The Splendid Wayfaring: Jedediah Smith and the Ashley-Henry Men, 1822-1831 [Paperback]

John G. Neihardt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1970

With the publication of The Splendid Wayfaring in 1920, John G. Neihardt sought to restore the reputation of a mountain man who went far in opening up the American West. The exciting narrative begins in 1822, when Smith ascended the Missouri River in the first fur-trading expedition of William H. Ashley and Andrew Henry, and ends in 1831, when he was killed by Comanche Indians on the Cimarron River. In the intervening years Smith became the first explorer to recognize South Pass as the gateway to the Far West, the first overlander to reach California and travel up the coast to the Columbia River, and the first white man to cross the Sierra Nevada and the Great Basin from west to east. The Splendid Wayfaring follows in novelistic detail the history-making adventures of Smith and his companions.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This is the exciting story of the fur traders and trappers who explored and opened up the American West in the first decades of the nineteenth century. As told by the acclaimed poet and writer John G. Neihardt, the era of the mountain men unfolds through the legendary exploits of Jedediah Smith, who ascended the Missouri River in 1822 and was killed by Comanche Indians nine years later. As Neihardt tells so well, Smith's accomplishments were many: the first white man to cross the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin from west to east; the first to travel by land to California and travel northward to the Columbia River; and the first to see that South Pass was the key travel route to the Far West. The Splendid Wayfaring also reveals the triumphs and challenges of other fur traders, many in the employ of William H. Ashley and Andrew Henry.

"An American prose epic; an absorbing tale of courage and endurance." -- New York Evening Post

"One of the most truly dramatic themes in American history." -- Review of Reviews --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Other works by John G. Neihardt, poet and chronicler of the American West, available in Bison Book editions include Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of the Oglala Sioux, The Mountain Men, and When the Tree Flowered.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press (September 1, 1970)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803257236
• ISBN-13: 978-0803257238
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,012,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, May 15, 2002

By 

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

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This review is from: The Splendid Wayfaring: Jedediah Smith and the Ashley-Henry Men, 1822-1831 (Paperback)

With several editions of this book available, this review refers to the original 1920 publication. The book is an enjoyable and delightful account of Jedediah Smith and the men in his immediate circle who, over a period of eight years, explored and trapped the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific during the years 1823-1831. Although I did come across a few historical inaccuracies, this can be attributed to the fact that some documentation, letters, journals, etc. did not surface till later dates. For instance, James Clyman was with Smith during many of these exploits, and his "Journal of a Mountain Man" wasn't published until 1928. Dale Morgan's "Jedediah Smith And The Opening Of The West" which was published in 1953, gives the reader a more in depth study (with more historical documentation available at the time) into the character, achievements and defeats of this remarkable man. Neihardt's writing style is to be commended though, as he is very descriptive and expressive.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book - other editions available, January 16, 2010

By 

Agile Arts (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Splendid Wayfaring: The Story of the Exploits and Adventures of Jedediah Smith and his Comrades, the Ashley-Henry Men, Discoverers and Explorers of the Great Central Rout (Paperback)

What a great book - there are lots of editions available on Amazon, including this brand new, crisply illustrated edition for slightly less: The Splendid Wayfaring: The story of the exploits and adventures of Jedediah Smith and his comrades, the Ashley-Henry men, discoverers and explorers of ... River to the Pacific Ocean, 1822-1831