Russ S. (RussS) - , reviewed on 10/9/2010 + 3 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

A very intersting biography of Meriwether Lewis and his "Voyage of Discovery" of the Western United States. Original goal was to find a water route (the Missouri river?) to the Pacific Ocean. Especially interesting was the preparation for the trip including
considerations of who to bring (Clark, Sacagawea and others) and Lewis's scientific education in astronomy and botany from Thomas Jefferson for several months before the trip started. I also learned this was not the only expedition sponsored by Jefferson, but it was by far the most successful. Jefferson took heat from his political opponents by sending Lewis an accomplished frontiersmen but not a scientist, but Jefferson correctly wanted someone who had a chance of returning from the journey to report what they found!

The book shows in detail the difficulties of traveling through the Great Plains, encounters with (mostly) helpful Native American tribes and enduring the Rocky Mountains with only a verbal map from Plains Indian chiefs (In fact, Lewis and Clark MADE the first written maps of the area)

Story also includes the interesting role of Sacagawea the native American girl who served as his translator as well as several near death experiences.

The book held my interest from cover to cover.

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