The Great West

by David Lavender, Alvin M. Josephy Jr. (Editor)

Traces the history of the exploration and settlement of the American West from 1763 to the early twentieth century

Genres: History, Nonfiction

468 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1985

About the author

David Sievert Lavender was a well-known historian of the Western United States, nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize, who is best remembered by many for his River Runners of the Grand Canyon.

Lavender spent most of his life in Ojai, California. An articulate and deeply knowledgeable speaker on the political and social history of the American West, he often spoke at the annual Telluride Film Festival.

Reviews

[Zachary Waszczak · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Great West is an interesting historical read. It covers a wide breadth of topics but goes deep in certain specifics. Topics like the Donner party only gets two pages, but specific expeditions by fur-trappers you have never heard of will get ten pages. You will learn interesting facts but you will have to pull them form a tangle of names and geography. This book cannot decide if it wants to be for beginners on the subject or for grad students. I am glad I read it, but I would not recommend it.

[Karenbike Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explores the opening of the west from the colonial days to the early 1900s. It's a good overview of the conflicts, treaties, heroism, disasters and adventurous spirit that made up frontiersmen and women. You'll read about Daniel Boone, Fremont and Kit Carson, The Oregon and Santa Fe Trails, the Donner Party, and the California Gold Rush.

[Bap · Rating 3 out of 5]

another American Heritage history from the 1960's that was just the ticket for me to pour over and dream about. Lots of pix. Short articles. I recommend these kinds of books for early adolescents in order to give them a tasts of history.

[sarah]

Still reading...tedious because there is an enormmous amount of detail and history that he is presenting.

[Keith Gerlach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straight forward history about the most exciting era in American History.

[Jefferson Coombs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book about the exploration and settlement of the West.