Sources of the River: Tracking David Thompson Across Western North America [Paperback]

Jack Nisbet (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 2002

In this true story of adventure, author Jack Nisbet re-creates the life and times of David Thompson-surveyor, mapmaker, and fur trader. As Nisbet tracks the explorer's trail across the modern landscape, he interweaves his own observations with Thompson's historical writings, creating a lively, finely paced narrative.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jack Nisbet tells Thompson’s story superbly . . . Sources of the River goes immediately onto my short shelf of best books about the Pacific Northwest." –Murray Morgan --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Field biologist and natural history teacher Jack Nisbet lives in Spokane, WA. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Sasquatch Books (January 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570610061
• ISBN-13: 978-1570610066
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,768,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars History people should know., December 3, 2000

By 

Dan Almquist (Eau Claire, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sources of the River: Tracking David Thompson Across Western North America (Paperback)

I first read about David Thompson in a National Geographic magazine and I couldn't put it down. David Thompson has done more for the exploration of North America than anyone in the school history books. It is a shame that I have only met one person who has ever heard of David Thompson. Most people would be shocked to find that some of the maps used by Lewis and Clark were drawn up by this Hudson Bay Company explorer who was only in his teens. This man had an amazing life and for more great reading get a hold of his diary of travles.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True fortitude, January 25, 2004

By 

William J Higgins III (Laramie, Wyoming United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sources of the River: Tracking David Thompson Across Western North America (Paperback)

David Thompson. A man of untiring capabilities for exploring, surveying, trapping and trading in western Canada. From the age of fourteen, he gave twenty seven years of his life towards these goals, of which not too many men could begin to attain.
His duties for the Hudson's Bay Company and later the North West Company were to map, trade, trap, locate future trading establishments and discover a passage to the Pacific for commerce. Herein exists tales of endurance, perseverance, stamina and survival in unexplored regions of Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest from 1784-1812.
An extremely well written book by Jack Nisbet, along with very good, easy to read maps by Jack McMaster in order to follow the whereabouts of Thompson.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent account of an early pathfinder, December 6, 2001

By 

Mary S. Cooke (Richland, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sources of the River: Tracking David Thompson Across Western North America (Paperback)

Jack Nisbet does an excellent job by citing David Thompson's journals, including some of his original maps (lack of maps in a book can be annoying when you are talking about early explorations) and commenting on the area today. Wonderful accounts of early Indians in Northwest. The story of this early explorer is a must-read for all Lewis and Clark fans as it occurred about the same time. I found the book easy to read and it makes one want to explore that area of Canada.