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Undaunted Courage  By  cover art

Undaunted Courage

By: Stephen E. Ambrose
Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
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Publisher's summary

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson selected his personal secretary, Captain Meriwether Lewis, to lead a voyage up the Missouri River, across the forbidding Rockies, and - by way of the Snake and Columbia rivers - down to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and his partner, Captain William Clark, endured incredible hardships and witnessed astounding sights. With great perseverance, they worked their way into an unexplored West. When they returned two years later, they had long since been given up for dead.

Undaunted Courage is supported by a variety of colorful characters: Jefferson and his vision of the West; Clark, the artist and mapmaker; and Lewis, the enigma, who led brilliantly but considered the mission a failure. After suffering several periods of depression - and despite his status as national hero - Lewis died mysteriously, apparently by his own hand.

©1996 Ambrose-Tubbs Inc. (P)1996 Books on Tape Inc., All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

"... a swiftly moving, full-dress treatment of the expedition." (The New York Times Book Review)
"Ambrose's epic, a combination of rhapsody and reality, feels like a final glimpse at a pristine Eden before the crowd of trappers and settlers altered it forever." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about Undaunted Courage

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

Fabulous story of Merriweather Lewis

Really appreciated the terrific insights to personality, background, and general life of Captain Lewis. The summary of all the politics and nature of Lewis in the last chapter was fantastic!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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One of the best books I’ve downloaded in a long time!

Wow, I can’t say enough about this book. A great adventure tale with twists and turns. Very well narrated, I listened for hours at a time and felt like I was walking on the trail alongside Lewis. Go ahead and download this book, you won’t regret it.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • R.
  • 10-21-20

an amazing history about an amazing time.

The story of the Lewis and Clark expedition is put together impeccably. It is exciting, informative, and awe inspiring
The narrator does inadequate job despite mispronouncing many basic words and place names.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A masterpiece

Stephen Ambrose delivers again and again. This is another master historical work, detailing at length the Lewis and Clark expedition. The precision in outlining this adventure had to have been exhaustive, but Ambrose gets the minute details to the tee. The narrator was appropriate. A wonderful work.

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Master story teller sharing an amazing adventure

The Lewis and Clark Expedition is nearly mythical in our culture as far as the exploration goes but the actual dangers, the journey and the leadership of the two captains are details we sometimes miss. Stephen Ambrose was a master of weaving the threads of historical events and maintaining the interest of the reader/listener. It is hard to comprehend how such a small band of men could travel in unknown lands and endure harsh weather without losing a man. But they did. And Stephen's story brings it all to life! Thank you, Mr. Ambrose.

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Compelling

I knew very few details of this historic journey before getting this book. I learned so much about a fascinating piece of American history. As always, Ambrose is a master and weaves a compelling story.
The narrator had to grow on me. Early on I found his voice slightly annoying but grew used to it and finally enjoyed it
This is a can't miss for anyone that live history and adventure.

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Heroic story of a great American explorer

I loved this account of the voyage of discovery. Since high school, I have been fascinated by captains Lewis and Clark's adventures and especially by Lewis. I re - read many passage as I listened while in the upper Missouri exploring what they had camped.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Distracting!

How many times did the narrator say Monticello and, of course, mispronounced it every time. Girardeau was also mispronounced, so I’m certainly not sure other places or people were accurately pronounced. Is there someone who should have noticed this??

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Great Story

Sorry…. This guy sounds like an American male Siri. I would’ve appreciated a more personal reading. As if I were there.

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Tremendously historically interesting !!!

Lewis & Clark were an amazing team. This book was certainly a delight to listen to.

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