The Mississippi and the Making of a Nation

by Stephen E. Ambrose, Douglas Brinkley, Sam Abell (Photographer)

On a map, the Mississippi River cuts America neatly in half coursing from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico and separating East from West. But the Mississippi is in fact the “spine of our nation,” says Stephen Ambrose. It knits the nation together and connects the heartland to the world. It is our great natural wonder, a priceless treasure bought for a fledgling America by the visionary Thomas Jefferson just 200 years ago.
 
Distinguished historians Stephen Ambrose and Douglas Brinkley, with acclaimed National Geographic photographer Sam Abell, explore the length of the Mississippi—from its mouth at Delacroix Island, Louisiana, to its source at Lake Itasca, Minnesota. The result is this lavish, entertaining, engrossing chronicle of the “father of the waters,” which has shaped the history, the culture, and the very landscape of America.
 
Highlighted by Sam Abell’s evocative contemporary photographs and wonderful period illustrations, artwork, documents, and maps, this extraordinary panorama of America’s heartland offers a lively, informative journey through the history and the landscape carved by the mighty Mississippi.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Stephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon. He received his Ph.D. in 1960 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his final years he faced charges of plagiarism for his books, with subsequent concerns about his research emerging after his death.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you take this for what it’s worth, which is a fantastic coffee table book, then you’ll be pleased as punch. It is by no means a truly comprehensive history of the mighty Mississippi River and its environs, but it does a damn good job at giving us glimpses of the dynamic region and what it did for American history, society, and expansion.

[Steve Barney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about the Mississippi and it’s history and importance to the country. Traveling from the Gulf of Mexico to it’s source as a brook at Lake Ithaca in Minnesota, Ambrose and Brinkley talk about the history of the Mississippi, people and cities associated with it from its discovery to the present day (in this case 2001 when the book was published).

It’s an illustrated book with many historic photos, etchings, and paintings illustrating the river, cities and people. Also, there are a number of portfolio photo sections throughout the book by photographer Sam Abell (of National Geographic fame) of the river and wildlife.

Interesting error I found in the book was in chapter 7, which I’m pretty sure was written by Brinkley. It talks of John Banvard’s a famous 3 mile long canvas painting done in 1844 (?) of river scenes between St. Louis and New Orleans. The comment was “he began painting the three-mile-long cavas with the same feverish passion that Leonardo da Vinci applied to the Sistine Chapel.” Uh, you would think a historian would know that Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel…

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this coffee table book which I’d enjoyed at intervals for several years. By far the highlight of this volume is Mr. Sam Abell’s, a National Geographic photojournalist, work. Mr. Ambrose and Mr. Brinkley are both splendid historians. However, the latter contributes better content with greater literary effort than Professor Ambrose in this case. Clearly alternating chapters are written by alternating authors, and Mr. Ambrose’s resemble transcription from hastily dictated groups of loosely connected ideas, themes, and anecdotes. But these same anecdotes from both authors are the true gems of the book. You have to wade thru plenty of biographical filler & 6th grade social studies textbook natural resource lists to get to them, however. But the photography, both Mr. Abell’s & the historic ones, makes “The Mississippi & the Making of a Nation” a unique exploration of our nation’s greatest waterway.

[R.E. E. Derouin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mississippi and the Making of a Nation` by Stephen Ambrose 9/25/2024 Paper

When I ordered this book I didn’t realize it was more of a coffee table tale with pictures, than a strait history. Never-the-less, it does tell a solid story, replete with anecdotes and biographies connected to this fascinating river. No, the book isn’t for everyone unless they have a true interest in the area. The photography alone makes the river come alive.

I am a fan of history and enjoyed some of the new detail and especially the descriptions. The story of the flood in the 1920s was most interesting. Much of the history of Lewis and Clark and the battle of New Orleans was fairly common knowledge. I would hesitate to recommend it to a broad audience but its worth a place on the coffee table.

[Alan Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok overview of the river and its history. Too much time spent with meaningless stories that presumably intended to add color but really didn't add much at all, as well as too much time spent in telling stories from the author's backyard in comparison to the rest of this mighty river. Living in one of the areas covered, it also feels like more than a little exaggeration and tall tale has been added to some stories.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading the history of the Mississippi River. So many great stories about the river navigation and the flooding as well as the people who grew up along the water. Some really beautiful photos too.

[Patricio Ramos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite what I was looking for, but still useful info

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book and I learned lots of details about the history of the Mississippi River, its importance to the nation when it was acquired and since, and just plain interesting tidbits about people and places. I was dismayed to find a number of errors in a book that was written and published by and for the National Geographic Society, however. Some of the errors were factual, some editing and spelling errors that I wouldn't expect in such an otherwise finely produced book, one which should be treasured.

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about the Mississippi River. It starts south of New Orleans where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico and moves all the way up to the source, Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota. It discusses people who were born, grew up, or became famous near the river. Included are short biographical sketches of people such as Ronald Reagan, Mark Twain, Merriweather Lewis, Leadbelly, Ulysses S. Grant, etc.The book is illustrated with beautiful pictures and somewhat inadequate maps.

[Jay Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of a travelogue rather than a history. There are interesting tidbits but this is not a serious study. The pictures are very good. The writing leaves much to be desired. It is a coffe table book and not much more.

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history of the Mississippi.

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 3 out of 5]

Photography by Sam Abell.

Coffee-table book tracing the Mississippi from New Orleans up to Minnesota. Basically episodic historic tidbits wrapped around pretty pictures.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combing two historians, Ambrose and Brinkley. A pleasurable read with great photographs to boot!