Customer Reviews

Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 8 Volume Set

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I am a Lewis and Clark Expedition scholar and highly recommend the Digital Scanning, Inc (DSI) version of the Reuben Gold Thwaites version of the journals. I purchased most of this set and am well pleased.

I also own the entire set of Gary Moulton's editions (except for the Atlas), and I own many other abridged versions of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Each version has its merits.

I read the Thwaites version of the journals via interlibrary loan many years ago. The books were, of course, very old and the atlas was exceedingly brittle. I wanted to own a copy for scholarly purposes, but could not afford the Real McCoy (those originally published in 1903-1904). As an alternate, I ordered a copy of Thwaites journals by DSI and am glad that I did. If you want an affordable copy of the Thwaites journals, I recommend these by DSI. You can actually get someone from the company in person or via e-mail if you have questions about the product.

This well-designed set is for scholars and serious enthusiasts of Lewis and Clark. The 8-volume paperback set comes boxed and includes a CD-ROM of Volume VIII, the original atlas created on the expedition. Published in 1904, nearly 100 years after the expedition, the set represents Reuben Gold Thwaites efforts to bring together for the first time all relevant material pertaining to the expedition. Volumes I - V contain the journals of Lewis and Clark taken from original manuscript from 1804 - 1806, and this volume also contains an informative introduction, including a fascinating history of the journals and the origins of the expedition. Volume VI contains the scientific and cultural observations and measurements of the expedition. Volume VII contains the original journals of Charles Floyd and Joseph Whitehouse, as well as hundreds of pages of compelling coorespondence relevant to the expedition, many in the form of letters and directives from Thomas Jefferson. Volume VIII contains reproductions of the original maps drawn and charted by Lewis and Clark, and is backed up by the CD-ROM. For anyone looking for a comprehensive, first-hand, accurate account of the expedition, this set is a must. But the reader must keep in mind that first and foremost, the Lewis and Clark expedition was a military/scientific venture, and the writing style of the journals reflects this. Most entries by Clark are short and to the point and many contain detailed measurements of daily surveys and calculations. Lewis was a fine writer, and his entries are more poetic, personal and descriptive, especially of the landscape, flora and fauna and Native American cultures. Lewis backs up his entries with nice sketches and drawings. Overall, the journals are more scientific record then they are personal reflective diaries of the men. The journals are rich with information on zoology, astronomy, geology, botany, ethnography etc, but offer little into the deeper psyches and characters of the two leaders, knowing perhaps that ultimately the journals were government property and would widely be scrutinized. So for anyone interested in the expedition itself or the history of the American West in general, this set will serve them well and provide months of engaged reading. For those looking for a shorter, more personal survey of the expedition and it's heros, I suggest the highly readable "Undaunted Courage" by Ambrose or "The Way to the Western Sea" by Lavender.