Undaunted Courage : The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier

'This was much more than a bunch of guys out on an exploring and collecting expedition. This was a military expedition into hostile territory.'

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson selected his personal secretary, Captain Meriwether Lewis, to lead a pioneering voyage across the Great Plains and into the Rockies. It was completely uncharted territory — a wild, vast land ruled by the Indians. Charismatic and brave, Lewis was the perfect choice, experiencing the savage North American continent before any other white man.

UNDAUNTED COURAGE is the tale of a hero, but it is also a tragedy.

Key Highlights of the Story:

• Hero's Welcome and Disillusionment: Lewis may have received a hero's welcome on his return to Washington in 1806, but his discoveries did not match the president's fantasies of sweeping, fertile plains ripe for the taking. Feeling the expedition had been a failure, Lewis took to drink and piled up debts.
• Rich Cast of Characters:
  • Thomas Jefferson: The president obsessed with conquering the west.
  • William Clark: The rugged frontiersman.
  • Sacagawea: The Indian girl who accompanied the expedition.
  • Drouillard: The French-Indian hunter.

Why Read UNDAUNTED COURAGE?

Drama, suspense, danger, and diplomacy combine with romance and personal tragedy to make UNDAUNTED COURAGE an outstanding work of scholarship and a thrilling adventure. Full of colorful characters and gripping storytelling, this book shot to the top of the US bestseller charts, solidifying its place as one of the great adventure stories of all time.