To cite Meriwether Lewis as Editor of this and other volumes of this University of Nebraska Press edition, edited by Moulton, is an injustice to Moulton. Lewis' efforts never got beyond a pros- pectus. Further, to list Clark as merely a con- tributor, is unforgiveable.

Sometimes history comes alive through the details. In this Cornerstones of Freedom volume on the Lewis & Clark expedition there are two photographs of historic artifacts that certainly make the whole adventure come alive for me. First, there are pages from William Clark's journal which contains accounts of weather conditions and geographical observations, as well as sketches fo the scenery and wildlife. Second, there is a letter of credit, written by President Thomas Jefferson in his own hand, so that the expedition could return home by ship (it was never used as Lewis and Clark returned home overland). There are historic paintings of Lewis and Clark, as well as Sacagawea and York (the black man who astounded the Plains Indians), but it is these photographs of actual items that prove the most inspirational.

R. Conrad Stein provides a more than adequate introduction to the expedition known it is day as the Corps of Discovery, which left St. Louis in the spring of 1804 for a two year journey up the Missouri River, across the Rocky Mountains, and down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. The goal was to explore the land the United States acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. One of the key consequences of the expedition that traveled 8,000 miles was that it proved, once and for all, that an inland waterway in North American did not exist. Part of the Cornerstones of Freedom volume on the Louisiana Purchase is devoted to the Lewis & Clark expedition, but this volume, of course, provides much more information.

A truly fascinating read of exploration and attempted location of the mythical water passage across the western U.S. from the geographical perspective. From the mid 1600's up to and including the Lewis and Clark expedition, geographical mappings of the west were theoretical and conjectural, leading to misconceptions and inaccuracies in cartography and images of unexplored lands. With loyal support and backing from Jefferson, Lewis and Clark set out to locate the legendary water route across America for U.S. commerce, while at the same time collecting and taking notes on cartography, botany, zoology, geology, ethnology and natural resources, along with postulating future agricultural possibilities for the nation. Although the image of a fabled water passage was shattered and the idea of a totally agrarian society was somewhat fragmented, the Lewis and Clark expedition did succeed in being the premier stepping-stone for western expansion and maintained the imagery process of the west right up to the present time. A spellbinding read.

Professor Moulton has done a tremendous job of abridging over one million words in this manageable volume of five hundred or so pages. This volume will be the functional equivalent of the DeVoto edition for the twenty-first century. An excellent job that preserves the personalities of both Clark and Meriwether Lewis. Too many editors cannot avoid the temptation of "correcting" the 1804-06 English of the pair.

Lewis and Clark, A Prairie Dog for the President, is a fun read that's nicely paced. Author Shirley Raye Redmond uses whimsy and humor to tell this historic event: President Jefferson sends the eager Lewis and Clark off to explore the West. The vast young nation has never been fully explored. The president wonders how long it will take to get to the end of it and what they will find. One of my favorite parts is the banter over what to name the barking prairie creature they discover and send back to Jefferson.
"You can call it a ground rat."
"No, it looks like squirrel. I'll call it a barking squirrel."
"Squirrels don't bark. Dogs bark. We should call it a prairie dog."
"That's it!" Lewis and Clark agreed.
Later it starts all over again, when the President asks, "Is it a gopher?"
The illustrations by John Manders are just as pleasing. I like the facial expressions on the people and animals, especially the mischievous smile of the prairie dog. Manders is skilled at portraying action and emotions. And like the author, his sense of humor is so much fun. A buffalo and bear pose to be sketched. A buffalo won't fit in a shipping crate. Prairie dogs pop in and out of holes, eluding capture. A poor scout is so weighed down with "presents" for the President, he must be hoisted onto a boat.
Together, Shirley Raye Redmond and John Manders have created a delightful book.

This is a highly readable, brief account of the journey of Lewis and Clark, America's premier explorers. The duo set out in 1804 at the behest of President Jefferson to see if in fact there was a "Northwest Passage" (waterway) to the West Coast, and to explore the sorrounding regions. Most fascinating are the tales of encounters with various Indian tribes, as well as the weather related hardships endured by the Corps of Discovery. Reads nicely for young people or as a general introduction to the subject for adults. The book could have used some more illustrations and maps, but otherwise nicely researched.

Wandering around West Yellowstone, Montana waiting for the weather to clear, I discovered this treasure. I wanted to find out how Lewis & Clark managed without a trailer equipped with microwave, Gortex and DEET. Manage they did. The thrill of discovery outweighed the difficulties. This was my first read of the corps of discovery. It serves as an introduction. The selected sections of the journals are followed by explanations and interpretations. The black and white photos of the described sites and plants complement the text beautifully. The feeling of "being there" comes off the page. The maps are somewhat difficult to follow. As an introduction and a pick-up during the Montana thunderstorms, it made a fine addition to a well rounded vacation.

Anyone who is interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition, it is a must to have this book as a supplement. Anyone who likes to 'try' and figure out: mystery, truth from lies, to folklore, will also enjoy this book. This book gives all the accounts known of Meriwethers death. The problem is, there are about 20 accounts, and all of them differ, and the one person who we know for sure that was present - told at least four different versions. After reading this book, you will understand why some writers think it was murder, some suicide, and some haven't a clue. I happen to lean to the side of murder, but I could also understand the next reader thinking it was suicide. In the beginning of this book, Vardis Fisher says - To the memory of Meriwether Lewis, the greatest American of his breed and the most neglected. I thought the statement was pretty dumb, but my the time I finished reading the book, I understood what he meant.

Like other Ambrose books that I have read, Undaunted Courage is well written and researched. It tells the tell of Lewis and Clarks' great adventure across the USA. I have not read much of anything about this epic adventure before finishing this book, so I expected to learn a lot from one of America's best historians- I was not disappointed.

You get some great insight into what America was like in the early 1800s. America was full of great promise (the pioneer spirit, the land of opportunity, etc), but we also faced some serious problems (treatment of blacks, indians, woman, etc). One of the great ironies of the book is that some of the people who help Lewis and Clark to fulfill their mission, are treated the worst by the pair. Makes you wonder how such highly educated men (to include President Jefferson) could be so wrong about certain things, yet inspire others to accomplish great deeds.

Ambrose is a great storyteller, one of the best. His passion runs deep for this subject, so he gets long winded (as many other reviewers have noted) at times in the narrative. I think that is my main complaint about the book. Ambrose takes forever to get the explorers across the country, but returns them in a whirlwind. The book would have been better served if Ambrose took a more balanced approach to the expeditions timeline, giving equal weight to both parts of the trip.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the cross-country adventure of Lewis and Clark. If you are ignorant about the subject, like I was (I thought it was just the pair with their female indian guide for most the trip), you will gain greater insight into one of America's truly historic events. Lastly, this book will make you appreciate many of the advancements we have made since then (i.e- transportation and communication systems), although it may also make you want to spend more time enjoying the wonderful outdoor parks of America.

This book is inimitable Stephen Ambrose. Like all of his books, he turned this book of history into his story --- a nonfiction adventure story. Stephen E. Ambrose actually evolved into what can be called a nonfiction novelist. Starting with historical facts, he blended-in a judicious amount of hyperbole, added a pinch of sensationalism, and came up with a new metamorphosis called creative history that was very successful at holding a reader's attention. There are now other authors (including yours truly) who do the same, but, Ambrose was the first and the best. "Undaunted Courage" is yet another book in a long line of his books that shows he knew how to inform by perfecting the knack of making history interesting. He shall be missed.

I found this an excellent book that transported me back in time to the days of the Louisiana Purchase. For me, such an experience is the definition of a good history book.

The subject, as anyone who reads the introduction will see, is one that is dear to Ambrose. His intimate knowledge of the subject comes through in what is a thoroughly gripping narrative.

Ambrose clearly admires Meriwether Lewis, but his writing is fair and impartial as he delves into the trials and triumphs of the expedition as a whole, and Lewis personally. The story begins at the beginning, well before the voyage of discovery begins, by establishing the relationship between Lewis and Thomas Jefferson that will ultimately result in Lewis being given command of the expedition.

Clark's role is not ignored, and Ambrose repeatedly points out that Lewis viewed Clark as a co-leader, although the government at the time recognized him only as Lewis's lieutenant. But, as the title suggests, the book focuses on Lewis, the great project's leader, and his sponsor Jefferson.

Lewis's tragic decline and eventual suicide ends the book and serves as a sad counterpoint for his great and yes, courageous, leadership during the expedition.

Altogether the book offers a fascinating read for anyone interested in the story of Lewis and Clark, or students of Thomas Jefferson looking for additional perspective into the events that shaped his presidency.

Mr. Duncan sets out on a journey that registers on the odometer but fails to touch the raw nerve of the West. Tours of museums aren't exciting road stories, more like your bald uncle's excruciating vacation stories to Buena Vista. The Reagan-era "John Wayne" America is in full display here, with Native American issues handled with bizarre insensitivity considering how close he gets to them. God bless factories and tenderloin, we are supposed to cajole! Forget this book and its banal understanding of American history (I'd rather return to an 8th grade history class for better insights) and western life. Read Rick Bass or Abbey, Stegner or McCarthy, for the real stuff.

Duncan's Out West is an immensely enjoyable read! His humor, insight and detail make the book one of my all-time favorites. I grew up only ~3 miles from where the cover photo was taken, I have since relocated. This book takes me home.

When a review copy of Dayton Duncan's "Out West" arrived in the Ohio newsroom where I worked in the mid-1980s, I snagged it and devoured it within days. I knew right then I'd have to make the trip myself someday. When I got the chance to write a guidebook to the trail in the early 1990s ("Traveling the Lewis & Clark Trail," also available via amazon.com), "Out West" rode shotgun with the Lewis & Clark journals on my pickup seat. "Out West" is among the best American road books ever written, full of insight about the Lewis & Clark Expedition and how America has changed in the 200 years since then. From Duncan's "road rules" to his insider tips on the best cafes and most colorful characters along the way, you can't go wrong going "Out West" with Dayton Duncan.