Those Tremendous Mountains: The Story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

by David Freeman Hawke

Book Overview

In 1804 Lewis and Clark set off to explore the new lands of the Louisiana Purchase. They were acting as the eyes and ears of President Thomas Jefferson, who had an insatiable curiosity about what lay... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393317749
• ISBN13: 9780393317749
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Well Written Narrative

In Those Tremendous Mountains, David Freeman Hawke documents the westward journey of Lewis and Clark. Hawke examines the preparation, the men, the trek to the Pacific and back, the Natives that were encountered, and the lasting legacy of the expedition. The majority of the information is gleaned from the journals kept by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with supplemental information from secondary sources that aid in placing the historic trip in a larger context. Those Tremendous Mountains reads more like a well-written novel than a typical historical study. Through his vivid descriptions of the scenery and the personalities of the various parties, Hawke essentially takes the reader on a literary journey along with Lewis and Clark. While such a writing style may leave some scholarly readers clamoring for footnotes and a more comprehensive bibliography, the merits of such a narrative should not be overlooked. Hawke demonstrates how the careful management of Lewis and Clark led to a successful journey. The transportation, provisions, medicine, and gifts brought on the trip and their managed disbursement proved to be barely adequate. Just as important as managing their resources, Lewis and Clark were effective in managing their men, pushing them far enough to accomplish the tasks, while allowing them adequate time to relax, and keeping them alert and able to meet various challenges they encountered. Those Tremendous Mountains is more than a chronicle of a westward journey, as it also serves to explain the growth of an infantile nation. In addition to the stated goal of searching for the most convenient route to the Pacific Ocean for the purpose of trade, the emerging nation achieved other goals. The landscape, flora, fauna, and Natives of the western lands were studied to gauge the possibility of future Anglo-American settlement. Through small trinkets, Thomas Jefferson's yeoman farmer ideal was communicated to the Indians. The expedition also established precedents regarding government funding of such explorations and subsequent reports. Utilizing a rich base of primary source material, David Freeman Hawke creates a readable study of exploration, the native western landscape, and an expanding United States. By examining the relationship between Lewis and Clark, and their individual struggles, the Voyage of Discovery is at once more personal and understandable.

Review of "Those Tremendous Mountains"

This is a great read. Rich in historical detail, including the genius and foresight of Thomas Jefferson, it becomes much more than an adventure story as the expedition chronicles the hardships and discovers the previously unknown beauty of the American west. Journal entries often give details of near-death experiences followed immediately by their discovery of incredible views and scenery that immediately erases the memory of the difficulties they have just overcome. The entire journey is one of revelation after revelation. In this one journey, we see the range of obstacles that must be overcome as they attempt to cross the plains, rivers, and mountains enroute to the Pacific. We also learn a great deal about the American Indians and the hardships they, and the expedition, must endure to simply survive. Survival is a daily concern. You can also read their thoughts as they see "Those tremendous mountains" rise in the distance and then find that each day those mountains get bigger while getting only imperceptibly closer. The difficulties of leadership are also exposed in this epic journey. Without revealing the hardships and the difficulties they faced during the expedition, I can confidently say that few people in America today have even a clue as to how rugged, and harsh, and rich, and beautiful, and dangerous, this country was at the time of their expedition. The country was in its raw state -- giving and taking without regard or mercy to the person. The historical significance of the expedition was also infinitely greater than I had realized. It was not only the adventure of discovery, but also the historical significance of the journey that made this book so fascinating.