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This Vast Land: A Young Man's Journal of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
A New York Times Bestselling Author In a story muscled with truth and imagination, Stephen E. Ambrose (1936-2002) recounts the epoch-making 1803 expedition of Lewis and Clark through the words of a young man. Finding foes and friends among Natives, surviving sickness and hunger, choosing between a woman and the life he left behind, George Shannon grows up as the corps forges a way west.
265 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2003
About the author
Stephen E. Ambrose
140 books2,440 followersStephen 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.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 24, 2020
24 Feb. 2020 - I read this just before &/or while our young family took a driving trip to Idaho and Montana. It was so cool to visit some of the actual locations described in the book.
The book is a very enjoyable fictional account of one young man's Journal as part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Ambrose was pretty infatuated with that expedition, so I bet much of the detail of the book was his recounting what he knew about it from the Lewis and Clark accounts, as well as other research he had done.
Very enjoyable, very thrilling. Our young son at the time (5-8 years old?) enjoyed reading various passages too.
The book is a very enjoyable fictional account of one young man's Journal as part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Ambrose was pretty infatuated with that expedition, so I bet much of the detail of the book was his recounting what he knew about it from the Lewis and Clark accounts, as well as other research he had done.
Very enjoyable, very thrilling. Our young son at the time (5-8 years old?) enjoyed reading various passages too.
September 28, 2024
p.185 Drewyer tells me not to worry about those things I cannot effect, of course this is the best advice, except that it is impossible to carry out.
p.285 Whatever the difficulty, the inventiveness of man can overcome.
The last published novel by Mr. Ambrose is an adventure piece of historical fiction about the Lewis and Clark expedition. A quick read and a recommended story for anyone who wants to know more about the famed Lewis and Clark expedition.
At its heart, the novel is a coming-of-age tale. The reader follows the development of the youngest man in the expedition, George Shannon, through his fictionalized journal entries. George transforms from a wide-eyed city kid into a mirror of the wild, violent environment of the untamed plains. In the story, George meets with both Daniel Boone in the Missouri Territory at the start of the trek to the Pacific Ocean and, later in life, with a young Robert E. Lee. The appearances of Boone and Lee, although brief, build a bridge between America's past and its future. Sandwiched in the middle is the brave journey of the Corps of Discovery into the unknown.
The storyline adds depth to the encounters and people within the expedition. The standoff with the Sioux warriors gains depth within the historical recreation. Shifting alliances and enmities within the tribes along the route is covered in excellent detail. The people of the travel party come alive within the story, giving them rounded, substantial personalities. Sacajawea, one of most intriguing people within the Corps of Discovery, becomes a vibrant, lively young lady. In some ways, it was difficult to feature the personality hidden within the face on the dollar coin, but Mr. Ambrose, through his vivid portrayal of the young Native American woman, presents both the vibrant vitality of the lady and the trapped nature of a squaw during the era.
The Corps of Discovery is filled with fascinating people, however, for this reader, the gem of the work is the personality and mein of York, Captain Clark's slave. York is portrayed as a gentle soul who likes to dance and will not shirk a duty, but also he is a mountain of a man who is not to be trifled with when his blood is up. The journey of York and his position as a slave in the wild, free unknown of the not-yet-American West is one of the most thought-provoking aspects of the storyline.
p.285 Whatever the difficulty, the inventiveness of man can overcome.
The last published novel by Mr. Ambrose is an adventure piece of historical fiction about the Lewis and Clark expedition. A quick read and a recommended story for anyone who wants to know more about the famed Lewis and Clark expedition.
At its heart, the novel is a coming-of-age tale. The reader follows the development of the youngest man in the expedition, George Shannon, through his fictionalized journal entries. George transforms from a wide-eyed city kid into a mirror of the wild, violent environment of the untamed plains. In the story, George meets with both Daniel Boone in the Missouri Territory at the start of the trek to the Pacific Ocean and, later in life, with a young Robert E. Lee. The appearances of Boone and Lee, although brief, build a bridge between America's past and its future. Sandwiched in the middle is the brave journey of the Corps of Discovery into the unknown.
The storyline adds depth to the encounters and people within the expedition. The standoff with the Sioux warriors gains depth within the historical recreation. Shifting alliances and enmities within the tribes along the route is covered in excellent detail. The people of the travel party come alive within the story, giving them rounded, substantial personalities. Sacajawea, one of most intriguing people within the Corps of Discovery, becomes a vibrant, lively young lady. In some ways, it was difficult to feature the personality hidden within the face on the dollar coin, but Mr. Ambrose, through his vivid portrayal of the young Native American woman, presents both the vibrant vitality of the lady and the trapped nature of a squaw during the era.
The Corps of Discovery is filled with fascinating people, however, for this reader, the gem of the work is the personality and mein of York, Captain Clark's slave. York is portrayed as a gentle soul who likes to dance and will not shirk a duty, but also he is a mountain of a man who is not to be trifled with when his blood is up. The journey of York and his position as a slave in the wild, free unknown of the not-yet-American West is one of the most thought-provoking aspects of the storyline.
January 22, 2020
This was a fun historical fiction read that gives a perspective of what it would have been like to travel with Lewis and Clark across the Louisiana Purchase and beyond. Lots of interesting stuff here, engaging read for sure. Beware that there is a little bit of adult content sprinkled throughout.
May 2, 2023
This book was great and taught me a lot about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was a journal of the youngest guy on the Corps of Discovery. He was 18 and a great helper for Lewis and Clark. This book taught me many new things I didn't know before reading it. Great book for history lovers and students.
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June 7, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Racism
Alcohol consumption
Smoking
Murder
Scalping
War themes
Animal death
Racism
Alcohol consumption
Smoking
Murder
Scalping
War themes
Animal death
July 11, 2023
I love learning about this time in history. Plus the diary format is helpful
November 6, 2016
Written completely in journal form, this is a tale about the travels of Captain Lewis and Clark. Although it is unclear, it is easy to believe that this journal is written by the one and only Clark. Throughout this story, the tales go on about what happens on the journey, telling about how the man who is keeping the journal has had to persuade Lewis to let him accompany him and his party on their trip to St. Louis and then to the Missouri River. It took the man six weeks to do so, but he finally got to be part of the party with Captain Lewis. In each of the short little journal entries, there are things as wide and as far as the man killing his first deer to confronting the Sioux. Each "chapter", is about a different event that has happened in the expedition Lewis and Clark has taken and is written so it can get students into the story right away.
This historical fiction story is on my favorites shelf because it is a different take on the expedition of Lewis and Clark. Middle grades would definitely find this story interesting, as it is written so they can understand what had happened during this time and also written in way that grasps students attention. When it comes to bringing this book into the classroom, middle grade teachers can use this book when learning about the expedition and they can read this book as a class. Teachers can also assign groups to make a trailer for the book, and the expedition itself, where they are asked to cover a specific chapter and what happened during that time. Students can also use the book as both a book to read in English, but also a book to read in Social Studies, and can be helpful for students to create a timeline about all that had happened during that time.
This historical fiction story is on my favorites shelf because it is a different take on the expedition of Lewis and Clark. Middle grades would definitely find this story interesting, as it is written so they can understand what had happened during this time and also written in way that grasps students attention. When it comes to bringing this book into the classroom, middle grade teachers can use this book when learning about the expedition and they can read this book as a class. Teachers can also assign groups to make a trailer for the book, and the expedition itself, where they are asked to cover a specific chapter and what happened during that time. Students can also use the book as both a book to read in English, but also a book to read in Social Studies, and can be helpful for students to create a timeline about all that had happened during that time.
June 22, 2009
In the beginning, the book seemed slow to me, but they may have been by design. As soon as the expedition got on their way, it did pick up. While fiction, it certainly didn't feel as such, which is all thanks to Ambrose's imagination. The story is written as dairy entries so there are parts that you have to fill in which allows you to feel part of the story.
I did enjoy this book, however, it's not perfect. I'm not going go get into the historical accuracies issue. This is fiction though it does contain true events and probably captures the feeling of the expedition. It's hard to explain the things that bothered me about this book without giving away the ending. I will say that it wraps up, I feel, too soon. I was left wanting more basically. Not exactly a bad thing. I just wished there had been more discussion at the end, more diary entries, but I understand why the character wouldn't do diary entries, and sadly, I understand why Ambrose, who was dying of cancer at the time, may not have been able to write more. But more than likely, it was the character who decided what to write and not Ambrose's illness.
Also of note, the book doesn't shy away from Sacagawea's importance to the expedition. With her help, the group travels from one Native American tribe to the next, each with their own personality, some good, some bad.
I do recommend this book for those interested in adventure and of early American history. However, this book is not for children. I suggest parents read this before allowing young adults. Parents should read more anyway.
I did enjoy this book, however, it's not perfect. I'm not going go get into the historical accuracies issue. This is fiction though it does contain true events and probably captures the feeling of the expedition. It's hard to explain the things that bothered me about this book without giving away the ending. I will say that it wraps up, I feel, too soon. I was left wanting more basically. Not exactly a bad thing. I just wished there had been more discussion at the end, more diary entries, but I understand why the character wouldn't do diary entries, and sadly, I understand why Ambrose, who was dying of cancer at the time, may not have been able to write more. But more than likely, it was the character who decided what to write and not Ambrose's illness.
Also of note, the book doesn't shy away from Sacagawea's importance to the expedition. With her help, the group travels from one Native American tribe to the next, each with their own personality, some good, some bad.
I do recommend this book for those interested in adventure and of early American history. However, this book is not for children. I suggest parents read this before allowing young adults. Parents should read more anyway.
November 11, 2013
This is ostensibly a Young Adult novel, but one of those very frustrating ones which could (should?) be read by adults, and certainly won't be understood by most 12-year-olds. The writing is fairly historically accurate--with one jarring "go for it" towards the beginning being a bit...odd--and the author intentionally misspells and misnames places as a young, relatively uneducated man might have done. As he gets older and more learned, for instance, his spelling of Saskatchewan changes.
The story is a journal kept by the youngest man on the Lewis & Clark Expedition, 18-year-old George Shannon. Although it took me awhile to really get into it, I think most mid-teen boys would probably fall right in, given a certain level of interest in history. It's a wonderfully exciting tale, full of "savage" Indians (about whom George is pretty philosophically PC, although his attitude evolves over time naturally), gory hunting and killing scenes, starvation and sex. Oh, and even a love story, but shh, don't tell the boys! That's just for the girls to know about...
A pretty satisfying read for me. However, it might not be everyone's cup of tea, especially for those unwilling to explain assorted euphemisms for masturbation, or to accept that impregnating a 14-year-old is the same as marrying her, or to discuss the idea of taking enjoyment out of killing someone...all of which is great potential discussion fodder, but a bit shudder-inducing for this mom of an almost-teen.
The story is a journal kept by the youngest man on the Lewis & Clark Expedition, 18-year-old George Shannon. Although it took me awhile to really get into it, I think most mid-teen boys would probably fall right in, given a certain level of interest in history. It's a wonderfully exciting tale, full of "savage" Indians (about whom George is pretty philosophically PC, although his attitude evolves over time naturally), gory hunting and killing scenes, starvation and sex. Oh, and even a love story, but shh, don't tell the boys! That's just for the girls to know about...
A pretty satisfying read for me. However, it might not be everyone's cup of tea, especially for those unwilling to explain assorted euphemisms for masturbation, or to accept that impregnating a 14-year-old is the same as marrying her, or to discuss the idea of taking enjoyment out of killing someone...all of which is great potential discussion fodder, but a bit shudder-inducing for this mom of an almost-teen.
October 23, 2011
I think that this book was very interesting. This was a Journal of the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific Ocean. I learned a lot about the journey from minor details which cannot be explained in a museum or history classroom. For instance the living conditions were much harsher than I would have expected them to be. I've also always been under the impression that all Indians were thieves that killed every white man that crossed their paths, but in this journal I've come to realize that isn't the case. Don't get me wrong their were Indians the author mentioned that did kill people, but the majority of them were friendly and helped Lewis And Clark in every way possible. Some of the soldiers were even married to Indians, one of which was the famous Sacajawea. The author was married to an Indian and had a half breed child, until one day when another tribe ambushed them on a river and killed his wife and child and took the authors leg off. In some cases the expedition would not have been a success without the help of Indians, at times the explorers could not find food or water but the Indians gave them food and lead them to water. I really enjoyed this book and I feel that i have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from it. This taught me not to believe everything that people tell you because it may be false information.
January 25, 2011
Ficitonalized diary of George Shannon, the youngest memeber of the Lewis and Clark expedtion. Shannon has many adventures on the trip, developing from an greenhorn into an accomplished hunter and tracker. However, he fears the changes the wilderness is making, he is more savage, less 'civilized'. He must choose which world to live in.
February 4, 2013
Ambrose does the best historical narrative on the market today. Originally written as a book for teen readers I would recommend it to older youth. I learned more about the Lewis and Clark expedition but particularly enjoyed the commentary on the return of the Corps of Discovery and the notes on the life of Sacajawea.
October 25, 2010
I really enjoy how Ambrose uses facts to tell the story. Lots of interesting detail.
October 10, 2011
Very enjoyable. Easy and interesting read. Well be recommending this to my young adult history lovers.
September 12, 2012
Interesting fictional journal of the Lewis and Clark expedition, intended for young adult readers. Gave a nice overview of the expedition and made me curious to read the actual journals.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews