River of Promise: Lewis and Clark on the Columbia, by David L. Nicandri

Many historians have tended to undervalue the explorers’ encounter with Columbia River country. Most narratives emphasize Lewis and Clark’s adventures through their journey to the Bitterroot Mountains but have said little about the rest of their travels west of there. River of Promise fills a significant gap in our understanding of Lewis and Clark’s legendary expedition. Historian David L. Nicandri shifts the focus to an essential goal of the explorers: to discover the headwaters of the Columbia and a water route to the Pacific Ocean. Most historians assume that Meriwether Lewis was a more distinguished scientist than Clark because of his formal training in Philadelphia and superior writing skills. Here we see Clark as Lewis’s equal as scientific geographer, not merely the practical manager of boats and personnel. Nicandri places the legend of Sacagawea in clearer perspective by focusing instead on the contributions of often-overlooked Indian leaders in Columbia River country.