History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

What an Adventure !
Ship of Gold is a good story with excellent details about the recovery of the gold.
Hands down one of the best book ever!
Good modern day treasure hunt
Fantastic Nonfiction

Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea
Gary Kinder
Manufacturer: Atlantic Monthly Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0871134640

Amazon.com

The facts speak for themselves. In 1857, the Central America, a sidewheel steamer ferrying passengers fresh from the gold rush of California to New York and laden with 21 tons of California gold, encountered a severe storm off the Carolina coast and sank, carrying more than 400 passengers and all her cargo down with her. She then sat for 132 years, 200 miles offshore and almost two miles below the ocean's surface--a depth at which she was assumed to be unrecoverable--until 1989, when a deep-water research vessel sailed into the harbor at Norfolk, Virginia, fat with salvaged gold coins and bullion estimated to be worth one billion dollars.

Author Gary Kinder wisely lets the story of the Columbus-America Discovery Group, led by maverick scientist and entrepreneur Tommy Thompson, unfold without hyperbole. Kinder interweaves the tale of the Central America and her passengers and crew with Thompson's own story of growing up landlocked in Ohio, an irrepressible tinkerer and explorer even in his childhood days, and his progress to adulthood as a young man who always had "7 to 14" projects on the table or spinning in his head at any given moment. One of those projects would become the preposterous recovery of the stricken steamer, and the resourcefulness and later urgency with which the project would proceed is contrasted poignantly with the Central America's doomed battle in 1857 to stay afloat.

Thompson, who spent nearly a decade planning and organizing his recovery effort, emerges as one of the great unsung adventurers of these times (the technical innovations alone required for such a task produced a windfall for the scientific community and defined a new state of the art for deep-sea explorers and treasure hunters), and the story of the steamer's sinking is compelling enough to make any reader wonder why the Central America sinking isn't synonymous with shipwreck in this Titanic-happy age. --Tjames Madison

Book Description

The riveting true adventure and discovery of a gold-laden shipwreck and the scientific genius who recovered its treasure, while breaking the barriers of deep-ocean exploration.

In September 1857, the S.S. Central America, carrying 500 passengers and tons of gold from the California mountains, sunk in a hurricane 200 miles off the Carolina coast. Lost in legend for more than a century, the tragic story of this shipwrecked steamer resurfaced in 1989 when Tommy Thompson, an ocean engineer, sailed into Norfolk harbour with over ten tons of pioneer gold. Using a combination of oceanography, computer science and information theory, Thompson's team recovered mint-state coins, antique bars and sparkling gold dust from 8,000 feet below the surface of the sea -- proving everyone wrong who said it couldn't be done.

Customer Reviews:

What an Adventure !.......2007-09-21

This is an appealing book on many levels. 19th century sea adventure, heroes, tradegies, great survival stories, heart stopping excitement, 20th century high tech recovery adventures, interlopers and bottom feeding lawyers and insurance companies, it's got it all. Why 4 stars rather than 5 ? I found it a tad long after they found the boat and began that part of the story. But, that is a small point. Well worth the reader's time.

Ship of Gold is a good story with excellent details about the recovery of the gold........2007-08-28

Ship of Gold is a good story with excellent details about the recovery of the gold.
In my next recovery book I will look for more diving experience. The ROV's do not have the same adventure value as the human diving experience we have on the North Sea but then again the North Sea is maximum 40 meters deep. We don't need ROV's at these depths.
I liked the sonar specialist story and the systematical scanning of the area's with the best values in the probability matrix.

Hands down one of the best book ever! .......2007-08-20

This is by far the best book ever. I have purchased more copies then I can count and I have given it to all of my family members and most of my friends. All of them loved it. Even my mom told it was one of the best books she had ever read. Being she reads a book every two weeks that's a pretty good compliment.

This is a short book, but it takes a long time to read. It's not that it's a hard read; it's just that it's so good you will take your time to read it. Almost like savoring a great wine.

I don't recommend many books, but this one should be on the top of your reading pile. Once you read it you will understand why and I'm willing to bet you will recommend it to all of your friends.

Good modern day treasure hunt.......2007-07-04

I liked the way the author took the reader back and forth from the past to the present. It was interesting to see how much planning and inguenuity it took to accomplish the recovery of the gold. Once the treasure was found, I have to admit to having a mild case of 'gold fever' due to the vivid descriptions provided by G. Kinder. The only reason I didn't give it the full 5 is because of the Tommy (the technical mastermind of the recovery) praising!!!! Alright already, he certainly must walk on water, and if he doesn't, he'll surely invent a way to. Inspite of the Tommy factor, this is a good book.
Also recommended: In the Heart of the Sea

Fantastic Nonfiction.......2006-12-28

When the Central America sank in 1857 she took 21 tons of gold and more than 400 souls to the bottom of the sea, including one of my ancestors. Kinder's incredible book weaves the tale of the shipwreck together with the story of the thrilling recovery more than 130 years later.

Ship of Gold is a fantastic book from historic and scientific perspectives. If you read this book, you will gain new insights about the Gold Rush and 19th-century sea travel; better yet, you will be amazed by the technological and biological advancements which were a direct consequence of Tommy Thompson's recovery.

I read Ship of Gold to fill in the details of an old family legend. I was pleased to discover a truly amazing work of nonfiction.

Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842

Average customer rating:

Human Drama in Important History
Philbrick is a master of this genre
What? Was Philbrick there?
Great Adventure I Never Learned About
The Enthralling History Of A Largely Forgotten Expedition

Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842
Nathaniel Philbrick
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: B000E8LQQK

Amazon.com

The expeditions of Magellan, Columbus, and Lewis and Clark have been well documented and are instantly familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in world history. But the average person is likely unaware of the U.S. Exploring Expedition or its mercurial leader, Charles Wilkes. This despite the numerous accomplishments and lasting legacy of the massive four-year project that involved six ships and hundreds of men. The "Ex. Ex.," as it came to be known, is credited with the discovery of Antarctica, the first accurate charting of what is now Oregon and Washington, the retrieval of thousands of new species of life, and the foundation of the Smithsonian Institution. Yet when Wilkes returned, instead of being hailed as a great man of science or a national hero, he was shunned by the President, ignored by the press, and was the subject of so much ill will on the part of his men that he was ultimately put on trial for a variety of offenses. In the portrayal presented in Nathaniel Philbrick's Sea of Glory, Wilkes is a passionate man, brash and enthusiastic, driven by seemingly impossible goals, many of which he actually accomplished. But he's also a petty, mean-spirited loner, egotistical enough to unilaterally give himself a promotion in the middle of the expedition. Without Wilkes' singularity of purpose, it's hard to imagine the mission being as successful as it was, but it's also hard to conceive a personality more poorly suited to leadership than the near-universally-despised Wilkes. Philbrick also skillfully reveals the insecurity behind the tyranny in excerpts from letters to Wilkes' wife, Jane. The accounts of the expedition's adventures are at various times exhilarating and tragic as the crew scales the volcanoes of Hawaii, becomes involved in a bloody war with Fijian natives, and struggles merely to stay alive while at the same time not killing Wilkes. Philbrick's compelling narrative and meticulous research provide a vivid picture of the triumphs and hardships of the exploration age. --John Moe

Book Description

AmericaÂ's first frontier was not the West; it was the seaÂ—and no one writes more eloquently about that watery wilderness than Nathaniel Philbrick. In his bestselling In the Heart of the Sea Philbrick probed the nightmarish dangers of the vast Pacific. Now, in an epic sea adventure, he writes about one of the most ambitious voyages of discovery the Western world has ever seenÂ—the U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838Â- 1842. On a scale that dwarfed the journey of Lewis and Clark, six magnificent sailing vessels and a crew of hundreds set out to map the entire Pacific OceanÂ—and ended up naming the newly discovered continent of Antarctica, collecting what would become the basis of the Smithsonian Institution, and much more.

Customer Reviews:

Human Drama in Important History.......2007-09-27

With the publication of the author's Mayflower I assume this book will enjoy a revival. It's too bd I had to learn of it by its being the only thing of interest on the remainder table. When I bought it I'd no idea I would learn so much about one of the main characters, if not the main character, in this human drama, Charles Wilkes. As a student of the Civil War I have long been intersted in Lt. Wilkes because of his involvement, no his creation, of the Trent Affair.
If you are not interested in Wilkes as a participant in the later war, you will still find this a wonderful adventure tale. This is history come to life. Read this book if you read no other book by the author.

Philbrick is a master of this genre.......2007-09-26

I stumbled on Nathaniel Philbrick's book: "In The Heart of The Sea" and enjoyed it very much. This author has the rare ability to take historical records, diaries, narratives, and other documents and weave them into a prose style of his own that is gripping. "Sea of Glory_____"
is written for anyone who likes history, nautical based, and replete with characters that you come to feel you know after the reading. The troubled Commander of the US Ex. Ex., comes alive in the pages with deep insight into his psyche & human flaws. I would recommend this book to any reader. It truly is the "untold" story of the United States of America's attempts to send forth a seagoing expedition of exploration on the level of the more famed Lewis & Clark land expedition after the Louisiana Purchase. You will be amazed at the ongoing contributions this expedition has contributed to our knowledge of the natural world, including the origins of what is today The Smithsonian Institution.

What? Was Philbrick there?.......2007-08-24

Seriously, this is the fourth book I've read by Philbrick and I'm trying to figure out how he writes history so engagingly. When you read his work, you truly feel like you are witnessing the event as it happens with a God's-eye view. As a result you get absorbed in his telling of the story and learn while engrossed.

I think Philbrick accomplishes this little bit of literary magic by doing a huge amount of primary research, going through the journals of many of the story's characters and synthesizing a multi-dimensional picture of what went on. He then tells the story almost as if he were there. The result is truly impressive.

I had never heard of the US Exploring Expedition before reading this book and it kept me drawn in from cover to cover. The four year expedition was the first (maybe) to sight land in Antarctica, explored the mouth of the Columbia river, fought a battle in Fiji, measured volcanoes in Hawaii and brought back a collection of artifacts that formed the basis of the collection for the founding Smithsonian. Not bad for a single trip around the world. Throw in some nasty intrigue between the many officers on the expedition and you've got plenty of human drama to boot.

Give this one a read. You'll be glad you did.

Great Adventure I Never Learned About.......2007-06-08

Others have provided a better summary than I could, so I'll keep this brief. I've read a lot of history. I'm a history nerd. I watch the History channel a lot. I had never even heard of this expedition. Thanks to Philbrick for reviving this story for so many of us, and for doing it with great storytelling, inciteful analysis, and meaningful detail. Wilkes is a tragic figure, and like all tragic figures has his greatness and his flaws. This book has lessons on leadership, the desire for adventure, endurance amid hardship, mistakes to be avoided, and much more. Read this book for a fascinating story that has been sadly overlooked for far too long!

The Enthralling History Of A Largely Forgotten Expedition.......2007-06-04

One hears almost endlessly about the overland expeditions of Louis and Clark, as well as the other western expeditions of Fremont and others.

This book is the story of another expedition, the American effort to explore, map and ultimately claim parts of Polynesia and the Antarctic. The book deals initially with the polotical and organizational struggle to get the expedition going. Coceived under a Democratic-Republican (JQ Adams), opposed by the Jacksonian Democrats, launched under Van Buren, and eventually returning under the Tyler administration this expedition was almost over before it began.

One of the problems with the expedition was the search for a leader. Eventually this fell to US Navy Lieutenant Charles Wilkes. Author Nathaniel Philbrick goes into great detail on wilkes leadership style including the relationship between him and his officers. The Navy at this point in time had a block in promotions which led to many seamen not getting the opportunities they felt they deserved.

Drawn form the original source material, Philbrick provides a gripping account of the sighting and mapping of Antarctica, as well as an excellent insider's view of the inner workings of the expedition.

Excellent historical work.

Dragon Sea: A True Tale of Treasure, Archeology, and Greed off the Coast of Vietnam

Average customer rating:

Dragon Sea - a Riveting Read
Dragon Sea
A book like this should have been written earlier!
A top pick for a wide range of collections.
A Real Page Turner

Dragon Sea: A True Tale of Treasure, Archeology, and Greed off the Coast of Vietnam
Frank Pope
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0151012075

Book Description

When Oxford archeologist Mensun Bound—dubbed the “Indiana Jones of the Deep” by the Discovery Channel—teamed up with a financier to salvage a sunken trove of fifteenth-century porcelain, it seemed a dream enterprise. The stakes were high: The Hoi An wreck lay hundreds of feet down in a typhoon-prone stretch of water off the coast of Vietnam known as the Dragon Sea. Raising its contents required saturation diving, a crew of 160, and a fleet of boats. The costs were unprecedented. But the potential rewards were equally high: Bound would revolutionize thinking about Vietnamese ceramics, and his partner would make a fortune auctioning off the pieces. Hired as the project’s manager, Frank Pope watched the tumultuous drama of the Hoi An unfold. In Dragon Sea he delivers an engrossing tale of danger, adventure, and ambition—a fascinating object lesson in what happens when scholarship and money join forces to recover lost treasure.

Customer Reviews:

Dragon Sea - a Riveting Read.......2007-08-17

I loved this book! Frank Pope opens a window to the complex aquatic battleground of treasure hunters and marine arachaeologist, where ambition, gold fever and extreme pressures test men to the limit - physically, mentally and ethically. An excellent true life adventure, bravely told.

Dragon Sea.......2007-07-24

It is a rare writer that can document without dryness, dramatize without histrionics. Frank Pope has managed to span the gap. Dragon Sea provides both an intellectual discussion of marine archeology and artifact without getting bogged down in academic quicksand. He also provides enough on-scene sweat and nerves to keep the reader wondering what's around the next corner from beginning to end. It is a thoroughly enjoyable book and a wealth of information for diving and archeological punters like myself. I had always wondered about the DB29 disaster. Mr. Pope opened a window on it for me without veering off topic.

A book like this should have been written earlier!.......2007-04-23

I thank Frank Pope for writing such a powerful book on the tragic fate of the Hoi An Hoard. Judging from the dearth of book on this important archaeological discovery and the fascinating aspects of Vietnamese ceramics, the book is indeed very timely and does some justice those treasures.

I picked up this book by accident and was riveted for the whole afternoon, until the very last sentence. Pope had a unique perspective on the whole project, and the book has a great balance between more action-based narrative and probing thoughts on the dilemma of money vs. knowledge, as the reader is drawn into the tumultuous months in the sea during the excavations.

I just hope that everyone reading this will appreciate such discovery, and also the importance of preserving the treasures of humankind varied past.

A top pick for a wide range of collections........2007-04-12

DRAGON SEA: A TRUE TALE OF TREASURE, ARCHAEOLOGY, AND GREED OFF THE COAST OF VIETNAM comes from an archaeologist dubbed the 'Indiana Jones of the Deep' by popular TV, who teamed up with a financier to salvage sunken treasure in Vietnam's Dragon Sea. No small venture, this required a fleet of ships and a crew of 160: their efforts would not only result in success but would change thinking about Vietnamese arts. Readers needn't be archaeology students to appreciate this: epic action and adventure reads with the drama of fiction but includes all facts - including insights on Vietnamese culture and arts - making it a top pick for a wide range of collections.

A Real Page Turner.......2007-03-09

Some years ago, I happened on several Ebay auctions of blue and white covered jars and bowls which were part of the Hoi An Hoard. The description said they were 500 years old and had been recovered from the bottom of the South China Sea. I did some quick Internet reading on the Hoi An Hoard and my interest was sparked. I bought several lots of the beautiful pottery which had rested on the sea floor since before Columbus came to the New World. (From reading Dragon Sea I now know that they are pieces of lesser interest and beauty!)

I recently read that a book had been written about the salvage operation. I quickly ordered Dragon Sea. I read it just as quickly. The story of the Hoi An Hoard is a well written, fascinating tale full of bad guys, good guys and really over worked guys. It is the tale of fortunes won and fortunes lost by gambling on the sea and its hidden treasures. Author Frank Pope, who was actually involved in the Hoi An operation, weaves a quick moving story with wonderful characters. The best part is that those characters are real people -- each with an agenda of his own. The book is filled with wonderful detail -- from the spraying of the beer girls to the skin conditions of the saturation divers who worked for more than a month at incredible depths. But Pope's very best descriptions are of being caught at sea when the Dragon Strikes and the crew and barge are caught in the teeth of a major typhoon. You feel as if you are really there -- and are glad you're not. Pope teaches about sunken treasure, saturation diving,archeology and the politics of academia with ease.

I no more than put the book down than my husband snatched it up. He read deep into last night and awoke this morning with his glasses still perched on the end of his nose. Two thumbs up from our household! P.S. I treasure my 500 year old jars from the bottom of the South China Sea even more now that I know the amazing story of suffering, intrigue and greed which brought them to me.

Admiral of the Ocean Sea: A Life of Christopher Columbus

Average customer rating:

How Times Have Changed For Cristobal Colon
Excellent work
"Adelante! Adelante!" (Land! Land!)
Genuinely worthy of five stars
A colorful narrative, rich in detail.

Admiral of the Ocean Sea: A Life of Christopher Columbus
Samuel Eliot Morison
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

Telling the story of the greatest sailor of them all, "Admiral of the Ocean Sea" is a vivid and definitive biography of Columbus that details all of his voyages that, for better or worse, changed the world. 50 drawings, maps charts; 4 fold-outs.

Customer Reviews:

How Times Have Changed For Cristobal Colon.......2007-10-11

Morison wrote this fine book in honor of the 450'th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. I think Morison would be surprised at how people's perceptions of the event have changed in the decades since.
First off, let me say that the book is well worth reading. Morison was a man of the sea himself and he sailed in the same waters as Columbus. We see in the book how Columbus was a master seaman as well as being a great salesman, but on the other hand he was a poor geographer and even worse politician. The Portuguese were right in turning down his proposal for the Enterprise of the Indies, their geographers knew that Columbus was way off the mark regarding the distance from Europe to East Asia. In any event, they were making good progress down Africa and they felt it was just a matter of time until they found the bottom of the continent and the entrance to the Indian Ocean.

I would now like to address the change in fortune for Columbus's reputation.

(1) People now like to say that he didn't "discover" America. One reason is because there were already people (the American Indians) there, but that is simply world-games. Of course he "discovered" it, no one in Europe or Asia knew about it, and the Indians didn't know about Europe or Asia either. Secondly, the fact that Columbus wasn't necessarily the first to cross the Atlantic doesn't change anything. The Vikings who reached North America simply viewed it as another Arctic land and had no idea of the geographical relationship of this new continent to the rest of the world. In any event, they didn't exploit their discovery in the long run, only Columbus's voyage led to that. It is also speculated that Portuguese fisherman were crossing the Atlantic before Columbus, after all, they discovered the Azores already in the 1420's (already one-third of the way across the Atlantic) but we don't know if they sighted the continent, and even if they did, they, like the Vikings didn't do anything to exploit their knowledge.

(2) People say that he is responsible for the destruction of the Indian society that existed on Hispaniola. It certainly wasn't his original intention to do this. He wanted to convert the natives to Christianity, so killing them off wouldn't help this mission. Morison himself points out that Columbus did contribute to this tragedy, but even if Columbus had been more careful, I think the Indians would have had the same fate. The settlers that came in the wake of the discovery brought new plants and animals in addition to previously unknown diseases and all these things would have grievously damaged the Indians agricultural system and society. Add to this the Spaniard's missionary religion which no doubt was attractive to at least some of the native population and we see that things could just not remain the same.
(3) Some people claim the pre-Columbian New World was some sort of paradise that the Europeans ruined. This is also knows as the myth of the "noble savage". Unfortunatley it is just a myth because human nature is the same all over the world. Greed, cruelty, avarice and the such are not just European or Western traits. The Carib tribes who inhabited the Caribbean Sea (and gave it its name) were very warlike and fought other, more peaceful tribes. Similarly, the Mexica (also knows as the Aztec) the Hernan Cortes conquered in the wake of Columbus was hated by its Indian neighbors for supressing them and taking prisoners for the human sacrificial system. Thus, we should be more realistic in evaluating the pre-Columbian societies and remove the "politically correct" rose-colored glasses.

(3) While it is true that slaves from Africa were brought over to Hispaniola, it must be remembered that the European slave traders who brought them over to the New World did not land in West Africa and grab natives "off the streets". They bought them from local African chiefs who captured prisoners in their local wars and then sold them to the Europeans. Thus, regarding the cruelty of the slavery system, there is plenty of blame to go around and not just to the white men involved.

All-in-all, this is a very enjoyable book to read about a man, who perhaps more than any other single person, brought about the most massive revolution in human history.

Excellent work.......2007-01-12

Morison's pulitzer prize winning work is an engaging, balanced, well written look at the life of the great explorer. The emphasis of the book is on Columbus, the mariner.(Morrison, a Harvard professor with a sailing background, actually retraced Columbus journeys in his own sailing craft). I was interested in finding a fair and objective historical biography of Columbus (without all the negative, politically correct, anti-European propoganda that permeates the thinking of modern leftist academics).In my opinion, this book provides it. I would highly recommend this work for students of history, who want to gain a better appreciation of the nature and significance of Columbus Voyages.

"Adelante! Adelante!" (Land! Land!).......2006-10-22

"Admiral of the Ocean Sea", Samuel Morison's 1942 Pulitzer Prize winning
biography of Christopher Columbus, is still considered by many to be the
best there is. Morison spent 2 years on a sailboat re-tracing Columbus' voyages bringing a first hand immediacy and perspective that gives it unusual authority on all technical aspects of sailing and navigation. In addition Morison was a Harvard history professor whose research of the written record is impeccable. Even before Columbus died in the early 16th century, there have been countless controversies and debates about many aspects of his life and voyages. Into this maelstrom of legend, myth and folklore - like the discover he writes about - Morison brings order, calm and reliable passage through one of the most fascinating and mythological figures of World History.

Genuinely worthy of five stars.......2005-07-25

I have had this book on my shelf for quite a while, and finally got around to reading it after watching a documentary on Columbus on the Discivery Channel. I got inspired to overcome my intellectual laziness, and how pleased I am I did! This book really deserves its reputation as a timeless classic, and the author, a giant of maritime history, did such a fine job that I now want to read his well known biography of John Paul Jones. The text is gripping and the author's insights abound. This is a fine book.

A colorful narrative, rich in detail........2005-02-22

This book is the definitive work on Columbus. Morison is famous for making the same journey that Columbus made with largely the same equipment in order to prepare for writing this book. His experience shines through in the detail thatMorison lavishes on his subject.

As is the case with any great biography, Morison has become enamored with his subject, highlighting his strengths and successes while downplaying his weaknesses and failures, but you know that going into any biography and can adjust your interpretation accordingly.

The story here is told very well, keeping the reader engaged and turning pages. Additionally, the book dispells many of the myths and common misconceptions about Columbus and really fills in a complete picure of the man.

Well worth reading for any fan of history or biography.

The Lost Men: The Harrowing Saga of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party

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Inspiring tale of adventure and discovery
Can You Be A Hero If Your Efforts Are Ultimately Pointless?
Thought-provoking chronicle of adventure and adversity
The Strong Men
The Most Useless Journey in the World

The Lost Men: The Harrowing Saga of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party
Kelly Tyler-Lewis
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670034126

Book Description

The excruciating tale of the Ross Sea party, the other side of ShackletonÂ's Endurance expedition

In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton sailed south aboard the Endurance to make history by crossing the Antarctic continent. ShackletonÂ's story is legend, but few know the harrowing story of the Ross Sea party, ShackletonÂ's support group dispatched to the other side of the continent to build a lifeline of food and fuel depots to bear his crossing.

Â“I had not anticipated that the work would present any great difficulties,Â” Shackleton wrote. Yet everything went tragically wrong when the Ross Sea ship, the Aurora, tore free of her moorings and disappeared in a gale, leaving ten men marooned with only the clothes on their backs and few provisions. With little hope of rescue from a world embroiled in World War I, the men decided to accomplish their mission against all odds.

Long overshadowed by the mission these men bargained their lives to sustain, this heartrending story of survival against all odds now gets its due in this definitive, surprising account of the final journey of the heroic age of polar expedition.

Customer Reviews:

Inspiring tale of adventure and discovery.......2007-08-24

This book is quite a gripping story both in based in tragedy and triumph.
I saw the PBS special on the Shackleton Journey, but many times, like this, the book is much better.
The book was highly researched and vividly written describing the many astonishing moments of the expedition.
It was a ten-man journey the relies heavily on personal journals about some happy moments and some very terrible times. It goes into detail about the decreasing health of the journeymen and stuggles with scurvey, frostbite, snow blindness and the horrible mental and emotional anguish that many sucumb to on this dangerous 1330-mile mission to Antarctica.

Can You Be A Hero If Your Efforts Are Ultimately Pointless?.......2007-06-04

Both sucessful and failed feats of courage are lauded by literature. Many have heard (and read) of the failed expedition of Ernest Shackleton to cross Antarctica. Shackletom failed to even reach the continent, as his ship, the Endurance failed to reach land.

Less well known is the story of the Ross Sea Party -- the group charged with laying in supplies that Shackleton would need as he crossed the pole and returned northward. This book tells the saga of the poorly funded "other half" of the planned expedition.

Focusing more on the shore party, rather than on the shipboard party on the Aurora, the book details the mistakes that were made in the first summer attempt to stock the depots, where Macintosh drove the sled dogs to death and made very little progress, to the stranding of the shore party at the end of the first summer when they were not picked up by the ship.

Presuming the ship lost, and wondering if a rescue would even be attempted during WWI, the 10 men were determined to do the job they were sent to do and proceeded through all odds to strive to lay the depots that Shackleton would never need.

Kelly Tyler-Lewis examines the physical and mental struggles of the shore party including their deep divisions over leadership styles. Culled from the diaries of the expedition, she has weaved a gripping tale of man's struggle against incredible odds.

Thought-provoking chronicle of adventure and adversity.......2007-01-10

The attractive front-cover design is the first indication of the quality of this work, which is well researched and written and a thoroughly engrossing read. Highly recommended.

The Strong Men.......2007-01-09

I have read nearly every book in print dealing with the exploration and saga of Shackleton and his men. Kelly Tyler-Lewis' book The Lost Men rates as one of the best. The "harrowing story" of these hearty men stranded in the desolate Ross Sea is incredible, for lack of words.

Duty-bound, these men laid the stores for a transantarctic voyage that would never materialize. These were men who risked their own lives to ensure the safety of others whose whereabouts were unknown.

The Lost Men is an epic struggle of man versus the ravages of nature and reveals the triumphs and the tragedies involved. It is a book of determination, leadership and accountability.

Of special interest are the generous notes included dealing with such issues as diet (e.g., Their diet lacked nearly all essential vitamins necessary for such a feat), body temperature (e.g., One man recorded a body temperature of 94.2), and navigation of pack ice (e.g. in 2002 it took two Coast Guard ships over two weeks to break through ice roughly thirty miles to Hut point.)

The Lost Men is an exciting and riveting book. As a two-time traveler to McMurdo Sound, I highly recommend this work.

The Most Useless Journey in the World.......2006-08-26

"The Lost Men", by Kelly Tyler-Lewis is the sister book to the original saga of Sir Ernest Shcakelton's journey to Antarctica. The original called "The Worst Journey in the World" tells of Shackelton's failed expedition to cross Antarctica. His ship the Endurance was smashed by ice in the Weddell Sea and his men stranded until their eventual rescue by Shackelton himself after a harrowing journey in a 22 foot open boat across the southern ocean.
Shackelton's Ross Sea Party, the subject of "The Lost Men", is the other half of Shackelton's ill-fated expedition. The Ross Sea party was charged with sailing to the opposite side of Antarctica from the Wedell Sea and laying storage depots of food and supplies along Shackelton's route. The harrowing saga of these men to lay these depots is brilliantly described by historian Tyler-Lewis. Despite extreme conditions, shortages of supplies, faulty leadership and blizzard after blizzard, the Ross Sea party managed to lay supply depots along Shackelton's route and waited for him in vain. The whole expedition proved to be all for naught as Shackelton's plans went awry. Two of the men from the Ross Sea party succumbed to the conditions having been weakened by the vitamin-C deficiency disease scurvy.
If you like adventure novels this one is for you. If you have read "The Worst Journey in the World" this book will complete the saga.
The writing is crisp and well done. Tyler-Lewis has done a fantastic job to bring history to life. You can feel the pain and suffering of the men in her words. Bravo!

Average customer rating:

my favorite book
This is NOT a kids book--or shouldn't be, anyway
Remarkable Reading
Not Harry Potter, but an engaging journey
The Terrific Sea of Trolls

The Sea of Trolls
Nancy Farmer
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689867468

Amazon.com

Three time Newbery honor author Nancy Farmer's epic fantasy, The Sea of Trolls, is gigantic in every way. There are big Vikings and bigger trolls. There are big themes--hope, despair, life and death. At a substantial 450+ pages, the sheer size of this hefty tome is impressive. But, like all of Farmer's fine work, the large scale has room for enormous quantities of heart and humor. At the center of this massive adventure is a small Saxon boy named Jack, who's never been much good at anything until the Bard of his medieval village makes him an apprentice. Then, just as Jack is learning to tap into and control his power, he is kidnapped (along with his little sister, Lucy) and taken to the court of King Ivar the Boneless and his half troll queen Frith. When one of Jack's amateur spells causes the evil queen's beautiful hair to fall out, he is forced to undertake a dangerous quest across the Sea of Trolls to make things right, or suffer the consequences--the sacrifice of his beloved sister to Frith's patron goddess, Freya. Along the way Jack faces everything from giant golden troll-bears to man-eating spiders, yet each frightening encounter brings wisdom and understanding to the budding young Bard. No quester who enters these pages with Jack will go away unsatisfied. Farmer's skillful melding of history, mythology, and humor, is reminiscent of both Tamora Pierce and Terry Pratchett's medieval fantasies, and will no doubt be HUGELY enjoyed by fantasy readers of all ages. --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

Jack was eleven when the berserkers loomed out of the fog and nabbed him. "It seems that things are stirring across the water," the Bard had warned. "Ships are being built, swords are being forged."

"Is that bad?" Jack had asked, for his Saxon village had never before seen berserkers.

"Of course. People don't make ships and swords unless they intend to use them."

The year is A.D. 793. In the next months, Jack and his little sister, Lucy, are enslaved by Olaf One-Brow and his fierce young shipmate, Thorgil. With a crow named Bold Heart for mysterious company, they are swept up into an adventure-quest in the spirit of The Lord of the Rings.

Award-winner Nancy Farmer has never told a richer, funnier tale, nor offered more timeless encouragement to young seekers than "Just say no to pillaging."

Download Description

"Jack was eleven when the berserkers loomed out of the fog and nabbed him. ""It seems that things are stirring across the water,"" the Bard had warned. ""Ships are being built, swords are being forged."" ""Is that bad?"" Jack had asked, for his Saxon village had never before seen berserkers. ""Of course. People don't make ships and swords unless they intend to use them."" The year is A.D. 793. In the next months, Jack and his little sister, Lucy, are enslaved by Olaf One-Brow and his fierce young shipmate, Thorgil. With a crow named Bold Heart for mysterious company, they are swept up into an adventure-quest that follows in the spirit of The Lord of the Rings. Other threats include a willful mother Dragon, a giant spider, and a troll-boar with a surprising personality -- to say nothing of Ivar the Boneless and his wife, Queen Frith, a shape-shifting half-troll, and several eight foot tall, orange-haired, full-time trolls. But in stories by award-winner Nancy Farmer, appearances do deceive. She has never told a richer, funnier tale, nor offered more timeless encouragement to young seekers than ""Just say no to pillaging."" "

Customer Reviews:

my favorite book.......2007-09-06

i am 13 and i have read a lot of books and this is my favorite one ever. i cant wait to read the land of the silver apples.

This is NOT a kids book--or shouldn't be, anyway.......2007-07-10

I enjoyed reading this book and thought it was imaginitive and fun, if not exactly bursting with originality. But I'm in my 30's and passages were too disturbing for me. Parents beware--it contains extreme violence, atrocities really, and I would not let any kid under 16 read it. Examples of the violence I'm talking about--a woman having her throat slit and her body casually thrown over the side of a boat. Monks being massacred, with the killings described in detail. Lots of gruesome descriptions of other killings, lots of blood. If I want my child to read about mass murder and casual violence, I'll let him watch the news.

Remarkable Reading.......2007-07-06

I first encountered Nancy Farmer's writing in the House of the Scorpion and then The Ear, The Eye and The Arm. Both of these books were amazingly inventive and told terrific stories. While I don't feel that The Sea of Trolls resonates as well as these books, I still think it displayed remarkable writing and gave a charming insight into the world of ancient Nordic culture. It's very easy to follow Jack on his travels across the water into the kingdom of trolls, and everything ties up in such a neat little package, I had to laugh out loud. It tells a great story without falling into melodramatics or taking on a condescending tone. I'd recommend this to any child, or any adult for that matter.

Not Harry Potter, but an engaging journey.......2007-06-20

I found Sea of Trolls fascinating. I have to preface this by saying I'm not a fantasy adventure or whatever this genre is fan. I wasn't too enthusiastic about reading it, but I was totally taken in by all the details about life in this time as well as the fantasy elements. Other readers of this genre may have anticipated a lot of the turns that were new to me. I agree with the one-star reveiwer who mentioned how violent it was. Certainly it is true to the era which I imagine was a great deal more violent than Farmer depicted. I was aware, especially at the beginning that the language was somewhat simplistic, but as I read I got accustomed to that. This does have a lot of the characteristics of Harry Potter, but this books is not as rich and imaginative as Potter. I've been reading a lot of young adult books this summer in preparation for a class I will teach. This was one of the most enjoyable and satisfying. If other novels by Nancy Farmer are better, I certainly would like to try those.

The Terrific Sea of Trolls.......2007-04-12

The Terrific Sea of Trolls

The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer is an adventurous book that I would recommend to kids ten and up. Over the next few months Jack and his sister Lucy will be enslaved by a fierce warrior named Olaf one-brow and his adopted daughter Thorgil. Jack, Thorgil, and Olaf set off to Jotunheim and encounter a troll bear, a dragon, a troll boar, a crow named Bold Heart, a giant spider, a troll queen, and TROLLS! This book reminds me of a kid version of The lord of the Rings.
Thorgil was born from a thrall (servant) named Alison. Thorgil's father was the greatest berserker ever to live. When Thorgrim (thorgil's father) died he was put on his ship with his wife (that was still alive) and the ship sailed away while it was on fire. Before Thorgrim died he gave Thorgil to the second greatest warrior Olaf one-brow. Jack was born from a middle class family that lives on a farm. His family and the rest of the town has to take care of an old barb nicknamed the Dragon Tongue. The Dragon Tongue was thrown off a boat and floated 50 miles to Jack village.
You should read this book even if you are a slow reader because all in all, it is one of the best books I have ever read.

Average customer rating:

The Lewis and Clark Expedition
A National Treasure
From Sea to Shining Sea
Loved it as a teenager - still love it now
Awesome historical fiction

From Sea to Shining Sea
James Alexander Thom
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345284798
Release Date: 1984-06-12

Book Description

"Splendid...Thom tells the story with humor and eloquence, and a thumping good tale it is, too."
THE WASHINGTON POST
In one generation, the Clark family of Virginia fought for our nation's independence, and explored, conquered, and settled the continent from sea to shining sea. This powerfully written book recreates the warm life of the family, the dangers of the battlefield, the grueling journeys across an untamed wilderness, and the soul-stirring Lewis and Clark Expedition. This mighty epic is a fitting tribute to the wisdom and courage of Ann Rogers Clark, her husband John, and the ten sons and daughters they nurtured and inspired.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

The Lewis and Clark Expedition.......2007-09-26

From Sea To Shining Sea is an excellent account of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Northwest It also describes most interestingly the participants and how they related to each other.

A National Treasure.......2006-08-01

This is truly a treasure. Even if you don't like history, you will find yourself wanting to know more after reading this book. It would be a great read, side by side, in an American history class. Students reading about the lives of people and how they were affected by each of those early events in our history would surely enjoy the class a lot more.

I wish it was printed in hardcover or large print.

From Sea to Shining Sea.......2006-01-24

This is an remarkable view of the early history of the forming and then growing United States through the experiences of several generations of the extraordinary Clark family. The story weaves together the real life experiences of this family showing the trials, challenges and rugged life in our western frontier as it moved from western Virginia into the the Ohio river valley and on to the vast region west of the Mississippi river that culminates in the Rogers & Clark expedition. If one enjoys early american history or an intense novel packed with drama, this is a book that will hold your attention.

Loved it as a teenager - still love it now.......2005-10-12

I found this book in my mom's book shelf when I was 16 and never gave it back. The cover has fallen off and I lost most of the last page! It is exciting, colorful, sometimes funny, sometimes frightful but a great step into the history of the US through the eyes of a proud mother of 10!

Awesome historical fiction .......2005-08-16

Great book for young and old readers. Good historical accuracy and action packed. Read it 15 years ago and have recommeneded it to others and now my 19 year old son is totally engrossed in it

Average customer rating:

A PERFECT Back to School Book!
Wonder Book on Saint Columba
Recommended for readers of all ages
The Man Who Loved Books.....

Across A Dark & Wild Sea

Manufacturer: Roaring Brook Press
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0761315349

Book Description

Columcille was born in a remote corner of Ireland in the year 521. Legend has it that as a child, he was fed a cake filled with the letters of the alphabet, and so learned to love writing. He grew up to become a monk and a scribe a thousand years before the invention of printing, when books had to be copied by hand.There was one book, a beautiful volume of psalms from distant Rome, that Columcille especially loved, and even though its owner refused him permission, Columcille secretly copied it. The copy was discovered, and a dispute arose over who it belonged to: Columcille, who made it, or the owner of the original. So better was the argument that a battle was fought between the two men's powerful friends; although Columcille's side won, the victory felt hollow to him. To punish himself, he set out in a tiny boat, vowing to leave Ireland forever.A revered figure in Celtic history, Columcille (also known as Columbia) founded the famous monastery on the Scottish island of Iona and left a legacy of learning that illuminated a corner of the Dark Ages. History, drama, and a love of books and reading fill a story--told here in exquisite watercolors and deflty understated prose by noted author and artist Don Brown.

Customer Reviews:

A PERFECT Back to School Book!.......2007-09-17

This book was read as part of the Catholic Mosaic program with our kids. It happened to be read around the first week of school and the subject of being a scholar and how important books are to EVERYONE was highly appropriate. Definitely a keeper!

Wonder Book on Saint Columba.......2005-10-15

The only thing that I can add to the professional and reader reviews is that St. Columcille is also known as St. Columba. All the other reviews do a great job of describing this book.

Recommended for readers of all ages.......2003-04-20

Deftly written and superbly illustrated by Don Brown, Across A Dark And Wild Sea is the true story of Columcille (also known as Columba), a beloved figure from Celtic history. Columcille loved books so much that he secretly copied a volume of psalms from Rome against it's owner's wishes. The resulting and bitter fallout in 521 A.D. caused Columcille to deliberately leave Ireland in a tiny boat, vowing never to return. He founded a famous monastery on the Scottish island of Iona and left a legacy that endures to this day. Brought to life with moody, windswept color illustrations, Across A Dark And Wild Sea is a most engaging picture book and recommended for readers of all ages.

The Man Who Loved Books............2002-08-17

"Columcille was born in 521. He was the son of a king, from a corner of Ireland scrubbed hard by ocean winds, in a time that came to be known as the dark ages..." So begins Don Brown's marvelous picture book biography of the scribe and monk, known now as Saint Columba. Brown traces the Celtic legend of this remarkable man who desperately wanted to bring learning and books back into the world after much was lost with the fall of the Roman Empire. After a bloody war was waged over the copying and ownership of a special book of psalms, Columcille left Ireland forever and with twelve followers "set sail on a dark and wild sea." Landing on the tiny Scottish island of Iona, he and his followers built a monastery and scriptorium where books were copied and scribes were trained. "Books were made and dispatched, like small boats on a dark and wild sea, to places where reading and writing had been forgotten or ignored. The books made colonies of learning, and people's minds, once dark with ignorance, were brightened." Mr Brown's poetic text is filled with imagery, is rich in history and drama and complemented by powerful and evocative artwork in quiet and subdued tones. Together word and art bring Columcille's inspiring story to life with passion and respect. Perfect for youngsters 8 and older, or as a read aloud for younger children, Across A Dark And Wild Sea includes an Author's Note to enhance and complete the story, the Unical alphabet used by scribes, and a bibliography. This is a rare and wonderful story celebrating books and learning, that shouldn't be missed. "Columcille, the man who loved books, helped the world love books. So we remember him and retell his story."

Average customer rating:

Well written
A fictional take on history
A Childhood Favorite
What a great book!!!!!
A new view of a classic tale

Streams to the River, River to the Sea
Scott O'Dell
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Historical Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0449702448
Release Date: 1987-11-12

Book Description

Scagawea, a Shashone Indian, guided and interpreted for explorers Lewis and Clarke as they traveled up the Mississippi, but she had adventures long before that one, like the time she was captured by the Minnetarees, and taken away from her family and everything that she knew and loved....

Customer Reviews:

Well written.......2007-09-13

Although this story may be historical fiction the character of Sacajawea comes alive through O'dells writing. From what I have read very little is known about Sacajawea and this story brings an unknown personality to life even though it is just through the author's imagination. I have used this book with 3rd grade readers and they enjoyed it very much. They became interested in the the journey of Lewis and Clark because of the book. I have had a hard time finding well written stories about Native Americans so I especially like O'dells books--another favorite I have is Sing Down the Moon about the Navajo long walk. I recommend both of these stories for anyone interested in Native American historical fiction.

A fictional take on history.......2007-03-01

Sacagawea is a young girl when this story begins, and is captured by the Minnatarees in the first chapter. The book continues with her captivity, marriage, and journey with the Lewis and Clark expedition. I think it is interesting if you are looking for fiction in this setting, but not if you want the facts. None of the history I have read substantiates any kind of romance between Sacagawea and William Clark, for example.

Also, the book seems geared to children about the age of thirteen, as that is Sacagawea's age for most of it. I would not recommend it to children that young, as I think the themes of her marriage and attraction to William Clark are too mature.

A Childhood Favorite.......2006-12-17

I found this book as a child in my elementary school library and I spent alot of time trying to track it back down so that I could pass it on to my cousin, Sarah. The story is not all true, but I feel that it is a really important read for young ladies. I know that reading this book helped me see the importance of women in history. This is a really great book, full of excitement and emotion!

What a great book!!!!!.......2006-09-19

A thriteen yearold shoeshine girl named Sacagwea was out picking berrys when along comes the Minnetarees ,and took her sister and her to be slaves. Her sister escapes. She maries Captain Clark,and has a baby boy.Later on her husband and her go on a voyage then the boat tips over.Now they are stuck on a island ,now thats where the adventure begins. Now you read the rest of the book to know the ending .I reconmend you to read this book ,it is a great book!

A new view of a classic tale.......2006-08-30

In 1803, Lewis and Clark set out to explore the land known as the Louisiana Purchase. Although their expedition was very successful, it would have failed without their Indian guide Sacagawea. Poor Sacagawea often gets overlooked, but no longer. Now you can follow the expedition through the eyes of this remarkable young woman.

This tale is good for its unique quality alone. Learn about Sacagawea's life before the expedition, and see it's trials through her eyes. All in all it is a new take on a famous historical happening. Fans of Scott O'Dell will especially enjoy this tale, written in his unique style.

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