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Lewis and Clark
On May 14, 1804, a party of explorers dispatched by President Thomas Jefferson set off up the Missouri River into America's newly acquired Louisiana Territory. Under the leadership of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the men of the Corps of Discovery would cross the continent and into history. Here, from award-winning historian Ralph K. Andrist, is the dramatic story of their epic journey.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 4, 2026
I like these short history books. They are a bit like longer articles that you get in the history magazines. I knew little of the expedition undertaken by Captain William Clark and Captain Meriwether Lewis in 1804 other than it was to discover the west of America. It was more than that though and quite a feat it was too.
In 1801 Thomas Jefferson was elected president. He wanted to create a trade route to the Pacific north-west. Most of the area belonged to the French until he was able to buy a huge chunk from them. I mean huge. Starting on the Missouri River not far from St Louis the expedition party were going into the unknown. Just what had the US bought and who were they going to meet? They will go into Iowa and South Dakota.
They meet Indian tribes and make-up scientific boxes containing all sorts of flora and fauna to return. At one point they even sent back a live Prairie dog and four Magpies. They finally get to the Pacific Ocean on 14-Nov-1805 but other sources I read have it as the 15th. Once there, guess what? They have to return. They stay until March 1806 and return on the same route.
This is a no frills historical re-telling of the expedition. If, like me, you are not American and have not been taught this in school then it is not a bad place to start.
In 1801 Thomas Jefferson was elected president. He wanted to create a trade route to the Pacific north-west. Most of the area belonged to the French until he was able to buy a huge chunk from them. I mean huge. Starting on the Missouri River not far from St Louis the expedition party were going into the unknown. Just what had the US bought and who were they going to meet? They will go into Iowa and South Dakota.
They meet Indian tribes and make-up scientific boxes containing all sorts of flora and fauna to return. At one point they even sent back a live Prairie dog and four Magpies. They finally get to the Pacific Ocean on 14-Nov-1805 but other sources I read have it as the 15th. Once there, guess what? They have to return. They stay until March 1806 and return on the same route.
This is a no frills historical re-telling of the expedition. If, like me, you are not American and have not been taught this in school then it is not a bad place to start.
July 21, 2016
Quickly Relearn the Adventure
Very interesting. I learned more of the true adventure and hardships than what I leaned in school many years ago. I would have enjoyed it more if sections contained a map of that part of their journey.
Very interesting. I learned more of the true adventure and hardships than what I leaned in school many years ago. I would have enjoyed it more if sections contained a map of that part of their journey.
September 6, 2015
Good as it can be I guess. Not very riveting although I think there were plenty of parts of the journey that could have been made more interesting by better writing.
October 23, 2019
An interesting book I really liked how they used the original writings sometimes it was a little hard to understand their awful spelling.
December 26, 2016
I enjoy history books, but struggle with finding works that are more substantial than a website article but smaller than a 400+ tome. This book strikes a great balance. While the prose will not win any awards, it is serviceable and covers all the major events of the expedition through the deaths of Lewis and Clarke. Very glad to have read it.
September 20, 2015
Good quick read
This was an easy quick read that was simple and informative. I recommend this book to anyone interested in early American history and exploration.
This was an easy quick read that was simple and informative. I recommend this book to anyone interested in early American history and exploration.
October 12, 2016
Quick Summary
This is a quick summary of the expedition. It is easy to read and a good introduction to this great exploration
This is a quick summary of the expedition. It is easy to read and a good introduction to this great exploration
August 4, 2019
Easy read.
The book was easy to read. Not too much detail. Just a brief look at their journey to the Pacific.
The book was easy to read. Not too much detail. Just a brief look at their journey to the Pacific.
August 20, 2016
Short book with a very condensed feel. Now I need to read more... from someone else.
August 6, 2020
Concise and written well...
If you are looking for a quick and concise read of the Lewis and Clark journey west and back, this book will do. Flying at about 30,000ft it covers the basics. If you’re looking for something more in depth this would not be the book for you.
Well written and brief, the author gives a birds eye view of the expedition of the Corps of Discovery. Informative but brief, this book will give a general idea of the major events that took place. Good read for someone just starting to tackle this subject of America’s history.
If you are looking for a quick and concise read of the Lewis and Clark journey west and back, this book will do. Flying at about 30,000ft it covers the basics. If you’re looking for something more in depth this would not be the book for you.
Well written and brief, the author gives a birds eye view of the expedition of the Corps of Discovery. Informative but brief, this book will give a general idea of the major events that took place. Good read for someone just starting to tackle this subject of America’s history.
August 17, 2017
An easy, quick read written more at the young adult reading level. Just the basic highlights of the Corps of Discovery expedition and a brief synopsis of the final years of Lewis and Clark. No footnotes were included.
September 5, 2017
A recitation of events
This book describes the Lewis and Clark expedition. Although seemingly true to the facts, it did not convey the sense of adventure undertaken by this heroic group.
This book describes the Lewis and Clark expedition. Although seemingly true to the facts, it did not convey the sense of adventure undertaken by this heroic group.
July 8, 2018
Very quick summary of the almost 3 year long trip. There are a lot of things learned that many won’t know and/or folklore has embellished and there are many heroics and stories that were worth reading. I would love to read a longer version.
April 4, 2023
Good summary
Although I have not read other accounts of Lewis and Clark’s exploration, I felt that the author summarized the events of their journey with the sources available in a very readable fashion.
Although I have not read other accounts of Lewis and Clark’s exploration, I felt that the author summarized the events of their journey with the sources available in a very readable fashion.
July 27, 2018
This is an easy read about history.
August 19, 2018
This book is your basic information about Lewis and Clark. What I found surprising was many, many misspelled word.
July 4, 2019
Not as well written as I would've liked.
August 14, 2019
Short
At 265 pages, and level of writing, I'd consider this an excellent book for a senior or junior high school class.
At 265 pages, and level of writing, I'd consider this an excellent book for a senior or junior high school class.
November 7, 2019
Fascinating insight into the challenges faced by these intrepid explorers and everyday life at that time.
February 19, 2020
Just enough popular-theory debunking for me. I liked the writing a lot too. I wish there was more preamble to the expedition and more about Lewis and Clark as people.
November 24, 2021
I loved reading about the explorations of these two amazing men and their influence on our country. Brave and enduring are two words that come to mind after reading this.
March 14, 2022
A quick listen about Lewis Clark during a long drive. Fun to remember learning about this as a kid, but with a little more perspective as an adult.
April 12, 2023
Lewis and Clark had grit! A great overview of their journey exploring the Northwest. Written in a way that junior high and up can likely understand.
October 23, 2023
Short and informative.
January 6, 2025
This book is a good review of the history of the expedition of Lewis and Clark. It is brief.
June 13, 2025
absolutely fascinating.
What a great true life story. What brave and enterprising men. Worth reading to realise that great men laid the foundation of America.
What a great true life story. What brave and enterprising men. Worth reading to realise that great men laid the foundation of America.
August 15, 2015
A trail of a long journey.
Lewis and Clark leads you into a land that no one had ever seen. Their story is a true adventure. They tell of many meetings with the Indian tribes. And of the often hard land and water ways. It is a good read and a great time of early history.
Lewis and Clark leads you into a land that no one had ever seen. Their story is a true adventure. They tell of many meetings with the Indian tribes. And of the often hard land and water ways. It is a good read and a great time of early history.
September 1, 2015
Youth oriented, but good.
A few little things presented as fact that have been disputed by historians, but overall good.
A few little things presented as fact that have been disputed by historians, but overall good.
July 22, 2016
An interesting story that could have been improved with more detail of the adventures and challenges they faced as well as many more maps indicating where they went.
September 7, 2016
I like reading about the Corps of Discovery. To my mind, Stephen Ambrose' s Undaunted Courage is the best on.the subject.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews