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

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

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 ".

what an adventure!

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

excellent

having rafted down the Colorado River and have done much exploring in the Grand Canyon, I found this extremely educational thank you!!!!

Amazing story.

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

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.

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.

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.

The adventurous spirit

Loved it all. Wished for more mapping to modern day locations, but there was some of that.

Great book

I really enjoyed this book. It captured the imagination of being right on the river. I can’t even imagine how they made it. As Powell said, they were extremely lucky.
I listened on 1.2 speed and the narrator sounded much better to me.

No exaggerations

With regard to the reviewer that opined that the author had laid it on a bit thick: I wonder if they have experienced the power of the Colorado through the Canyon. I just finished my seventh trip. A woman died about 2 minutes ahead of my trip. I have already lost a colleague on a previous trip. I had the opportunity to “safely swim” a baby rapid late in one of my trips. Let me just say it was humbling and in many regards terrifying. To attempt such without a life jacket is clearly hopeless. What Powell accomplished in the regions preventing even scouting rapids is evidence of a beneficent God, to say the least!