Lewis and Clark: Partners in Discovery (Dover Books on Travel, Adventure) [Paperback]

John Bakeless (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Books on Travel, Adventure | Publication Date: September 10, 1996

First authoritative biography of two great explorers. Based on original research and diaries of expedition members, book records day-by-day occurrences, dangers, hardships, Indian customs and lore, much more. Contains much material unknown before original publication. 29 illustrations and 7 maps.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Dover ed edition (September 10, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486292339
• ISBN-13: 978-0486292335
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,305,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction to the Expedition, October 5, 2009

By 

Elizabeth Clare "author, To the Ends of the E... (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lewis and Clark: Partners in Discovery (Dover Books on Travel, Adventure) (Paperback)

Published in 1947, this was the first full-length popular history of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. It's still one of the best.

John Bakeless was not only a writer and academic, but also a veteran of both World War I and World War II, a skilled outdoorsman, and an intimate of American Indians (having been the only white student to ever attend the Carlisle Indian School, where his father was superintendent). Almost uniquely qualified to tell the story of Lewis & Clark, Bakeless produced an account that is lively, sympathetic, and easy to read and enjoy. He emphasizes some of the parts of the journey that others skip over, with a particular understanding of the hardships and frustrations of the trip and what a near thing the survival of the Corps of Discovery really was.

On the downside, and somewhat inevitably, Bakeless's take on the Indians is dated to say the least. He often portrays the Indians as selfish, capricious, and, not to put too fine a point on it, savage. It's interesting to note that, unlike most historians, he actually knew lots of Indians on a personal basis. Nonetheless, his blunt characterizations may be a turnoff for some readers.

That quibble aside, this book would make a great introduction to the Lewis & Clark Expedition. It covers most of the same ground as Undaunted Courage but is more accessible in its prose than Ambrose's bestseller -- and it still had enough interesting, original opinions and factoids to hold the interest of this Lewis & Clark buff.

Review by Liz Clare, co-author as Frances Hunter of "To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis & Clark"