First off, this book has spelling and grammatical errors (well for today they would be errors). Keep in mind this was written in the early 1800s and they were out in wilderness. I’m sure they cared more about surviving the trip than wondering how to spell certain words. The Penguin Classics edition is raw with the writing. I’m not sure there is a corrected version, but it’s not something I’d read. I think the errors make this book more entertaining. It gives you a look how people wrote. Only with today, it makes it a little confusing at times to read and figure out what they are taking about, thankfully there are notes, drawings, and maps.

In 1804, Merriweather Lewis and William Clark set out to what becomes their famed expedition. Along the way, they accompanied with other men and later Sacajawea. Thomas Jefferson wanted a team to go out west to explore new land and wildlife. They named some new locations and discovered new wildlife. All but Charles Floyd made it back; he was the only one to die during the trip. This book doesn’t cover everything obviously, because it’s a firsthand account, but there are neat little facts you can find elsewhere if you are interested.

There are a few reasons I was interested in reading this book. One: When I was in elementary school, I did a report on William Clark that ended up me being really interested in the whole thing, thus me reading other books about the trip. Two: I’m related to one of the member and have the same last name to another (related?). I forget how exactly, but I’m related to Alexander Willard, he was a blacksmith and unfortunately was whipped during the expedition. Then there is Charles Floyd, I mentioned his significance before. Three: The last reason I wanted to read the actual journals was the comic book Manifest Destiny, a fictitious account of the travels, but with monsters like Sasquatch. The original journals have nothing fantastical about them, but I ended up finding them just as exciting. Oddly, the comic book does a good job mimicking how Lewis and Clark described the wildlife.

I think my favorite part about reading this journal was the wildlife. The descriptions aren’t that good at sometimes, but this book makes me feel like I’m exploring with them at times. One thing I learned (or maybe relearned) was how much they contributed with science. I remember learning they discovered some animals and plants, but didn’t really think anything of it until now for some reason. Imagine seeing a grizzly bear for the first time or a herd of buffalo or some other animal you never knew existed. Today, it seems like most animals are discovered, but I hear about new animals at least once a year. I can see why that comic book I mentioned earlier would have them meet Sasquatch. Lewis, Clark, and Jefferson didn’t know what was out there in the great unknown.

I also liked when they talked about other members in the party, mostly the ones I mentioned and Sacagawea. Most people today know her as the woman who pointed her finger and helped them not get lost. I think she deserves more credit. She helped them communicate with other Natives, she told them what to eat and not to eat, and Clark seemed to care about her and her child. I think people forget that she was a mother. She not only did gave birth, but she raised a baby boy during the trip. They had some harsh weather and environments, its impressive any of them made it back alive.

The survival part, to me, was the most impressive thing about this event; this is something I never thought before. These people had to be really fit and healthy to make it back alive. They weren’t just camping for a few days or a week. They were gone a little over two years. They had to survive during harsh weather like hard rain and cold winters. They had to hunt for food and gamble what was edible or not. They didn’t have cellphones or the technology to contact loved ones; we take these things for granted. I’m sure someone could do what Lewis and Clark did today, but I’m not sure I could last as long as they did on their trip.

There some other things I like in this book as well. I liked the opening letter Thomas Jefferson wrote Lewis explaining what he wants them to do on the trip, what he hopes they find, and to record everything in as much detail as possible. There’s a list of all the things they brought giving the price of each item. That part can get boring, but it’s neat if you’re into that kind of thing. There is a list of questions Clark had about the Native Americans, today, this list looks a little weird, but I think it’s important to keep in mind Clark was curious learning about a new culture. I mentioned this before, but this book also includes some illustrations. Not sure if Penguin included them all or not, but they are worth the look.

I think I mentioned everything I wanted to in this review. I can get nerdy about this and the Salem Witch Trial when it comes to American history. This book isn’t the best-written historical document; it’s more something you read if you’re actually interested in the topic. To some people, and I completely understand, this book gets dry at points. Do we really need to know as a reader what the weather was like every day or do we need to know all the numbers and measurements? Not really, but at the same time Lewis and Clark’s journals weren’t written with a bestseller audience in mind. They were writing these for Jefferson and others. A modern reader however might get a good adventure story or an interesting look at early American life and wildlife. Overall, I had fun reading this book. ( )