frequently, the same adventure, or the same encounter, is told
in the words of multiple observers, and it is most interesting
to see how they reacted.
One of the most fascinating, and almost humorous, attitudes is
that of Lewis toward Grizzly bears and how that attitude changes quickly as he encounters the great bear.It is easy to
feel the superior attitude of Lewis as he relates the first warnings of the Indians about the ferocity and size of this distinct bear.He first writes: "...the indians may well fear
this anamal equiped as they generally are with their bows and
arrows...but in the hands of skillful riflemen they are by no means as formidable or dangerous as they have been represented."
He is speaking of someone who is acquainted with the black bear
of the Ohio valley.
Shortly thereafter he notes, writing of another grizzly, that he
was "...extreemly hard to kill..." specifying that bear had been
shot 10 times before finally expiring.Only a few days later,
after another terrifying encounter with a grizzly, where a party of hunters had to go after a bear wounded who had escaped,
after chasing one of his men, Lewis concludes, "...these bear being so hard to die rather intimedates us all; I must confess
that I do not like the gentlemen and had rather fight two Indians than one bear;..."
These passages are only a sample of the learning curve the great
explorers were on, and their own words show how they learned and
adapted so quickly that they made their amazing trek to the Pacific coast and back with no casualties other than Sgt. Floyd
who died of a burst appendix.The editor relates that Sgt.Floyd
couldn't have been saved even with the best medical care available at the time.
The book abounds with descriptions of birds and animals seen for
the first time by any white man, and both Captains provide details showing their dedication and ability; in addition, Clark
drew many significant maps of the area.
But the book isn't perfect; some decent maps should have been
provided, because the very small, sometimes confusing maps aren't helpful at all, and the serious student or reader will have to find some maps to accompany his reading.Not even one
example of the fine maps drawn by Clark is provided.A few more
of their drawings of animals would have been very helpful and entertaining.
But fascinating beyond belief are their copious observations and
notes of the native Indians they encountered.They show far more sympathy toward the Indians than might be thought possible
from upper-class East-coast white men, and both Lewis and Clark
reveal their wonder at the various customs and practices of
the Indians.Both the Captains the the others who kept diaries
frequently express appreciation of the skills and lifestyles of
the tribes, and this expedition helpled forge considerable friendships between the white Americans and their native counterparts.
The fact that later government mistreatment of Indians led to
wars and the loss of life is an indictment of later political
administrations in Washington, rather than any indictment of
these wonderful leaders and the members of this expedition.
But the writers whose words are provided here show a depth of
curiosity and thirst for knowledge of these different cultures
that has to astound most readers today.
And we have to read the exact words of those men who encountered the Blackfeet in present Montana to know just how
it happened that the only violent deaths happened there; the
Lewis journal entries are very revealing.
Hundreds of entries show just how cool and thoughtful all expedition members were as they encountered unbelieveable problems and obstacles, and how they met them with both good
humor and determination.
You can learn here why the Lewis and Clark expedition was one of
the greatest explorations in the world and why those particular
men were the absolutely best choice for their unique roles.
Anyone interested in American history needs to read these words
and imagine what these men saw and heard.

The Fun is Gone
Somehow the rip-roaring adventure of the Lewis and Clark expedition is missing from this plodding tome--and I do mean tome. By religiously sticking to the antiquated spelling and including snippets of every day, what you gain in detail you lose in adventure. Scholarly historians will want to read the unabridged journals; for the armchair historian, this book misses the mark. ... Read more

Product Description
Author Erin H. Turner brings to light 44 fascinating events from Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's 1804-1806 expedition from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back, including the first democratic vote west of the Mississippi, the remarkable and unexpected reunion of their Indian guide Sacagawea with the clan brother she hadn't seen in years, the day they found a huge whale on the beach, and their discovery of Carolina parakeets--a now extinct species--west of the Mississippi.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

What a fun book!
I've been reading about Lewis and Clark since I was a kid, but was happily surprised to find all these fascinating tidbits I didn't know. This book was just plain fun to read.

Steve Pomper
Author: Is There a Problem, Officer? (The Lyons Press, 2007) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great read
Easy to read. Really nice pictures. Exactly the informational type book I was looking for. Well done.

Across the Snowy Ranges
Lewis and Clark fans should have this book.It is also an excellent book for someone who only wants a sample of Lewis and Clark lore.It is very easy to read.There are many photographs showing scenes along the Lewis and Clark trail today."Across the Snowy Ranges" limits itself to the Lewis and Clark Expedition in Idaho and Western Montana.This part of the Lewis and Clark route is the only part of the westward bound trail that is relatively unchanged by dams and other human development.It is also the part of the trail that presented the Corps of Discovery with the greatest challenges; bargaining for horses, nearly starving while crossing the Rocky Mountains, and their collective illness when changing to a diet of fish and roots.It was on this part of the journey where one finds the romance of Sacagawea's reunion with her brother and the assistance the Corps received from the Shoshone, Salish, and Nez Perce Indians.The text follows the Corps day-by-day but describes the activities and locations in clear text with only a few excerpts from the Lewis and Clark journals.One of my favorite spots on the entire Lewis and Clark trail is Packer Meadows near the Idaho-Montana border.Not only does this book have a great picture of the site, it also tells the story of rescuing the site from the loggers' chainsaws in 1997. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1804 Lewis and Clark set off to explore the new lands of the Louisiana Purchase. They were acting as the eyes and ears of President Thomas Jefferson, who had an insatiable curiosity about what lay between the Mississippi and the Pacific. One contingency for which they were not prepared was the awesome geography of the Rocky Mountains. Including excerpts from Lewis and Clark's journals and putting their scientific achievements in context, David Hawke presents a riveting story of this dramatic journey. 43 period illustrations, including drawings made by Clark. ... Read more

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Well Written Narrative
In Those Tremendous Mountains, David Freeman Hawke documents the westward journey of Lewis and Clark.Hawke examines the preparation, the men, the trek to the Pacific and back, the Natives that were encountered, and the lasting legacy of the expedition.The majority of the information is gleaned from the journals kept by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with supplemental information from secondary sources that aid in placing the historic trip in a larger context.

Those Tremendous Mountains reads more like a well-written novel than a typical historical study.Through his vivid descriptions of the scenery and the personalities of the various parties, Hawke essentially takes the reader on a literary journey along with Lewis and Clark.While such a writing style may leave some scholarly readers clamoring for footnotes and a more comprehensive bibliography, the merits of such a narrative should not be overlooked.

Hawke demonstrates how the careful management of Lewis and Clark led to a successful journey.The transportation, provisions, medicine, and gifts brought on the trip and their managed disbursement proved to be barely adequate.Just as important as managing their resources, Lewis and Clark were effective in managing their men, pushing them far enough to accomplish the tasks, while allowing them adequate time to relax, and keeping them alert and able to meet various challenges they encountered.

Those Tremendous Mountains is more than a chronicle of a westward journey, as it also serves to explain the growth of an infantile nation.In addition to the stated goal of searching for the most convenient route to the Pacific Ocean for the purpose of trade, the emerging nation achieved other goals.The landscape, flora, fauna, and Natives of the western lands were studied to gauge the possibility of future Anglo-American settlement.Through small trinkets, Thomas Jefferson's yeoman farmer ideal was communicated to the Indians.The expedition also established precedents regarding government funding of such explorations and subsequent reports.

Utilizing a rich base of primary source material, David Freeman Hawke creates a readable study of exploration, the native western landscape, and an expanding United States.By examining the relationship between Lewis and Clark, and their individual struggles, the Voyage of Discovery is at once more personal and understandable.
... Read more

Product Description
PREFACE. BECAUSE children invariably ask for "more" of the stories they find inte!esting, this little book of continuous narrative has been written. Every incident is found in the Lewis and Clark Journals, so that the child's frequent question, (I Is it true?" can be answered ir. the affirmative. The vocabulary consists of fewer than 700 words. Over half of these are found in popular primers. Therefore~ the child should have no difficulty in reading this historical story after completing a first reader. The illustrations on pages 13, 15, 29, 64, and the last one on page 79. are redrawn from Catlin's" Letters and , Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Conditions of the North-American Indians." My acknowledgments are due Miss Lilian Bridgman, of San Francisco, for help in arranging the vocabulary. KATHERINE CHANDLER. SAN FRANCISCO, CALJFORNIA. July I, 1905.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS; P"GS; THE BIRD-WOMAN 9; WUO THE VHITE l'fEN WERE 10; VUO TIlE VHITE MEN WRRE'--; Continued IZ; VUV SACAJAWEA V';R~T 'VEST '4; AT FORT MANDAN 6; AT FORT lIA~DAN-COllt2'llued ? 18; THE BLACK MAN ? 20; SACAJAWEA'S BABV 22; SACAJAWEA'S BADv-Continued 24; MA KING FRIENDS WITH THE INDIANS; 25; l1AKING FRIENDS Wl1'H THE INDIANS-; Continued 27; SACAJAWEA SAVES TlIE CAPTA INS'; GOODS ? ? 30; SACAJAWEA'S RIVER ? ? ? 31; TUE FIRST SIGUT 011 THE ROCKY; MOUNTAINS ? 33; SACAJA WEA IS ILL 35; How THE INDIANS HOrnED BUFFALO; ? 36; THE FALLS OF THE :MISSOURI ? 38; THE CACHE NEAR THE FALLS; 01'- TUE MISSOURI 40; How SACAJAWEA CURll:D RATTLESNAKE; BITr:S; GOING AROUND THE FALLS; GR,IZZL Y BEARS ?; GRIZZLY BEARs-Contim~d; GRIZZLY BEARs-Contint#d; , 4 [; , 43; 45; 47; 49; 51; PAOS; SACAJAWEA'S PEOPLE 60; SACAJA VEA'S BROTHER 62; SACAJAWEA'S RROTHERCon#; nued 64; SACA]A WEA'S PEOPLE WIIL; , SHOW '1'HJ( W AV ·66; THE INDIANS TRY TO LEAVE THE; WHITES ? 68; ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Delivery overdue
I have contacted Octavian Books and they have written back giving an appology and promising delivery. They have also graciously offered the book at no charge for which I denied. At this time still awaiting delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Title: Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806; Printed From the Original Manuscripts in the Library of the American Philosophical Society and by Direction of Its Committee on Historical Documents; Together With Manuscript Material of Lewis and Clark From Other Sources, Including Note-Books, Letters, Maps, Etc., and the Journals of Charles Floyd and Joseph Whitehouse; Now for the First Time Published in Full and Exactly as Written;; Volume: 5; Original Publisher: New York, Dodd; Publication date: 1904; Subjects: Lewis and Clark Expedition/ (1804-1806); West (U.S.); Missouri River; Columbia River; Lewis and Clark Expedition/ (1804-1806); Biography ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Original date of publication
Readers may enjoy knowing that the original publication of this intriguing book was 1932, and that Grace Hebard was a political economist and otherwise important figure in the development of the Universiy of Wyoming. She also was the primary promoter of the notion that Sacagawea (her term was Sacajawea, with a "j") died in 1884 at the Wind River reservation. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1804 two young Americans set out to explore the land between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean, a land no white man had ever seen.What awaited them?Prehistoric monsters?Fire-breathing dragons?Meriwether Lewis and William Clark intended to find out. Their travels were full of dangerous encounters, narrow escapes, and hardships that would have made other men give up in despair. Yet they succeeded.Their two-year journey took them from St. Louis, Missouri, up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, across the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark lived one of the most exciting chapters in American history, and their expedition shaped America's destiny. ... Read more

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Lewis and Clark Book Review by Rouse Sr.
This is a book that will keep you interested in the times of yesteryears.I was intrigued by the decriptions afforded by the expedition members and the visual response that I experienced.The varied data provided the reader was attractive to the mental attention of the individualexperiencing the written words of both Lewis and Clark.Clark did standout as a outstanding hero of the Expedition and in the latter part of thebook his real character is accentuated in contrast to the tragedies thatfell to Lewis.You felt sorrow for Lewis and a sense of loyalty that Clarkfelt toward his good friend Lewis.It is a sensitive story andheartwarming with York and Sacagewea playing multiple important cameos in abombastic adventure. ... Read more

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Not an appointment calendar, but an easy way for everyone to join the Lewis and Clark Expedition on each of their 862 days on the trail.

Calendars for the years 1804 to 1806 have been filled with brief notes covering May 14, 1804, to September 23, 1806, telling what each new day brought the men, woman, baby, and dog: stifling heat, numbing cold, near starvation, feast and surprising foods, triumph, wonders, fear, and new friendships.

Color illustrations show people, gear, clothing, plants and animals, boats, and more. ... Read more

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After studying Lewis and Clark for over a year, my family and I decided we needed to experience Lewis and Clark.We had roughly three weeks to cover what it had taken the Corps of Discovery almost three years to do!This is a full-color journal of our adventure west along much of the Lewis and Clark trail.Since the original Lewis and Clark Expedition was so well recorded, we thought it appropriate that our own trip be documented, also.We have attempted with cameras and computers to accomplish what they did so well with paper and ink. ... Read more