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Great Adventure: How the Mounties Conquered the West
Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso
495 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 15, 2019
I normally read a book through and finish it before starting another. But, with this one, I kept finding books I wanted to read at the library and they would show up before I finished this. So my reading of it became extremely disjointed. Some of this, perhaps most of this, had to do with my initial lack of enthusiasm regarding the title. I would suggest to you that the title is not a good indication of the quality of this book.
Because that title sounds like this book was written for children and it wasn't. This is a history of the North West Mounted Police's first entry into the Northwest, a grueling ride/march from Fort Garry to a place called Fort Whoop Up. It's a narrative history that partially functions as a quasi oral history, albeit with the participants all long dead. The history is based in part upon diary entries, so it is essentially narrated by the participants.
It's a story I didn't know and I'm glad I know it now. It's fairly well told and full of interesting (and sometimes shocking) information about western Canada (and Montana) was like in the late 19th century. Moreover, the March, a bit of a fool's errand, has all sorts of echoes in in other military missions. So many military endeavours are examples of extreme human folly, and this is no different - from the commander to the logistics, this was a bad idea and it's miraculous it worked out as well as it did. The relative success of the mission is a testament to the human spirit. But there are so many lessons here and it seems like, as with so many other attempts of its ilk, most of them were probably ignored because the mission could be deemed a "success." So the book is worth it if you don't know the story, or if you want to read about a boondoggle full of incompetence and privation.
But there are definitely a bunch of problems with the book. The first is the approach: the authors go into the heads of people and that is pure creation. It's clear that this is the nature of the book, but if you object to that kind of history - and there's a good reason to - then you will have a problem with this. Also, though there are many early attempts to incorporate the perspective of the natives - something I was really worried about when I first started reading - their perspective is inconsistent at best, which is a problem. And it does feel like, despite the length of the book, there is some context missing, especially in the final part. I don't know how to fix that, and there is still plenty of context, but I felt like I had a few too many questions left when the book ended, and these were not resolved by the epilogue.
Still glad I read it, and I wouldn't have read it had it not been gifted to me.
Because that title sounds like this book was written for children and it wasn't. This is a history of the North West Mounted Police's first entry into the Northwest, a grueling ride/march from Fort Garry to a place called Fort Whoop Up. It's a narrative history that partially functions as a quasi oral history, albeit with the participants all long dead. The history is based in part upon diary entries, so it is essentially narrated by the participants.
It's a story I didn't know and I'm glad I know it now. It's fairly well told and full of interesting (and sometimes shocking) information about western Canada (and Montana) was like in the late 19th century. Moreover, the March, a bit of a fool's errand, has all sorts of echoes in in other military missions. So many military endeavours are examples of extreme human folly, and this is no different - from the commander to the logistics, this was a bad idea and it's miraculous it worked out as well as it did. The relative success of the mission is a testament to the human spirit. But there are so many lessons here and it seems like, as with so many other attempts of its ilk, most of them were probably ignored because the mission could be deemed a "success." So the book is worth it if you don't know the story, or if you want to read about a boondoggle full of incompetence and privation.
But there are definitely a bunch of problems with the book. The first is the approach: the authors go into the heads of people and that is pure creation. It's clear that this is the nature of the book, but if you object to that kind of history - and there's a good reason to - then you will have a problem with this. Also, though there are many early attempts to incorporate the perspective of the natives - something I was really worried about when I first started reading - their perspective is inconsistent at best, which is a problem. And it does feel like, despite the length of the book, there is some context missing, especially in the final part. I don't know how to fix that, and there is still plenty of context, but I felt like I had a few too many questions left when the book ended, and these were not resolved by the epilogue.
Still glad I read it, and I wouldn't have read it had it not been gifted to me.
January 18, 2016
Highly enjoyed reading this book with my wife. It especially piqued our interest when we realized that part of their journey out to Alberta took them right through our 'backyard'. Very stirring to read of the intense challenges these Mounties faced, and very intrigued to read of what the western prairies were like just 140 years ago. Very worthwhile historical piece!
June 8, 2021
3.5 Stars. A highly readable, entertaining and immersive book on the Mounties. It's written more like a novel than a dry history book and I loved that! Many of the Mounties journals and personal letters are used and heavily, which brings a first-hand experience to the reader and you get pulled in by reading about their thoughts, emotions, feelings and opinions. This is how all history books should be written!
I was intrigued by what certainly was a "great adventure",man what a time these poor guys had! I especially liked the diaries of the youngest boy,Fred Bagley who was only 15. I felt terrible for the horses and oxen as well as the animals which fell prey to the men,ducks, buffalo and others,it was hard to read some parts.
Some political parts were dry and I found the section on the whiskey traders,outlaws and everyone causing the problems which the Mounties were to solve to be very boring and slow. The diary entries didn't exist through that 80 or so pages and I almost quit reading it.
I was intrigued by what certainly was a "great adventure",man what a time these poor guys had! I especially liked the diaries of the youngest boy,Fred Bagley who was only 15. I felt terrible for the horses and oxen as well as the animals which fell prey to the men,ducks, buffalo and others,it was hard to read some parts.
Some political parts were dry and I found the section on the whiskey traders,outlaws and everyone causing the problems which the Mounties were to solve to be very boring and slow. The diary entries didn't exist through that 80 or so pages and I almost quit reading it.
September 18, 2025
Originally published in 1996, David Cruise & Alison Griifths "The Great Adventure: How the Mounties Conquered the West" is the story of how the early dominion of Canada sent 150 men from Toronto into what are now the modern provinces of Alberta, Manitoba & Saskatchewan to handle issues out there particularly with liquor that was causing problems on the frontier in 1873. This book is an interesting read because it not only incorporates early Canadian history but also history of parts of Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana. It's a good reminder that the challenges facing the US at the time were very similar to what the Canadians were facing as well especially from the Native Americans as well as their own lack of experienced people. This book is definitely one that anyone with an interest in the west on both sides of the border will enjoy.
March 10, 2018
Whoever says Canadian history is dull never read this well researched, entertaining and informative history of the North West Mounted Police journey into the West. Given the centrality of the Mounties' (later the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) to Canada's image, it is also important as an anchor of fact in an otherwise rather misty sea of impressions.
January 13, 2019
Really enjoyed this book as I suspected. Lent a ton of colour to the story and brought the early mounties to vivid life. There was a lot of tension to the story... We all know they got there... But the how is not something many know and it was not a sure thing. Grateful I could borrow and enjoy this book.
August 29, 2019
Interesting, but I found it a bit of a slow read
August 6, 2023
Good book was a keystone in pricing together some late 1800s Canadian history
July 5, 2024
My favourite historical figures: Major Macleod, Jerry Potts, Fred Bagley.
May 23, 2013
I was able to follow the narrative because I'm already familiar with the early history of the Mounties, but I suspect another USian reader would find the abrupt topic switches between chapters confusing. (For instance, it probably takes a pretty high level of geekery to go "yay, Jerry Potts!" as I did on that gentleman's first appearance in the narrative, instead of muttering impatiently till the last chapter over why several chapters of the book are about a half-Native man with no visible link to the Mounted Police.)
The authors also chose to use the language of the time in their narrative, for consistency with the primary sources - thus terms such as "squaw" appear, and "Indian" rather than "Native" or "First Nations" is used throughout.
That said... this is the definitive secondary source on the first year of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It includes copious quotations from many primary sources; the topics may seem to wander, but the writing itself is terse, narratively solid, and often funny or wryly apropos. Each man quoted is well-drawn and distinguished from the other characters - from Commander French, the founder of the Force, down to fifteen-year-old trumpeter Fred Bagley. An epilogue tells what happened to each one.
Recommended for those with a strong interest in the "frontier" period of North American history.
The authors also chose to use the language of the time in their narrative, for consistency with the primary sources - thus terms such as "squaw" appear, and "Indian" rather than "Native" or "First Nations" is used throughout.
That said... this is the definitive secondary source on the first year of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It includes copious quotations from many primary sources; the topics may seem to wander, but the writing itself is terse, narratively solid, and often funny or wryly apropos. Each man quoted is well-drawn and distinguished from the other characters - from Commander French, the founder of the Force, down to fifteen-year-old trumpeter Fred Bagley. An epilogue tells what happened to each one.
Recommended for those with a strong interest in the "frontier" period of North American history.
August 9, 2008
I am enjoying the contrast between different people's diaries and letters. The gov't needs 150 good men to calm the Indians on the prairie. Farm kids thought they had hit the gravy train, and opulant kids thought they were dieing.
June 15, 2009
The story of the creation of the RCMP in the 1870s. Packed with restless natives, lawless whiskey runners, buffalo hunts and runaway horses, all testing the resolve (and the fabulously waxed moustachios) of a slowly deteriorating force marching 900 miles with dwindling provisions.
November 19, 2012
Lot of building up, with what seemed a hurried ending.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews