• Down the Great Unknown

  • John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy Through the Grand Canyon
  • By: Edward Dolnick
  • Narrated by: Danny Campbell
  • Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (252 ratings)

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Down the Great Unknown  By  cover art

Down the Great Unknown

By: Edward Dolnick
Narrated by: Danny Campbell
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Publisher's summary

Drawing on rarely examined diaries and journals, Down the Great Unknown is the first book to tell the full, dramatic story of the Powell expedition.

On May 24, 1869 a one-armed Civil War veteran, John Wesley Powell, and a ragtag band of nine mountain men embarked on the last great quest in the American West. The Grand Canyon, not explored before, was as mysterious as Atlantis - and as perilous. The 10 men set out from Green River Station, Wyoming Territory, down the Colorado in four wooden rowboats. Ninety-nine days later, six half-starved wretches came ashore near Callville, Arizona.

Lewis and Clark opened the West in 1803; six decades later Powell and his scruffy band aimed to resolve the West’s last mystery. A brilliant narrative, a thrilling journey, a cast of memorable heroes - all these mark Down the Great Unknown, the true story of the last epic adventure on American soil.

©2009 Edward Dolnick (P)2019 HarperAudio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Down the Great Unknown

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

what an adventure!

pretty amazing what they accomplished with what they had and what they didn't know, worth it

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Narrator?

The book is pretty good. There's some wild speculation towards the end. Mormon fishermen who were immediately compassionate in feeding and housing Powell and his remaining boatmen. Yet the theory is introduced that immediately after Mormons may have killed the three out of fear. Doesn't really add up. The letter where a man claims to have had a picket fence broken over his head?? It Stretched credulity a bit. I would immediately disregard anything someone like that said. The amount of exaggerating, wild stories and outright fabrication can't be overstated in the early West.
Besides that it seems pretty accurate. Biggest problem for me is the narrator sounds like an extra from a poorly cast "wild west" show. I didn't much care for him. I'm very familiar with the Grand canyon. For anyone who's interested in the subject I highly recommend "the emerald mile" and the physical book "death in the Grand canyon ".

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, perhaps over-narrated.

Good listening, also enjoyed diversions into geology, historical context and side stories of other explorers. My only critique is the extent to which Dolnick seeks to convince the reader that navigating a river is dangerous: employing analogies of bucking Broncos, plunging dolfins etc.- I might suggest excessively.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • JB
  • 11-10-23

Excellent story of great river

This is a great story or the Powell expedition of the Colorado river. Having been on the river myself it was a picture of the places that I have been and sights that I have seen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story.

I loved it. Such an interesting story. Well written book that keeps your attention.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Down The Great Unknown

Excellent adventure book. The narrator was perfect for this book. The characters were brought to life in an excellent way. I have read this book half a dozen times and listening made it new and exciting all over again. Highly recommend.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great story

Amazing story of the 1869 expedition down the Green and Colorado rivers. Great preparation for visiting the Grand Canyon.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly Enjoyed!

This was engaging and very well done, combining history, current insights, excerpts from Powell's published story, Powell's river diary, the diaries of other expedition participants, and news stories, all in one linear journey down the Green and Colorado rivers.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A wild adventure

A cool look into a timeless wonder. A bit over narrated at times. The fact that most of the info was taken from journals of the adventures is great.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well done version of an important and unreported American history

Beautifully told and well researched version of the amazing story of the John Wesley Powell led exploration of the Green and Colorado rivers. The author combines Powell’s journal, other participants’ journals, and other historical and modern perspectives; making this a compelling, informative and enjoyable audible book. Anyone with an interest in western states history and geography will enjoy this amazing and under reported accomplishment. A must read for anyone who has experienced the amazing and unique Green and Colorado rivers.

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