A detailed writeup of the multiple expeditions that explored the Louisiana Purchase. Despite the title, this is not so much about the USA at the time or world politics, but it is about the explorers of the Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Red rivers. Everyone has heard about Louis and Clark, but the other expeditions were just as important and just as difficult, just not quite as famous. A very good exploration of a very short time in American history. ( )

Lovers of American history, particularly the wild and woolly Frontier Era, will greatly enjoy "Jefferson's America". Author Julie M. Fenster writes with gusto and a real love of subject as she tells a true-life adventure tale that is more enthralling than fiction or film. Thomas Jefferson played a master's game of chess to block Britain, France, and Spain from gaining permanent control of the vast land to the West of the Continental States. His key chess pieces were an eclectic group of explorers whose eccentricities were as notable as were their brave proclivities. Along with Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, Jefferson also engaged William Dunbar, George Hunter, Thomas Freeman, Peter Custis, and Zebulon Pike to scout, map, and document the scope and range of the land to the West. The author imbues this factual account with descriptive details which bring to life the personalities and politics of the day, and a section of black and white art and photos gives a glimpse of this portion of the past. Most intriguing is the last photo--a view from Jefferson's home, Monticello, looking toward the West.

Book Copy Gratis via Blogging for Books ( )

Julie Fenster's telling of the exploration of western America is highly recommended. I was familiar with Lewis and Clark as well as Pike but not of the other explorers. I learned quite a bit that was not in high school history classes. ( )

We know that Lewis and Clark explored the West for President Jefferson, but did you know they weren't the only ones?

Sure, Zebulon Pike comes to mind, but there were several expeditions into the wilderness, and the U.S. government used them to stretch its influence past the Mississippi, across Spanish America, to the Rocky Mountains and off to the Pacific Ocean.

"Jefferson's America" tells the tales of several expeditions and the trials the explorers went through. From waterless rivers to sopping wet rains to mountains perpetually "15 miles away," the men (and 1 woman, Sacajawea) who went West found more than they expected.

Some of the tales are familiar, some are new (the aforementioned Sacajawea? She was a slave - to another native tribe). All of them are interesting, too.

Other interesting characters pepper the book too, from Aaron Burr to Napoleon to Spain's King Carlos IV. Worth the read.

I received a free copy of this book for review.

For more of my reviews, go to Ralphsbooks. ( )

Jefferson's America, follows the path of expansion into the American west. Its full of tales and adventures undertaken by well know explorers, such as Lewis and Clark as well as others that were unfamiliar to me. It also covers Jefferson's desire to stake a claim to territory west of the Mississippi river and his need to gain control over New Orleans, as a gateway to trade. While this is a well written book, that goes into a lot of detail, it did at times seem a bit dry. I would have appreciated more maps and charts in order to follow along the routes more closely. I also think this book would have been strengthened with more coverage and details about the Spanish and French officials, who were a large part of this story.

Overall, I think history buffs and anyone interested in the exploration and expansion into the Western territories and the prominent role played by Thomas Jefferson and his band of explorers will find this work of interest.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at: www.susannesbooklist.blogspot.com ( )