Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book bar none!, December 3, 1998
This review is from: A Majority of Scoundrels: An Informal History of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company (Paperback)
My favorite comment about this book comes from the author himself. When criticised for his lack of credentials by the academic historians, Berry replied, in defense of what is still generally held to be the best book on the subject: "History is the fiction that the historians write."
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Proof-reading is soooo much trouble!, April 21, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: A Majority of Scoundrels: An Informal History of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company (Paperback)
Never have I seen such a poorly proof-read edition of so fine a book. It's criminal. Page 61 has legendary mountain man Hugh Glass being killed by hostile Indians in the "winter of 1932-33." That would have made the poor guy over 140 years old at the time. And that's just the beginning. There are over 15 typos in the first five chapters alone, which would disqualify this publisher (Comstock Editions) as the operator of a Quick-Copy franchise. Great book! But you're going to have to track down a much earlier edition in order to appreciate it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable, April 5, 2002
This review is from: A Majority of Scoundrels: An Informal History of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company (Paperback)
This book chronicles the fur trade era from 1822-1834 through the eyes of William Ashley's men and the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. Such giants of the times like Jed Smith, Jim Bridger, the Sublettes, Tom Fitzpatrick and many others are given thorough examination of their roles in attempting to capture the fur trade business, along with their exploration accomplishments of the American west. The cutthroat competition from the Hudson's Bay Company, Astor's American Fur Company and the Missouri Fur Company, not to mention Indian hostilities, hunger, thirst and the always present forces of nature, made the fur trade business a precarious way of life. If one is not familiar with the geography of the west, it would be helpful to have a map handy as there is not one in the book. There were a few typos which can be overlooked, but there is one historical blunder I must point out. This is on page 50. It is mentioned that Vanderburgh and Carson were exempted from Leavenworth's criticism of the Missouri Fur Company's handling of the Aricara battle. This is NOT Kit Carson as the index states it is. This man was Kit's older half brother Moses. Other than these few discrepancies, the book was presented very well and was a pleasure to read.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
