Scenes of Visionary Enchantment: Reflections on Lewis and Clark [Hardcover]

Dayton Duncan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004

Suffering from a case of “road fever” brought on by prolonged exposure to the journals of Lewis and Clark, Dayton Duncan has retraced the Corps of Discovery’s route from Saint Louis to the Pacific and back again four different times during the past twenty years—to say nothing of his countless additional trips to landmarks along their route. In sweltering summer heat and in temperatures 45 degrees below zero, he watched yellow moons rise and heard buffalo thunder; navigated against the Missouri River’s relentless current and stood on its surface, frozen solid overnight; canoed a dozen times through Montana’s magnificent White Cliffs (Lewis’s “seens of visionary inchantment”); and read the journals by candlelight in the expedition’s fort on the Pacific coast. Along the way, Duncan wrote the essays that make up this book, essays that guide the reader on a journey of discovery along the trail of Lewis and Clark.

More a revisiting than a retelling of the story of the Corps of Discovery, Duncan’s book reintroduces us to people and places along the trail, reflects on events large and small that occurred during the expedition, and offers constant—and constantly entertaining—insights into why, two centuries later, the saga of Lewis and Clark continues to exert such a powerful hold on our national imagination.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

With bicentennial observances of the Corps of Discovery's epic trek set to unfold over the next two years, the already huge specialty and popular literature about Lewis and Clark is about to expand. Duncan wrote the book (Lewis & Clark, 1997) spun off from filmmaker Ken Burns' documentary, a credential that will draw readers to his essays on eclectic aspects of America's most famous road trip. He manages to pull some original observations from the Lewis and Clark saga, no small feat when its most minute detail has been examined with almost scriptural scrutiny. The 16 pieces generally derive from speeches Duncan delivered to groups dedicated to Lewis and Clark commemoration; one is a eulogy to Undaunted Courage (1996) author Stephen Ambrose. Duncan's orations typically draw inspiration from something in the explorers' journals that instantly resonates with enthusiasts, such as Lewis' escape from a bear, or simply a rapturous phrase, such as the one Duncan borrowed for his title. Gilbert Taylor
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Review

“An admittedly die-hard fan of Lewis and Clark, Duncan is extremely knowledgeable about the Corps of Discovery’s expedition, which is reflected in this fine collection of 16 road essays inspired by his retracing Lewis and Clark’s trail over the past 20 years.—Library Journal

(Library Journal )

"Essays on eclectic aspects of America''s most famous road trip. . . . Duncan''s orations typically draw inspiration from something in the explorers'' journals that instantly resonates with enthusiasts, such as Lewis'' escape from a bear, or simply a rapturous phrase, such as the one Duncan borrowed for his title."—Booklist

(Booklist )

“The threads uniting the seventeen colorful vignettes in Scenes of Visionary Enchantment are the colors, textures, sounds, and human experiences inherent in the grand story of the Lewis and Clark exploration.”—Joseph A. Mussulman, Montana: The Magazine of Western History

(Joseph A. Mussulman Montana: The Magazine of Western History )

“For decades, Lewis and Clark have been blessed with eloquent chroniclers who have retold their story in far more dramatic ways than the participants did themselves. But no writer—not DeVoto, not Ambrose—tells this story with the flair and passion of Dayton Duncan.”—Carolyn Gilman, Great Plains Quarterly

(Carolyn Gilman Great Plains Quarterly )

"In his collection of 17 finely crafted essays, Duncan brings the dramatic, significant or revealing moments of the exhibition alive, and draws compelling themes and lessons from each story. . . . Duncan is one of the most vivid guides to the expedition writing today. In an essay entitled ''The Lewis and Clark Guide to Leadership,'' Duncan draws ten points from the Corps that every would-be captain today should read and follow."—Nebraskaland

(Nebraskaland )

“Each essay or address presented here typically first appeared in another setting, yet this collection can nonetheless ‘enchant’ both veteran readers and those not yet ensnarled in the Lewis and Clark web. . . . Duncan is an inspired storyteller adept at enthralling audiences already conversant with the details and successes of the mission. Passionately presented, this volume is excellent evidence of that remarkable ability.”—Vernon L. Volpe, Annals of Iowa

(Vernon L. Volpe Annals of Iowa )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 202 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press; 1ST edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803217242
• ISBN-13: 978-0803217249
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,107,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dayton Duncan, writer and producer of The National Parks, is an award-winning author and documentary filmmaker. His nine other books include, with Ken Burns, Horatio's Drive and Lewis & Clark. He has collaborated on all of Ken Burns's films for twenty years as a writer, producer, and consultant. He lives in Walpole, New Hampshire.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Lewis and Clark's discoveries remain so important today, March 6, 2005

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scenes of Visionary Enchantment: Reflections on Lewis and Clark (Hardcover)

There have been a great many fine books published in the last year on Lewis and Clark. One of the very best of those books is Dayton Duncan's Scenes Of Visionary Enchantment: Reflections On Lewis And Clark and richly deserves ongoing recommendation beyond the famous expedition's anniversary date. Presenting Duncan's retracing of the Corps of Discovery's route from St. Louis to the Pacific and back - four different times in the past twenty years, his travelogue commentary provides keen insights on people and places seen along the way, emphasizing why Lewis and Clark's discoveries remain so important today.