An elementally American epic unfolds in this superb abridgment of the Lewis and Clark Journals. The Captains and their men encounter forces of nature, natives of various dispositions, grizzly bears, hunger, illness, and other hardships in their quest from Saint Louis to the Pacific coast. President Jefferson set a multifaceted mission for the Corps of Discovery, including finding a overland route to the Pacific, mapping this newly acquired territory, establishing diplomatic contact with various Indian tribes, and documenting the flora and fauna observed along the way. Despite being drawn from raw and incomplete journals kept by Lewis, Clark, and a few other members of the Corps, the book is cohesive, easily drawing the reader along on the journey, a testament to Moulton’s efforts as much as those of the men. Chapters divide the narrative into sensible segments, and are accompanied by well-drawn maps showing the route and major campsites or landmarks referenced. Informative but not excessive footnotes provide just the right amount of supplementary information, along with the excellent introduction and afterword.

In the past I have been reluctant to read the Journals as the English is pretty rough at times, but I found that with little effort I became accustomed to the writers’ eccentricities and even appreciated it more than if the whole thing had been heavily edited and evened out.

There is so much to explore in this book, I cannot possibly touch on it all. Best friends Lewis and Clark, their couple dozen sergeants and privates, including Clark’s slave York, Sacagawea, French woodsmen, traders, venerable Indian chiefs... the cast of characters is as varied as the landscapes and adventures they encounter. Highly recommended!