The Lewis and Clark Companion: An Encyclopedic Guide to the Voyage of Discovery [Paperback]

Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs (Author), Clay Jenkinson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lewis & Clark Expedition | Publication Date: July 1, 2003

An indispensable guide to our nation’s epic adventure

The years 2003–2006 mark the bicentennial of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s famous transcontinental journey between the Missouri and the Columbia River systems. They never did find the fabled Northwest Passage, but over twenty-eight months, the Corps of Discovery traveled more than eight thousand miles through eleven future states, named scores of places and rivers, met with many Native American tribes, and wrote the first descriptions of heretofore unknown plants and animals. By the end of their trip, Lewis and Clark had navigated and named two thirds of the American continent.

They may have had undaunted courage, but the sheer volume of information related to their expedition can be more than a little daunting to the armchair historian. Written by two highly regarded Lewis and Clark experts, this book contains over five hundred lively and fascinating entries on everything from the members of the expedition and the places they went to the weapons and tools, trade goods, and medicines they carried, along with the food and amusements that sustained them. Highly readable and informative, it’s the perfect introduction for the Lewis and Clark novice, and the comprehensive guide no buff will want to be without.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This alphabetical primer on all things Lewis and Clark is comprehensive but not exhaustive. Both novices and scholars will benefit from the cogent entries, intended "to synthesize the mass of the existing knowledge about the Lewis and Clark expedition into a single unified volume." The authors intend their book to be consulted by Lewis and Clark students who are reading the explorers' journals, which explains why there are such entries as "dog" (193 of which were purchased for consumption on the expedition) and "gill," the daily ration of whiskey allotted to the corps of men on the journey. Tubbs, who was an assistant researcher on her historian father's biography of Nixon and serves on the foundation board of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, and Jenkinson, a Thomas Jefferson scholar, have concentrated on synthesis rather than original research; the steadily mounting accretion of Lewis and Clark scholarship has necessitated such a guide, which touches on everything from what the voyagers ate to the places they explored and the people they encountered. This handy volume, timed for publication as the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition opens, has the virtue of teaching the student while helpfully reminding the scholar. 16 b&w photos.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs is a veteran traveler on the Lewis and Clark trail and was an assistant researcher on her father’s three-volume biography of Nixon. She writes about Montana history and serves on the Lewis and Clark Interpretative Center’s Foundation board. She lives in Helena, Montana.

Clay Straus Jenkinson is a nationally respected Jefferson scholar whose previous books include The Paradox of Thomas Jefferson and Message on the Wind. He is scholar in residence at Lewis and Clark College and a senior fellow of the Center for Digital Government. He lives in Reno, Nevada.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; First Edition edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805067264
• ISBN-13: 978-0805067262
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #513,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must have book for lewis and clark afficianados, November 2, 2003

By 

Dr. David J. Peck (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lewis and Clark Companion: An Encyclopedic Guide to the Voyage of Discovery (Paperback)

Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs and Clay Jenkinson have joined forces to produce the definitive text for Lewis and Clark readers to keep in one hand while they read through the many books available on the epic expedition. They cover numerous personalities involved, and the many other aspects of the journey with encyclopedic thoroughness, resulting in the reader coming away, not just with a superficial knowledge of any topic, but a comprehensive understanding of the many facets involved in the greatest adventure in American exploration. There is something for everyone in this book. It makes great reading on its own, or as a reference book. The reader will gain much appreciation of Lewis and Clark, and a depth of knowledge previously only available to those with sufficient time to dig into the journals and sift through the dirt and pull out the gold nuggets...The authors have done the work of pulling out the gold, thus giving the reader the opportunity to enjoy their studies of the Corps of Discovery to a greater extent and not have to spend the effort of "mining" themselves.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for novices and aficionados alike, September 6, 2003

By 

Therese Yeaton "Hopeful optimist" (Renton, Wa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lewis and Clark Companion: An Encyclopedic Guide to the Voyage of Discovery (Hardcover)

As we celebrate the bicentennial, the world of Lewis and Clark books grows by leaps and bounds. There are detailed studies of the flora and fauna, the weapons, the medical aspects, the views of various Indian tribes on the interactions with the Corps of Discovery. You can find cookbooks detailing what they ate, books about what they wore, stories of Seaman (Lewis' dog), and biographies of all involved.

So, what is the average person with a small amount of budding interest to do? Even scholars and historians who "do" Lewis and Clark have a hard time keeping up with all of it, and most people don't want to invest endless money in accumulating a personal Lewis and Clark library.

Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs and Clay Straus Jenkinson have come up with a perfect solution to this dilemma. "The Lewis and Clark Companion - An Encyclopedic Guide to the Voyage of Discovery" is a wonderful reference book on many aspects of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Arranged in alphabetical order, from "air gun" to "York," each article provides just the right amount of information needed to understand each area. Each entry is written in a straightforward style, giving quotes from the journals of the Expedition where they would be enlightening. There is also an extensive bibliography, if you find yourself wanting to know more about any aspect.

Tubbs is a Montana historian and serves on the Lewis and Clark National Trail Interpretive Center?s Foundation Board and is the daughter of the late Stephen Ambrose. She has spent much of her life traveling the Trail. Jenkinson is a well-respected Jefferson and Lewis and Clark historian, and author of several books, including "The Character of Meriwether Lewis," and "Thomas Jefferson, Man of Light." He has traveled the Trail extensively and also does Chautauqua performances around the country as both Thomas Jefferson and Meriwether Lewis. They bring vast knowledge and lively and interesting writing style to this project.

It is the perfect reference work for Lewis and Clark aficionados, as well as those who are just beginning their journey of enchantment with this epic adventure.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Companion Book it Is : A Need for All L & C Books, January 23, 2005

By 

Daniel Hurley (Chesapeake, VA.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lewis and Clark Companion: An Encyclopedic Guide to the Voyage of Discovery (Paperback)

A wonderful reference book of terms, food items, boats, geographic locations, tribes, specific Indians, games, politicians and of course the entire cast of explorers down to Seaman the Newfoundland. Biographies can be several pages long and they cover not only an individual's role but what is known of the individual after the journey. Particularly helpful are the definitions in detail and descriptions of the materials utilied on the journey. An example are descriptions of the small flat bottomed boats called a Pirogue, a cake like food made from grease that was an easy to retrieve as a traveling food called Pemmican and a "drink composed of equal parts water and rum used for medically or for celebration" called grog. The definitions, descriptions of geographic locations and biographies are in satisfying detail almost like small books within a book. A book not only handy for sitting near your reading chair for any Lewis and Clark book but for any reading of early American historty.