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This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis & Clark
In the epic tradition of Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage, This Vast Enterprise offers a bold new take on the Lewis and Clark expedition, humanizing forgotten figures and shattering long-held myths about one of the most beloved episodes in American history.
Celebrated young historian Craig Fehrman, whose first book, Author in Chief, was hailed by Thomas Mallon in The Wall Street Journal as "one of the best books on the American presidency to appear in recent years,"delivers a major new account of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark returned from their long journey, in 1806, they brought an incredible tale starring themselves as courageous explorers, skilled scientists, and peaceful ambassadors. There was truth in those descriptions. But there was also distortion.
For the first time in a generation, This Vast Enterprise offers a fresh and more accurate account of their expedition--a gripping narrative that draws on new documents, stunning analysis, and Native perspectives. Fehrman's central insight is that the success of Lewis and Clark depended on much more than just Lewis and Clark. We all know Sacajawea, and some of us know York, the Black man Clark enslaved. But This Vast Enterprise introduces us to John Ordway, a working-class soldier who fought grizzlies and towed the captains' bulky barge. It introduces us to Wolf Calf, a Blackfoot teenager who watched his friend die in a battle with Lewis and his men.
To capture this cast of characters, each chapter in This Vast Enterprise moves to a new point of view, describing that person's desires and contradictions with an unprecedented level of care. Fehrman balances the story's inherent adventure with the humanity of its protagonists. One chapter shows Thomas Jefferson operating in an age of bitter partisan unrest--his secret maneuvers to fund the expedition, uncovered here for the first time, are a case study in presidential power. Another chapter reveals the strategy and strength of Black Buffalo, a Lakota leader, completely upending our understanding of early Lakota American diplomacy. In his chapters, Clark is not a bad speller but a student of the Enlightenment. (Fehrman found Clark's college notebook.) Lewis is someone whose psychological demons feel at once heartbreaking and modern.
And yet, in the end, the captains are men who needed help--from Sacajawea, from York, and from each other. Their expeditiontruly was a vast enterprise, a sprawling and federally funded military mission that came down to the heroic sacrifices of a few human beings. This book portrays those people, all of them, for the first time. It is more than just a work of history--it's a testament to the power of innovative research and emotional storytelling, and a thrilling reminder that even the most familiar moments in history can still surprise us.
Celebrated young historian Craig Fehrman, whose first book, Author in Chief, was hailed by Thomas Mallon in The Wall Street Journal as "one of the best books on the American presidency to appear in recent years,"delivers a major new account of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark returned from their long journey, in 1806, they brought an incredible tale starring themselves as courageous explorers, skilled scientists, and peaceful ambassadors. There was truth in those descriptions. But there was also distortion.
For the first time in a generation, This Vast Enterprise offers a fresh and more accurate account of their expedition--a gripping narrative that draws on new documents, stunning analysis, and Native perspectives. Fehrman's central insight is that the success of Lewis and Clark depended on much more than just Lewis and Clark. We all know Sacajawea, and some of us know York, the Black man Clark enslaved. But This Vast Enterprise introduces us to John Ordway, a working-class soldier who fought grizzlies and towed the captains' bulky barge. It introduces us to Wolf Calf, a Blackfoot teenager who watched his friend die in a battle with Lewis and his men.
To capture this cast of characters, each chapter in This Vast Enterprise moves to a new point of view, describing that person's desires and contradictions with an unprecedented level of care. Fehrman balances the story's inherent adventure with the humanity of its protagonists. One chapter shows Thomas Jefferson operating in an age of bitter partisan unrest--his secret maneuvers to fund the expedition, uncovered here for the first time, are a case study in presidential power. Another chapter reveals the strategy and strength of Black Buffalo, a Lakota leader, completely upending our understanding of early Lakota American diplomacy. In his chapters, Clark is not a bad speller but a student of the Enlightenment. (Fehrman found Clark's college notebook.) Lewis is someone whose psychological demons feel at once heartbreaking and modern.
And yet, in the end, the captains are men who needed help--from Sacajawea, from York, and from each other. Their expeditiontruly was a vast enterprise, a sprawling and federally funded military mission that came down to the heroic sacrifices of a few human beings. This book portrays those people, all of them, for the first time. It is more than just a work of history--it's a testament to the power of innovative research and emotional storytelling, and a thrilling reminder that even the most familiar moments in history can still surprise us.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published April 21, 2026
About the author
Craig Fehrman
4 books146 followersCraig Fehrman, a journalist and historian, spent five years writing and researching This Vast Enterprise. His first book, Author in Chief, was described by Thomas Mallon in The Wall Street Journal as “one of the best books on the American presidency to appear in recent years.” Fehrman lives in Indiana with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
April 21, 2026
This Vast Enterprise by Craig Fehrman elevates narrative nonfiction to a new standard. Fehrman breathes fresh life into the legendary saga of Lewis and Clark’s expedition to the American West through a compelling storytelling device: each chapter is told from a different perspective, ranging from members of the Corps of Discovery to the diverse individuals they encountered along the way. This approach is at its most powerful when Fehrman amplifies voices often sidelined in history, such as York, William Clark’s enslaved body servant, and Sacagawea, the iconic Shoshone translator and some of the leaders of the Native Nations the Corp encountered.
Fehrman also provides an immersive look into the various Native American Nations the Corps encountered, offering nuanced insights into the traditions and cultures of the Blackfoot, Mandan, and Shoshone peoples. Arriving just in time for the 250th anniversary of American Independence , This Vast Enterprise is a refreshing reexamination of the expedition’s role in America’s westward expansion and diplomatic evolution. However, the book truly excels by providing vital context for life in the early 19th century and offering a profound new perspective on the Indigenous Nations that once ruled the American West.
Fehrman also provides an immersive look into the various Native American Nations the Corps encountered, offering nuanced insights into the traditions and cultures of the Blackfoot, Mandan, and Shoshone peoples. Arriving just in time for the 250th anniversary of American Independence , This Vast Enterprise is a refreshing reexamination of the expedition’s role in America’s westward expansion and diplomatic evolution. However, the book truly excels by providing vital context for life in the early 19th century and offering a profound new perspective on the Indigenous Nations that once ruled the American West.
June 1, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, for granting me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Believe it or not, this is the first book I've read about Lewis and Clark's famous expedition across the frontier. Like the rest of America, I always had a vague notion of what happened via cultural osmosis, but my studies and interests tended to veer away from the American West. With that in mind, I can't attest to how Craig Fehrman's "revisionist" analysis compares to the traditional one, but I did have the opportunity to read this story with fresh eyes. Rather than focus solely on the iconic duo, Fehrman tells each chapter through the perspective of a different key figure on the expedition: soldier John Ordway, Shoshone interpreter Sacajawea, Clarke's enslaved companion, York, numerous Native American leaders, and of course, Lewis and Clark themselves--two exceedingly complicated men who took on the roles of explorers, scientists, physicians, soldiers, and diplomats during the span of their journey.
Fehrman breaks the mold by placing a slightly greater focus on Lewis, the more melancholy and troubled of the two, than Clark, who better fits the bill of a traditional protagonist. Clark was capable of great kindness and cruelty, a duality we see time and again, especially in his interactions with Sacajawea and York. The young Indian woman, who was captured by a warring tribe as a teenager and sold to a French fur trader, and the enslaved man are arguably the two stand-out characters of This Vast Enterprise, although the fact that neither one was literate, and therefore did not leave behind any personal writings, presents an issue. Fehrman writes in the style of a novelist, which makes for an engaging read, and one has to admire the lengths he goes to to try to depict his subjects as complex human beings, but the liberties he takes with deducing what they were thinking and feeling, always expressed so confidently despite scant evidence, can be quite presumptuous. Perhaps York looked upon the Pacific coast and thought of freedom--or perhaps he was tired and wanted to head back to camp. We simply do not know.
By the last third of the book, the multiple POVs start to feel excessive; This Vast Enterprise could have benefitted from being a little tighter, with more consolidation. The story's grand scope is fitting for such a remarkable adventure, however, and Fehrman has written a story that will draw in newcomers and leave them excited to learn more. It certainly left me interested in learning more about this incredible story, and the eclectic men (and woman) who made it happen.
Believe it or not, this is the first book I've read about Lewis and Clark's famous expedition across the frontier. Like the rest of America, I always had a vague notion of what happened via cultural osmosis, but my studies and interests tended to veer away from the American West. With that in mind, I can't attest to how Craig Fehrman's "revisionist" analysis compares to the traditional one, but I did have the opportunity to read this story with fresh eyes. Rather than focus solely on the iconic duo, Fehrman tells each chapter through the perspective of a different key figure on the expedition: soldier John Ordway, Shoshone interpreter Sacajawea, Clarke's enslaved companion, York, numerous Native American leaders, and of course, Lewis and Clark themselves--two exceedingly complicated men who took on the roles of explorers, scientists, physicians, soldiers, and diplomats during the span of their journey.
Fehrman breaks the mold by placing a slightly greater focus on Lewis, the more melancholy and troubled of the two, than Clark, who better fits the bill of a traditional protagonist. Clark was capable of great kindness and cruelty, a duality we see time and again, especially in his interactions with Sacajawea and York. The young Indian woman, who was captured by a warring tribe as a teenager and sold to a French fur trader, and the enslaved man are arguably the two stand-out characters of This Vast Enterprise, although the fact that neither one was literate, and therefore did not leave behind any personal writings, presents an issue. Fehrman writes in the style of a novelist, which makes for an engaging read, and one has to admire the lengths he goes to to try to depict his subjects as complex human beings, but the liberties he takes with deducing what they were thinking and feeling, always expressed so confidently despite scant evidence, can be quite presumptuous. Perhaps York looked upon the Pacific coast and thought of freedom--or perhaps he was tired and wanted to head back to camp. We simply do not know.
By the last third of the book, the multiple POVs start to feel excessive; This Vast Enterprise could have benefitted from being a little tighter, with more consolidation. The story's grand scope is fitting for such a remarkable adventure, however, and Fehrman has written a story that will draw in newcomers and leave them excited to learn more. It certainly left me interested in learning more about this incredible story, and the eclectic men (and woman) who made it happen.
June 2, 2026
Check out my interview with Craig Fehrman here: https://newbooksnetwork.com/this-vast...
Craig Fehrman has done it again! In his new book, This Vast Enterprise, he tells the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Fehrman tells a fascinating story about adventure, discovery, foreign policy, man vs. nature, and much more. My knowledge of this expedition before reading this book was limited at best. Fehrman teaches the reader that there were more individuals involved than Lewis, Clark, and Sacajawea. Fehrman does this by writing chapters that alternate between different figures who took part in the expedition or crossed paths with the Corps of Discovery. This book is very well researched, and the level of detail is fascinating. The best parts of this book are when Fehrman really gets down into the minds of each person, so much so that you feel like you know them. He does a great job of this with Sacajawea, York, and Meriwether Lewis.
Craig Fehrman has done it again! In his new book, This Vast Enterprise, he tells the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Fehrman tells a fascinating story about adventure, discovery, foreign policy, man vs. nature, and much more. My knowledge of this expedition before reading this book was limited at best. Fehrman teaches the reader that there were more individuals involved than Lewis, Clark, and Sacajawea. Fehrman does this by writing chapters that alternate between different figures who took part in the expedition or crossed paths with the Corps of Discovery. This book is very well researched, and the level of detail is fascinating. The best parts of this book are when Fehrman really gets down into the minds of each person, so much so that you feel like you know them. He does a great job of this with Sacajawea, York, and Meriwether Lewis.
May 13, 2026
This book should be classified as “historical fiction.” It is abundant with historic facts, the vast majority of which are well established. Yet, the promo touts telling the story from “a new point of view.” So, potential readers should wonder exactly how the established facts are reorganized or supplemented to gain a different vantage point. It turns out that the facts are supplemented by what purports to be the actual thoughts of some of the most critical actors; e.g. the book includes how York feels about being enslaved and Clark’s treatment of him; what Black Bull is thinking prior to and during the nearly disastrous standoff with the Corps; Sacagawea’s considerations about whether to stay with her people or proceed on to the coast with the Corps. Obviously, any previously unpublished thoughts of these key figures could constitute new points of view. However, these are simply the speculations of a third party attributed to them more than 200 years later. When I know a work of “history” is tainted with fiction I lose confidence in everything it says…
January 31, 2026
What a truly wonderful book. There is so much great detail, insight and revelation in this expert tracing of The Lewis and Clark Expedition. There is the character and heroism of the leaders and their exploration team is revealed and each individual is a study in courage, patience, hopefulness and strength. Fehrman even takes time to follow up on his own extensive research. His writing style captured my interest throughout and I looked forward to “picking up where I had left off” every evening. One of the best features of this book is the description of each native-American tribe and leader. They are “real” individuals here and indigenous society is revealed in their societies, wars, villages,,reactions to the explorers. Thomas Jefferson is a central figure and his personality and intellect shine thru the entire story. I would recommend this book to everyone seriously interested in American History. The expedition was monumental.Fehrman always tells an exciting story.
Thank you NetGalley,author,Craig Fehrman,publisher, Simon and Schuster for the arc ebook of The Vast Enterprise.
On Sale April 21,2026
Thank you NetGalley,author,Craig Fehrman,publisher, Simon and Schuster for the arc ebook of The Vast Enterprise.
On Sale April 21,2026
June 21, 2026
This is one more of those books where I have to wonder if those who offered "blurbs" for its jacket and have praised it elsewhere have actually read it!
The reasons are these:
While it does give voice to many people from whom we have not heard before, it is detailed to a confusing degree, almost impossible for the reader to keep straight "where" the explorers are at any given time, and consistently treats minutiae with the same coverage and length as it does matters of greater importance.
From my point of view, the book could have used a very good editor or two to tighten it up, clarify place- and time-lines, and generally make it inevitable heck of a lot more readable.
The reasons are these:
While it does give voice to many people from whom we have not heard before, it is detailed to a confusing degree, almost impossible for the reader to keep straight "where" the explorers are at any given time, and consistently treats minutiae with the same coverage and length as it does matters of greater importance.
From my point of view, the book could have used a very good editor or two to tighten it up, clarify place- and time-lines, and generally make it inevitable heck of a lot more readable.
May 16, 2026
Hearing the names Lewis & Clark took me back to the chalkboard-walled rooms of grade school history class. Reading "This Vast Enterprise" put my bare feet into the icy rapids of the Missouri river, where jagged rocks sliced open my skin.
This is my way of saying that Craig Fehrman's "New History" reads like a novel. Rich with colorful descriptions of skies, rivers, and rolling prairies. Saturated with details that appeal to other senses. For example, I felt the sting of mosquito bites and sweat that soaked my shirt as I empathized with the rugged explorers who burned 5,000 calories a day.
And these pages are packed with action. Grizzly bears chasing terrified soldiers, boats tipping into foamy waters with non-swimmers aboard, and a hungry and cold march through the mountains that has a happy ending.
Each chapter in this book is viewed through the eyes of a particular person who played a role in the bigger story. The author calls them the "Cast of Characters." Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, York (a builder, hunter, and body servant of Clark), Thomas Jefferson, Sacajawea, John Ordway (first sergeant), and Black Buffalo (Lakota leader) are some, among many, examples.
Thanks to Fehrman's thoughtful approach, my own eyes have been opened to just how massive this expedition was. And how many lives made it happen and were touched by it. For better, for worse, and for everything in between.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in viewing this chapter in America's past through vivid narration.
This is my way of saying that Craig Fehrman's "New History" reads like a novel. Rich with colorful descriptions of skies, rivers, and rolling prairies. Saturated with details that appeal to other senses. For example, I felt the sting of mosquito bites and sweat that soaked my shirt as I empathized with the rugged explorers who burned 5,000 calories a day.
And these pages are packed with action. Grizzly bears chasing terrified soldiers, boats tipping into foamy waters with non-swimmers aboard, and a hungry and cold march through the mountains that has a happy ending.
Each chapter in this book is viewed through the eyes of a particular person who played a role in the bigger story. The author calls them the "Cast of Characters." Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, York (a builder, hunter, and body servant of Clark), Thomas Jefferson, Sacajawea, John Ordway (first sergeant), and Black Buffalo (Lakota leader) are some, among many, examples.
Thanks to Fehrman's thoughtful approach, my own eyes have been opened to just how massive this expedition was. And how many lives made it happen and were touched by it. For better, for worse, and for everything in between.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in viewing this chapter in America's past through vivid narration.
May 4, 2026
I rate books strictly by how much I enjoy reading them, and I very much enjoyed this one. It was one of those books I found difficult to put down. It is very insightful, told through the eyes and feelings of many of the characters on the journey, as well as a few of those they encountered along the way.
I particularly liked the chapters on York (Clark's slave) and Sacajawea. Her reunification with her native tribe, her brother, and her best childhood friend is told in a manner that clearly brings out her emotions. York's relationship with his owner is equally complex; he clearly earns the respect of Clark and his fellow explorers during the trip, yet when the journey is complete, Clark is clear that he still "owns" York.
I highly recommend this book for any history buff. My only negative is that, in my opinion, Fehrman should have left out the second appendix involving unsubstantiated sexual innuendo. He goes so far as to baselessly suggest that Lewis and Clark may have had a sexual relationship while providing absolutely no evidence.
I particularly liked the chapters on York (Clark's slave) and Sacajawea. Her reunification with her native tribe, her brother, and her best childhood friend is told in a manner that clearly brings out her emotions. York's relationship with his owner is equally complex; he clearly earns the respect of Clark and his fellow explorers during the trip, yet when the journey is complete, Clark is clear that he still "owns" York.
I highly recommend this book for any history buff. My only negative is that, in my opinion, Fehrman should have left out the second appendix involving unsubstantiated sexual innuendo. He goes so far as to baselessly suggest that Lewis and Clark may have had a sexual relationship while providing absolutely no evidence.
May 2, 2026
An exhaustively researched book that was, in some parts, quite detailed. But the detail is mostly necessary to tell the whole true story about the Corp and its adventures. Highly recommend to any history buff.
June 19, 2026
I'm a big fan of Undaunted Courage. I was excited to read this. I was very disappointed when I began hearing "Perhaps". I feel like there was a lot of opinion on things that may not have actually happened. Especially for non-fiction book. There are good things about this book, but it discredited itself.
June 7, 2026
Pure Fiction!
How the publishers can describe this book as nonfiction is a total mystery to me. Page after page is filled with pure speculation about historical figures who could neither read nor write and left no record of their thoughts or feelings. The only clues provided for the reader are the many introductory words and phrases the author frequently uses to temporize his suppositions. Words and phrases like "surely," "no doubt," "probably," "almost certainly," "would never have" tip the reader off to purely fictional passages that are there simply to support the author's thinly disguised agenda--which is that all the principals involved in the Lewis and Clark expedition were incorrigible racists who cruelly mistreated all non-whites, especially Negroes, women, and Native Americans. No one is spared. Presidents Washington and Jefferson as well as Lewis and Clark--all are painted with the same broad brush intended to diminish the incredible accomplishments of the expedition.
This book is a classic case of a 21st century writer transporting himself and his 21st century knowledge, morals, and biases back into the past with out regard for the
mores, educational standards, or economic conditions prevailing in this country more than 200 years ago.
Readers beware!
How the publishers can describe this book as nonfiction is a total mystery to me. Page after page is filled with pure speculation about historical figures who could neither read nor write and left no record of their thoughts or feelings. The only clues provided for the reader are the many introductory words and phrases the author frequently uses to temporize his suppositions. Words and phrases like "surely," "no doubt," "probably," "almost certainly," "would never have" tip the reader off to purely fictional passages that are there simply to support the author's thinly disguised agenda--which is that all the principals involved in the Lewis and Clark expedition were incorrigible racists who cruelly mistreated all non-whites, especially Negroes, women, and Native Americans. No one is spared. Presidents Washington and Jefferson as well as Lewis and Clark--all are painted with the same broad brush intended to diminish the incredible accomplishments of the expedition.
This book is a classic case of a 21st century writer transporting himself and his 21st century knowledge, morals, and biases back into the past with out regard for the
mores, educational standards, or economic conditions prevailing in this country more than 200 years ago.
Readers beware!
May 24, 2026
If you studied about Lewis and Clark in school and think you know their story, you will be amazed at the difference between what you were taught and the complete history in this extraordinary book.
Complete is the word. You learn about the politics of the time, the indigenous people, slavery, medicine and so much more. It never feels like padding or look how much I know; it works together to tell a compelling story.
If you are afraid that the amount of information will take away from the excitement of their journey, you can rest easy. It’s clear about important issues that many of us were never taught, but the audaciousness of their journey is never dull.
Lewis, Clark, Sacajawea, York; they all come to life. I came to a much greater understanding of native America culture, and it made me eager to know more.
You will also never think about grizzly bears the same way after you read this book.
I guess I’ve read too many great books this year, and I’ve already said this once already, but this may be the best book of the year.
I really love this book.
Complete is the word. You learn about the politics of the time, the indigenous people, slavery, medicine and so much more. It never feels like padding or look how much I know; it works together to tell a compelling story.
If you are afraid that the amount of information will take away from the excitement of their journey, you can rest easy. It’s clear about important issues that many of us were never taught, but the audaciousness of their journey is never dull.
Lewis, Clark, Sacajawea, York; they all come to life. I came to a much greater understanding of native America culture, and it made me eager to know more.
You will also never think about grizzly bears the same way after you read this book.
I guess I’ve read too many great books this year, and I’ve already said this once already, but this may be the best book of the year.
I really love this book.
Read
February 23, 2026If you want to know every detail of why Lewis and Clark took their expedition, and how it went on a daily basis, then this book is for you. Fehrman gives the story a very human element, not just the over arching story but the toll on both Lewis and Clark, their staff, and even Jefferson, who was president.
Fehrman also does an excellent job of showing how precarious the whole venture really was—politically, financially, and personally. He doesn’t treat the expedition as a straight line from St. Louis to the Pacific, but as a series of improvisations, near‑failures, and lucky breaks that could easily have gone another way. The accumulating details of supply problems, personnel conflicts, and diplomatic missteps make the familiar story feel newly suspenseful rather than predetermined.
Very detailed, and a tad repetitive at times, but well researched.
Fehrman also does an excellent job of showing how precarious the whole venture really was—politically, financially, and personally. He doesn’t treat the expedition as a straight line from St. Louis to the Pacific, but as a series of improvisations, near‑failures, and lucky breaks that could easily have gone another way. The accumulating details of supply problems, personnel conflicts, and diplomatic missteps make the familiar story feel newly suspenseful rather than predetermined.
Very detailed, and a tad repetitive at times, but well researched.
May 12, 2026
A good popular-oriented take on the expedition. Not a scholarly work, but a good read. The biggest disappointment for me was that that author did not identify locations described in proximity to current-landmarks (near current day Bismarck, ND). That would have made it much easier to keep track of the narrative. I did come away from the book with a greater appreciation for Native American urban culture and for addressing issues like the sex lives of the explorers along the way, the complicated relationships between trappers, traders, Native American politics, British and French reactions, etc.
May 7, 2026
Can’t remember why I picked this up but it’s dull af and I don’t need another 14 hours of white men justifying colonization.
June 20, 2026
This book is positioned in a nice niche, with more depth that pop history but not as much detail as the academic work on the primary sources. The author seems to have done real scholarship, with a great resource in the form of the expedition journals as well as some apparently new/overlooked Native sources. I certainly got a better understanding of an expedition that is usually just something vaguely referenced within other histories.
Unfortunately, the book is marred by an extremely high level of speculation. The word "perhaps" appears an absurd number of times, and the author is aware of this, reassuring the reader about how careful he is with sources. I believe that enough that I didn't reject the book, but some of the details he offers strike me as dubious. There are many little slippages, leaving you to constantly wonder if something is from the actual sources or just made up by the author to match the audience's expectations.
I feel like the narrative elements go too far with York (Clark's personal slave): the author clearly wants to give this man a voice, but it seems like we don't have the historical records for it, so we're basically forcing a voice on him. The contemporaneous quotes from slaves are reasonable speculation, but York's voice itself has been lost to time. This feels especially hollow because so much of it boils down to, "And York was presumably also there."
I thought things might be better with Sacajawea, but apparently historical information about her is a lot sparser than I thought. So many sections about her have no source; they're just the author filling in what people would like to believe about a Native American woman who, in truth, we do not know.
This comes off negative, and I really do think this direction is a mistake for nonfiction, but I don't want to lose the positives either. The author sprinkles in a ton of primary source quotes and there were multiple times when, instead of just speculation, he brings a quote from contemporaneous voices who at least give us a clearer idea of how things were at that time. He's also capable of setting aside modern judgments to get into the nuances of the individuals, such as Lewis and Clark having various levels of prejudice.
Unfortunately, the book is marred by an extremely high level of speculation. The word "perhaps" appears an absurd number of times, and the author is aware of this, reassuring the reader about how careful he is with sources. I believe that enough that I didn't reject the book, but some of the details he offers strike me as dubious. There are many little slippages, leaving you to constantly wonder if something is from the actual sources or just made up by the author to match the audience's expectations.
I feel like the narrative elements go too far with York (Clark's personal slave): the author clearly wants to give this man a voice, but it seems like we don't have the historical records for it, so we're basically forcing a voice on him. The contemporaneous quotes from slaves are reasonable speculation, but York's voice itself has been lost to time. This feels especially hollow because so much of it boils down to, "And York was presumably also there."
I thought things might be better with Sacajawea, but apparently historical information about her is a lot sparser than I thought. So many sections about her have no source; they're just the author filling in what people would like to believe about a Native American woman who, in truth, we do not know.
This comes off negative, and I really do think this direction is a mistake for nonfiction, but I don't want to lose the positives either. The author sprinkles in a ton of primary source quotes and there were multiple times when, instead of just speculation, he brings a quote from contemporaneous voices who at least give us a clearer idea of how things were at that time. He's also capable of setting aside modern judgments to get into the nuances of the individuals, such as Lewis and Clark having various levels of prejudice.
May 16, 2026
This is a perfect example of a history book for the interested non- expert. My take is that of a fascinating topic, flowing narrative, healthy, intelligent, transparent, and well-founded speculation, dozens of opportunities for the reader to make an emotional, empathetic connection to the explorers and native peoples from an important and often misconceived era, an appreciation of the curiosity and technical and scientific rigor Lewis and Clark and their corps followed daily for several years, and brief but well understood political and historical background for the "enterprise". Other five-star components - awesome illustrations, reproduced from the captains journals and other high-quality contemporary accounts, and the "back material", the resources and artifacts that the author relied on to tell this most modern account of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. An absolute treasure. Six stars! (Seven!)
May 19, 2026
Though at times an engaging story, I had to force myself to finish it. Living near the Missouri River in the Midwest, I have always had a fascination for Lewis and Clark and their expedition. The author has obviously done a great deal of research, but seems to me there is also a great deal of supposition. Not sure how factual much of the story actually is, although I did find parts of it interesting. I did enjoy learning more about the lives of some of the supporting characters, such as Sacajawea, York, and Ordway, but am left questioning what is fact and what is simply imagined.
May 29, 2026
It's difficult to imagine a better written history of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition, a mixture of military and civilian men. As far as I know, the author obtained access to newly available source material for a narrative with improved details about psychological and sociological insights of the Corps' crew and of Indians.
Reading about the attitudes, interests, and concerns of American men born during the 1700s in comparison to those of our time is endlessly fascinating.
During the Expedition's time period, rivers were the transportation highways. Featured in this narrative are the Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, and Columbia rivers. Some of the multi day portages described from the diary entries of crewmen were truly brutal and horrific stories. Sexual practices of Indians, which involved modified forms of marriage and monagomy especially during extended festivals, are worth reading about.
Before the widespread use of money, not to mention today's prominent use of debit cards, the practice of trading was the nature of business. Being knowledgeable about what constitutes the full range of "trade goods" and having the ability to tell good stories in the context of trade discussions was essential.
For example, human bondage was a form of trade goods. As you likely know, slavery amongst Indians occurred. Female slaves, often, were called "wives." And that was the case for Sacajawea who was purchased by a French-Canadian Indian trader.
Additionally, William Clark brought his enslaved body servant of African descent, named York, on the Expedition.
Considerable details and insight are provided from the point of view of both Sacajawea and York.
It should be understood that, during this time period, aggressive Indian tribes, like the Lakota, controlled the Missouri River and charged tolls, in trade goods, to pass checkpoints.
This narrative presents abundant stories about hunting deer, elk, buffalo, and grizzly bears. Also, there's no lack of stories about Meriwether Lewis collecting scientific astronomical data along with plant and animal samples. It should be noted that creation of accurate maps resulted from this expedition.
Leadership provided by Lewis and Clark was above average. At times, decisions made regarding logistics and punishment were by the Corps using atypical democratic vote. Meriwether Lewis' mental illness, which apparently was inherited from his father, was mostly not an issue during the Expedition.
The author's main emphasis is to make it perfectly clear that information about land and its acquisition was the reason for obtaining approval to fund and go through the associated, difficult political maneuvering needed to make this expedition happen.
Investigating frontier land take-over possibilities and its related promotion to the public served to achieve national expansion consistent with "manifest destiny" ideology. This was the Corps of Discovery Expedition's overriding objective.
Reading this book was a revelatory experience.
Reading about the attitudes, interests, and concerns of American men born during the 1700s in comparison to those of our time is endlessly fascinating.
During the Expedition's time period, rivers were the transportation highways. Featured in this narrative are the Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, and Columbia rivers. Some of the multi day portages described from the diary entries of crewmen were truly brutal and horrific stories. Sexual practices of Indians, which involved modified forms of marriage and monagomy especially during extended festivals, are worth reading about.
Before the widespread use of money, not to mention today's prominent use of debit cards, the practice of trading was the nature of business. Being knowledgeable about what constitutes the full range of "trade goods" and having the ability to tell good stories in the context of trade discussions was essential.
For example, human bondage was a form of trade goods. As you likely know, slavery amongst Indians occurred. Female slaves, often, were called "wives." And that was the case for Sacajawea who was purchased by a French-Canadian Indian trader.
Additionally, William Clark brought his enslaved body servant of African descent, named York, on the Expedition.
Considerable details and insight are provided from the point of view of both Sacajawea and York.
It should be understood that, during this time period, aggressive Indian tribes, like the Lakota, controlled the Missouri River and charged tolls, in trade goods, to pass checkpoints.
This narrative presents abundant stories about hunting deer, elk, buffalo, and grizzly bears. Also, there's no lack of stories about Meriwether Lewis collecting scientific astronomical data along with plant and animal samples. It should be noted that creation of accurate maps resulted from this expedition.
Leadership provided by Lewis and Clark was above average. At times, decisions made regarding logistics and punishment were by the Corps using atypical democratic vote. Meriwether Lewis' mental illness, which apparently was inherited from his father, was mostly not an issue during the Expedition.
The author's main emphasis is to make it perfectly clear that information about land and its acquisition was the reason for obtaining approval to fund and go through the associated, difficult political maneuvering needed to make this expedition happen.
Investigating frontier land take-over possibilities and its related promotion to the public served to achieve national expansion consistent with "manifest destiny" ideology. This was the Corps of Discovery Expedition's overriding objective.
Reading this book was a revelatory experience.
July 4, 2026
DNF: Part 2 Chapter 5, 26% of audiobook. This was like listening to a history book from different perspectives. Dry and boring. This would be better written as historical fiction.
June 24, 2026
I had to stop reading it after 100+ pages. This is supposed to be a work of non-fiction except the book constantly is saying a person "perhaps," "most likely," and the author's favorite "surely" did something. ("Surely" appears multiple times per page in some sections.) This distracted me so much that I had to put the book down. If the author doesn't have the facts to back something up it shouldn't be in the book. I'm stunned by all the positive reviews. Just awful
July 1, 2026
I liked the focus on the people, especially those not really talked about in other books. Some of the “perhaps this happened” statements felt a little out of place but some did add perspective to the journey
May 24, 2026
Another retelling of the Lewis and Clark expedition with some interesting details. The country was full of animals and people who are no longer there. The native Americans were the true heroes of the expedition- they showed them which plants to survive on when their food stores were gone. It was fascinating to read about the different plants and animals and imagine how it used to be,but ultimately depressing at how it ended up.
May 18, 2026
I'm new to American history, and, having arrived late to the party, I'm trying to play catch up. I'm not new in the sense that I don't know anything. Like any other cold-blooded American, I took AP U.S. history and AP Government in high school, but I was hellbent on learning nothing. I thought my bases were covered: I knew what happened in 1776, I'd seen Hamilton, and I'd been to Lexington and Concord.
But that's not to say I don't love history. Anyone who's met me can corroborate my love of old shit. What I've historically [;)] been drawn toward are ancient civilizations, the older the better. That pull, however, is starting to wain. And I think it's for the same reason many people don't like ancient history. Measuring the downstream effects of ancient history is much harder than observing the still active ripples made by early American history. Standing next to the McBaine Burr Oak, I can visualize the Corp. of Discovery floating up the Missouri River, how they probably saw the tree from the shoreline, and what it must've felt like to pass by the sheer cliffs that flank the river.
To make a long story short, I'm new to American history in the sense that I've now accepted it as my history. No more keeping it at arms length. I embrace it fully. And Craig Fehrman's work helps me do that. This book is a treasure. It's accessible and interesting, especially to those with little more than a running knowledge of Lewis and Clark. All of these figures—Lewis, Clark, York, Sacajawea, and especially Seaman—are monolithic figures in Missouri. Their statues are everywhere, and "This Vast Enterprise" freed them from their bronze molds. In this book, they are flesh and blood people with desires, thoughts, and faults. A+
What good fortune to have found David McCullough and Fehrman in the same year.
But that's not to say I don't love history. Anyone who's met me can corroborate my love of old shit. What I've historically [;)] been drawn toward are ancient civilizations, the older the better. That pull, however, is starting to wain. And I think it's for the same reason many people don't like ancient history. Measuring the downstream effects of ancient history is much harder than observing the still active ripples made by early American history. Standing next to the McBaine Burr Oak, I can visualize the Corp. of Discovery floating up the Missouri River, how they probably saw the tree from the shoreline, and what it must've felt like to pass by the sheer cliffs that flank the river.
To make a long story short, I'm new to American history in the sense that I've now accepted it as my history. No more keeping it at arms length. I embrace it fully. And Craig Fehrman's work helps me do that. This book is a treasure. It's accessible and interesting, especially to those with little more than a running knowledge of Lewis and Clark. All of these figures—Lewis, Clark, York, Sacajawea, and especially Seaman—are monolithic figures in Missouri. Their statues are everywhere, and "This Vast Enterprise" freed them from their bronze molds. In this book, they are flesh and blood people with desires, thoughts, and faults. A+
What good fortune to have found David McCullough and Fehrman in the same year.
non-fiction-to-read
November 1, 2025Promo: from lewis & Clark Trail Alliance.
Videocast Presentation
Join the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance for an exclusive online conversation with acclaimed historian and author Craig Fehrman. In this special event, Fehrman will introduce his groundbreaking forthcoming book, This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis and Clark (Simon & Schuster, 2026).
Fehrman will reveal what’s truly “new” about his work—not only his discovery of fresh documents but also his innovative storytelling approach, shifting perspectives chapter by chapter. He’ll spotlight John Ordway, sharing new insights into his early military career (including his work on the Natchez Trace), and fresh interpretations of pivotal Corps of Discovery moments like Camp River Dubois and the portage.
Attendees will get a rare behind-the-scenes look at Fehrman’s research process, including a PowerPoint of key historical documents—such as the newspaper ad that may have led Ordway to enlist. He’ll discuss how he uncovered new material, shaped his narrative, and reimagined this iconic American expedition.
Sunday, November 2, 2025 • 3:00 PM MT • via Zoom
Videocast Presentation
Join the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance for an exclusive online conversation with acclaimed historian and author Craig Fehrman. In this special event, Fehrman will introduce his groundbreaking forthcoming book, This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis and Clark (Simon & Schuster, 2026).
Fehrman will reveal what’s truly “new” about his work—not only his discovery of fresh documents but also his innovative storytelling approach, shifting perspectives chapter by chapter. He’ll spotlight John Ordway, sharing new insights into his early military career (including his work on the Natchez Trace), and fresh interpretations of pivotal Corps of Discovery moments like Camp River Dubois and the portage.
Attendees will get a rare behind-the-scenes look at Fehrman’s research process, including a PowerPoint of key historical documents—such as the newspaper ad that may have led Ordway to enlist. He’ll discuss how he uncovered new material, shaped his narrative, and reimagined this iconic American expedition.
Sunday, November 2, 2025 • 3:00 PM MT • via Zoom
May 21, 2026
A nice addendum perspective on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Particularly appreciate the additional information on York and some of the Native American leaders.
The NYT review criticized the book for taking liberties with what many of the characters did and felt on the expedition wherever primary sources had gaps. I was primed to expect this, but it was far more pervasive than I thought.
The author speculates what the people on this expedition and many of those who encountered it thought and felt, probably not always inaccurately, but in such a way that felt extremely modern and anachronistic.
Superimposing contemporary characters and sensibilities onto people without conclusive evidence to back it up. Parts that made me cringe in particular were sections on Sacagawea’s expressiveness and feelings. And one bit about Ordway’s parents anxiously following news clippings of the expedition.
The NYT review criticized the book for taking liberties with what many of the characters did and felt on the expedition wherever primary sources had gaps. I was primed to expect this, but it was far more pervasive than I thought.
The author speculates what the people on this expedition and many of those who encountered it thought and felt, probably not always inaccurately, but in such a way that felt extremely modern and anachronistic.
Superimposing contemporary characters and sensibilities onto people without conclusive evidence to back it up. Parts that made me cringe in particular were sections on Sacagawea’s expressiveness and feelings. And one bit about Ordway’s parents anxiously following news clippings of the expedition.
June 8, 2026
I have been wanting a new Lewis and Clark book to come out due to my learning of York’s presence and his part in the story. The author does a great job keeping the story moving and filling in the details of background for many people involved that I had no knowledge of including soldiers in the party and Native leaders. My eyes usually glaze over when I start reading about Native American civilizations political details but this makes it relevant to the story and it is was great. Very much with the time to read the appendix sections at the end.
May 9, 2026
A wonderful telling of the Lewis & Clark expedition which still heavily features our titular explorers but does a great job foregrounding the other members of the expedition also. Sacajawea obviously, but also York, Clark’s slave, Ordway, the corps sergeant, as well as chapters devoted to the natives who found their lives briefly placed into the path of expedition and the lasting consequences of that.
June 11, 2026
Enjoyed this a lot. Fehrman’s use of Native oral sources was really creative and a great example of forward-thinking narrative history. “Letting the sub-altern speak” doesn’t have to mean writing in impenetrable academic prose. Clear writing and a good story always win the day — you just need to incorporate more perspectives!
June 14, 2026
So, I only got about 1/2 way through this book when I had to return it to the library. But from what I read, it was very interesting. I had learned about the Lewis and Clark expedition way back in school, many, many years ago. But this book does an excellent job of detailing exactly what went into preparing for this journey, and the many obstacles they faced along the way, such as weather and confrontation with Native American tribes. Hopefully, at some point, I will be able to finish the entire book :-).
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