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Lewis & Clark
Join bestselling author and historian Stephen Ambrose as he and his family journey in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark. Between each of the eight chapters is a visual essay of National Geographic photographer Sam Abell's modern images.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 17, 1998
About the author
Stephen E. Ambrose
140 books2,228 followersStephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon. He received his Ph.D. in 1960 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his final years he faced charges of plagiarism for his books, with subsequent concerns about his research emerging after his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 21, 2012
Very good in spots, very Stephen Ambrose in spots
The historical account is great for the most part, but I have two complaints.
The first is that Ambrose injects himself and his family too much into the narrative. Jumping from past to present is bad enough if not necessary, but doing so for "look at me" reasons is worse.
Then again, it is Stephen Ambrose, and it's not totally surprising.
The book does also have some degree of the "American triumphalism" view of history that's par from him.
And, the treatment of the various Indian tribes in the context of their times, while decent, was nothing fantastic.
The pictures are indeed great. Of course, you can find many of the same from other great photographers, or from other National Geographic books.
The historical account is great for the most part, but I have two complaints.
The first is that Ambrose injects himself and his family too much into the narrative. Jumping from past to present is bad enough if not necessary, but doing so for "look at me" reasons is worse.
Then again, it is Stephen Ambrose, and it's not totally surprising.
The book does also have some degree of the "American triumphalism" view of history that's par from him.
And, the treatment of the various Indian tribes in the context of their times, while decent, was nothing fantastic.
The pictures are indeed great. Of course, you can find many of the same from other great photographers, or from other National Geographic books.
August 23, 2013
I enjoy travel writing, non-fiction, photography and American History and this book basically combines these elements a an interesting, informative and entertaining way.
I recomend it for anyone interested in the adventure of Lewis and Clark and their men, early American exploration or simply for the beautuful photos, illustrations and details.
(Note - it's a wide, coffee-table sized book that's better for browsing on a couch than on an e-reader or airplane seat)
I recomend it for anyone interested in the adventure of Lewis and Clark and their men, early American exploration or simply for the beautuful photos, illustrations and details.
(Note - it's a wide, coffee-table sized book that's better for browsing on a couch than on an e-reader or airplane seat)
March 16, 2021
This was a good introduction to Lewis and Clark’s journey up the Missouri, over the mountains and to the coast. I miss the West and the mountains so much, so I pored over the photos and enjoyed the spirit of adventure and pioneering in the text. But Ambrose inserts his family’s own experiences hiking and paddling the trail in present day, and it’s so distracting! Ambrose is also, admittedly, a huge geek about Lewis and Clark, and sometimes his enthusiasm for the pair was just too much, too sweet. Can anyone recommend a good book about Sacagawea?
August 24, 2017
I was inspired by an upcoming road trip to read this account of the Lewis and Clark Expedition which I knew so little about. It was a good read with lots of quotes from the journals they kept on the trip and really brought the expedition alive for me. Ambrose's enthusiasm really came through. He and his family including five children have hiked and kayaked over many portions of the trails Lewis and Clark followed.
July 13, 2024
Lewis & Clark: Voyage of Discovery is a very mixed package. The photography and the accompanying descriptions are undoubtedly fantastic and add a lot of context to the journeys of Lewis and Clark as they are being described in the book at the same time. Apart from providing context, the writing also tries to recreate a similar sense of adventure as the original explorers must have felt.
The problems in the book arise beyond this. The incessant interruptions in the flow of the story as the writer describes his own journey along the trail feel very unnecessary and pompous. They detract from the story and add little to no value, while also adding a confusing number of characters that have no role to play.
However, this is a fairly minor issue compared to the most glaring issue in the book. The views of Lewis and Clark would most certainly be inexcusable in today's time, but the writer almost completely fails to acknowledge any of those aspects. The characters of Jefferson, Lewis, and Clark are whitewashed as heroes while turning a blind eye to everything else. In the same sentence, the writer praises Jefferson as someone trying his best to work for the betterment of mankind and establish a nation of liberty, while saying that slaves were working around him as he held meetings and wrote letters. Lewis and Clark describing women as making perfect slaves for the men in the tribes is another example of glaring issues being glossed over completely. The terminology is also fairly questionable, as the Native Americans 'stole' rifles or horses, while the white settlers later on 'confiscated' Native American lands and treasures.
There is also very little acknowledgement of the fact that the expedition would have been a complete failure if not for the help and guidance of several Native American tribes that only attempted to help the explorers who later went on to exploit their nations and confine them to narrow reservations after several wars. The success of the expedition did not belong just to the company of Lewis and Clark as it is painted in the book, but to those tribes too. The author presents a very naive and blind view of worshipping Lewis and Clark while indicating to the reader that they are figures to emulate.
As a book written to present the journeys of Lewis and Clark to modern readers, the nuance required to present the journey while also acknowledging the many missteps along the way is missing. The whitewashing of the characters also stops the author from questioning the veracity of the journals, as it is quite possible they may have been embellished or the events misrepresented by Lewis and Clark to make themselves look better for posterity. The missing nuance detracts from belief in the book which is a very fundamental lack for what is supposed to be a non-fictional account of a historic expedition, and would have made the book more believable and therefore immersive.
The problems in the book arise beyond this. The incessant interruptions in the flow of the story as the writer describes his own journey along the trail feel very unnecessary and pompous. They detract from the story and add little to no value, while also adding a confusing number of characters that have no role to play.
However, this is a fairly minor issue compared to the most glaring issue in the book. The views of Lewis and Clark would most certainly be inexcusable in today's time, but the writer almost completely fails to acknowledge any of those aspects. The characters of Jefferson, Lewis, and Clark are whitewashed as heroes while turning a blind eye to everything else. In the same sentence, the writer praises Jefferson as someone trying his best to work for the betterment of mankind and establish a nation of liberty, while saying that slaves were working around him as he held meetings and wrote letters. Lewis and Clark describing women as making perfect slaves for the men in the tribes is another example of glaring issues being glossed over completely. The terminology is also fairly questionable, as the Native Americans 'stole' rifles or horses, while the white settlers later on 'confiscated' Native American lands and treasures.
There is also very little acknowledgement of the fact that the expedition would have been a complete failure if not for the help and guidance of several Native American tribes that only attempted to help the explorers who later went on to exploit their nations and confine them to narrow reservations after several wars. The success of the expedition did not belong just to the company of Lewis and Clark as it is painted in the book, but to those tribes too. The author presents a very naive and blind view of worshipping Lewis and Clark while indicating to the reader that they are figures to emulate.
As a book written to present the journeys of Lewis and Clark to modern readers, the nuance required to present the journey while also acknowledging the many missteps along the way is missing. The whitewashing of the characters also stops the author from questioning the veracity of the journals, as it is quite possible they may have been embellished or the events misrepresented by Lewis and Clark to make themselves look better for posterity. The missing nuance detracts from belief in the book which is a very fundamental lack for what is supposed to be a non-fictional account of a historic expedition, and would have made the book more believable and therefore immersive.
November 13, 2018
I have previously read Ambrose's Undaunted Courage and the Bernard De Voto edition of the journals of Lewis And Clark. And earlier this year my wife and I did a river cruise on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, following part of the captains' route. And reading this book several months after the cruise made me wish I had discovered it before the trip. The somewhat condensed account of this book, accompanied by the many beautiful photos, makes for a great introduction or review of this fantastic voyage. The more I learn of the expedition, the more amazed I become at the accomplishment. One other feature of the book that I appreciated was Ambrose's juxtaposition of twenty years' worth of Ambrose family vacations to the Lewis And Clark trail with the places and events as described by the captains. Those stories make me want to go back and see more of what they saw.
February 15, 2021
I thought I knew the story of Lewis and Clark, the explorers who charted out Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase, but I didn't know the whole story until I read Stephen Ambrose's book on Lewis and Clark (and the corps of discovery). It's another great dual biography of the two captains, who were so very different and yet shared a great bond of friendship and comradery especially in the face of such a challenging expedition of exploring the unknown.
March 14, 2019
The photographs are stunning and very inclusive. The text is easy to follow and Mr. Ambrose makes it all relatable by including his own family's journal entrees, as they follow the Lewis & Clark route. This would be the book to choose if you were only to read one Lewis & Clark account. This would also be a very good American History required school read.
September 3, 2018
Excellent coffee table book. Ambrose has weaved three strands together, a scholarly account of Lewis and Clark’s expedition, his own journal of walking in their footsteps, and beautiful photographs of the land traversed in this truly epic adventure.
June 13, 2022
I was reading the Essential Lewis & Clark simultaneously. It really reinforced the story, until I got ahead in this book! Then the other one gave me deju vu!
This time next week I'll be paddling the Upper Missouri River.
This time next week I'll be paddling the Upper Missouri River.
December 12, 2019
Straight foward tracing of the Lewis & Clark expedition based on their journals, enhanced by National Geographic photos.
May 1, 2021
An excellent look into the early exploration of the American West.
October 31, 2022
I know there have been questions of the scholarliness of this, but I find it to be a great read
June 13, 2010
This National Geographic book is lavish and contains stunningly beautiful photos with accompanying text that is exceptionally well written!
If you want to learn more about the Lewis and Clark expedition, this is a book to read.
It takes a while to soak in all the beauty of this coffee-table sized book because each photo by Sam Abell is so remarkably vivid that you feel as though you are riding in the swift currents of the tumultuous Missouri river, listening to the loud, terrifying growl of the grizzly bear, losing your footage as you slip down steep inclines, freezing as you trudge in sub zero degrees up over the rockies, experiencing the thunderous bellowing of thousands of bison on the plains and encountering American Indians -- some friendly, some connivingly, aggressively deceptive and war like.
Reaching the destination, the reader feels the breathless elation in Clark's exclamation of "Oh, Joy!" while standing on the Oregon coast watching the Pacific waves crash on the shore line.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy American history.
If you want to learn more about the Lewis and Clark expedition, this is a book to read.
It takes a while to soak in all the beauty of this coffee-table sized book because each photo by Sam Abell is so remarkably vivid that you feel as though you are riding in the swift currents of the tumultuous Missouri river, listening to the loud, terrifying growl of the grizzly bear, losing your footage as you slip down steep inclines, freezing as you trudge in sub zero degrees up over the rockies, experiencing the thunderous bellowing of thousands of bison on the plains and encountering American Indians -- some friendly, some connivingly, aggressively deceptive and war like.
Reaching the destination, the reader feels the breathless elation in Clark's exclamation of "Oh, Joy!" while standing on the Oregon coast watching the Pacific waves crash on the shore line.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy American history.
March 12, 2013
This coffee table book serves as a useful and fascinating supplement to Mr. Ambrose's spectacular book, "Undaunted Courage," which tells the story of Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery's epic journey up the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. While naturally not as extensive as the aforementioned book, this oversized book's purpose of capturing and presenting utterly beautiful photographs from National Geographic's Sam Abell and carefully intertwining them with Ambrose's vivid storytelling along with including his own family's outdoor adventures on the same trails and routes provide an ancillary parallel that not only captivates the reader but also provides a remarkably edifying experience that has the ability to transport one back in time. This book is an absolute must-have for history fans of Lewis & Clark, as well as lovers of natural photography.
June 12, 2019
I’d read many Stephen Ambrose books before, and know he’s skilled in these historical recreations. I was intrigued at the subject, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and his use of beautiful photography and interweaving his own family expeditions along the actual Lewis and Clark trail, to retell the whole 3 year episode. This book did not disappoint. I could really feel likeI was there, the explanations and pictures were very well done. It was an easy read, none of it got too tedious or overdone. It really made me jealous that I haven’t become more of an adventurer or outdoorsman. But even so, I have fotten a healthy taste of Ambrose’s re-enactment, and of the original Lewis and Clark expedition, via his colorful language skills.
I recommend experiencing the Lewis and Clark adventure via this book.
I recommend experiencing the Lewis and Clark adventure via this book.
January 11, 2009
I read the ten year anniversary edition which contained numerous outstanding photographs shot by a National Geographic photographer.
Stephen Ambrose took his young family on the trail in the mid 70's and fell in love with the saga. He masterfully intertwines their experience with that of the expedition as they traverse the continent.
While non fiction, this work reads like fiction and does not disappoint in pace, character or narrative imagery.
He helped me to understand how incredibly important and underestimated the quest was to the establishment and development of the United States as we know it today.
Stephen Ambrose took his young family on the trail in the mid 70's and fell in love with the saga. He masterfully intertwines their experience with that of the expedition as they traverse the continent.
While non fiction, this work reads like fiction and does not disappoint in pace, character or narrative imagery.
He helped me to understand how incredibly important and underestimated the quest was to the establishment and development of the United States as we know it today.
September 9, 2012
This is another book from my National Geographic Society shelf.
The author is Stephen E. Ambrose, who wrote Undaunted Courage. The subtitle is Voyage of Discovery. Ambrose becomes our travel guide who interprets the history for us and he tells the tales of how this epic journey influenced Ambrose's family in our modern era. He introduces us to local historians and guides.
The photographs are by Sam Abell, and I continue to admire his his work.
I encourage all readers to put this on your want-to-read list.
The author is Stephen E. Ambrose, who wrote Undaunted Courage. The subtitle is Voyage of Discovery. Ambrose becomes our travel guide who interprets the history for us and he tells the tales of how this epic journey influenced Ambrose's family in our modern era. He introduces us to local historians and guides.
The photographs are by Sam Abell, and I continue to admire his his work.
I encourage all readers to put this on your want-to-read list.
January 31, 2009
I know this book gets dissed for "plagiarism" and certain inaccuracies, but plagiarism is when you steal from one. When you steal from many, it's "research". This is simply one of the most fascinating historical works I have ever read. I could not put it down when I read it four or five years ago, and it turned me on to reading history in a very big way.
April 1, 2012
What a read! Lewis and Clark's detailed, often colorful journal entries mesh well with Ambrose' personal, first hand narrative. Together, they paint a picture of both the epic journey and the country they overcame. The real bonus to this volume was the collection of photographs and artwork that completed the visual feast. Could not put it down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2015
After reading Undaunted Courage, which I loved and I saw this book about his and his families adventures while researching the book. As I read Undaunted Courage I was curious about what some of the places that the crew of Discovery saw and if some of it still existed. So the photographs of some of those locations was very cool to see and rounded out the story of Lewis and Clark nicely.
February 19, 2016
Great read. I don't see how anyone can really appreciate the length and breath of America until you read how Lewis and Clark secured it for the U.S. after Jefferson bought it and/or traveled it by car as I have done from California to Maine. If you live either east or west of the Mississippi, it's a whole new world out there.
February 2, 2016
One of my rare 5-star rated books. The combination of years of modern-day camping trips by the author and his family, excerpts from Lewis' journals, National Geographic photography in a large-format book is irresistible. Many more sites added to my bucket list.
May 26, 2018
Fine writing and excellent research from this author. As usual, Ambrose is in his element relaying the work of great explorers and heroes alike. The information that is essential is present and speculation is scant in this best of an Ambrose effort.
January 12, 2009
well written history of the Lewis and Clark expidition
December 19, 2009
Quite fascinating.
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April 11, 2010The finest history writer in America.
January 9, 2011
loved this book! Stephen Ambrose makes you feel like you are there on the Lewis and Clark journey.
What a great writer.
What a great writer.
February 23, 2011
Fantastic true story and very cool pictures.
February 10, 2011
Epic. And this books has pictures...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews