Stephen E Ambrose

[sparky911]

I was just loaned a book by a neighbor
Undaunted Courage, Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West

any reviews?
Didn't Ambrose get accused of plagiarism a while back?

 

[rabjr]

Yes he did.

I enjoyed the book very much and it was the fuel that really lit my fire and start to learn more about flintlocks. :thumbsup:

 

[sparky911]

did he reference the L/C journals much in the book?

 

I was just loaned a book by a neighbor
Undaunted Courage, Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West

any reviews?
Didn't Ambrose get accused of plagiarism a while back?

It's a good book. If you want great, read the journals. I think they're more interesting than anything else I've ever read on the expedition.

Ambrose is a good writer, but IMHO, he's gets a little shoddy in places. The plagiarism I think was a little overblown. There are a several instances where he used something from another book, and referenced that book in the footnotes, but the actual reference was not in quotations. The descrepancy had to do with a couple of his WWII books. The one thing that has drawn me to his writing is his passion for history. If you ever saw him interviewed, you can tell he just loved history.

 

[rabjr]

I read it about 7 years ago Sparky. I'm sure he did but I just don't remember much other than having a good sense of being there, tagging a long on the journey.

 

[blacksmithman64]

I have it , its a good book, I think its time for a re-read!

 

[laufer]

i liked it a lot!!!

 

[pichou]

i liked it a lot!!!

Ditto. Very entertaining.

Read Alexander MacKenzie's journal after that. :thumbsup:

He beat L&C across the Rockies to the Pacific by 11 years.

Bella Coola Inlet, BC, Canada:

 

[John Wasmuth]

Great book, Dont know about being accused of anything but he does put out some good books.

 

[Tom Black]

I thought it was his best book. We lost an excellent writer when he had to leave early.
Tom Black
Cantucky

 

[delawarr]

good book, easy/light read with good info.
ambrose gets credit for being into and knowledgeable about lewis and clark long before it became fashionable.

 

I thought it was his best book. We lost an excellent writer when he had to leave early.
Tom Black
Cantucky

It is a Good Book, but it had a couple of errors in it. One talking about Lewis out walking and mapping, coming up on a bear and having to stop to load his gun by "slipping a flint into the lock". Unless I missed that when I read the journals it's just 20th century thinking of how a flintlock might have some sort of safety. I very seriously doubt Lewis walked around with the flints out of his rifle. That was the one that really stands out to me at the moment, There were a few others.

I would rate my favorites as Supreme Commander and Band of Brothers (I had read the book, long before the movie came out).

And yes, we did lose a wonderful historian at his passing. Like any historian, he wasn't perfect, but he at least shared our passion for history.

 

[poordevil]

He did say , about the flintlock....it was carried without a flint, then when it was needed to shoot, it had to have a flint placed in the cock , tighteded...etc. therefore very slow into action. But a good read non the less.

P.

 

[poordevil]

OOOPS!! I did not see that above. Sory about that!

P.

 

[pichou]

Although... I have read more than once in original journals where they say they changed their flint before making a important shot... or charging into brush after the enemy. Probably re-primed at the same time.

 

[XXX]

Ranged over these questions a couple of years back

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/205251/fromsearch/1/tp/1/

 

[Tommy Bruce]

I've been thinking about picking the book up at the library. My main interest is the mid to late 18th century but recently the 19th has picked my interest a bit. Pichou, thanks for the info about Alexander Mckenzie. It too sounds like an excellent read.

 

[pichou]

http://www.archive.org/details/voyagesfrommontr00mack

:hatsoff:

Check out my website for more texts. http://sites.google.com/site/historicalfurtradewi/

Perrault is excellent. :thumbsup:

 

http://www.archive.org/details/voyagesfrommontr00mack

:hatsoff:

Check out my website for more texts. http://sites.google.com/site/historicalfurtradewi/

Perrault is excellent. :thumbsup:

Don't you think by now we all know about your web site? :wink:

 

[pichou]

And your smart mouth? :wink:

Tell you what, I'll delete my web site if you install a zipper.