Reissued for the 200th anniversary: "High and heroic adventure.... An exhilarating story of bravery, self-discipline, and firm resolve, and Mr. Hawke tells it uncommonly well."― The New Yorker In 1804 Lewis and Clark set off to explore the new lands of the Louisiana Purchase. They were acting as the eyes and ears of President Thomas Jefferson, who had an insatiable curiosity about what lay between the Mississippi and the Pacific. One contingency for which they were not prepared was the awesome geography of the Rocky Mountains. Including excerpts from Lewis and Clark's journals and putting their scientific achievements in context, David Hawke presents a riveting story of this dramatic journey. 43 period illustrations "Fast-paced narrative.... [A] fine, well-written introductory account."-- David Freeman Hawke is also the author of Paine.