Nonfiction Book Reviews
Page Four of FourThe Saga of Lewis & Clark by Thomas Schmidt and Jeremy Schmidt
DK Publishing, October 1999.Hardcover, 210 pages.
ISBN: 0789446383.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Lewis & Clark's journeys are brought
to life again in this picturesque
retelling. Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark set out in 1804 as co-commanders
of a journey commissioned by Thomas Jefferson
to map unexplored land, westward
from the Mississippi. Their incredible
journey, full of discovery and adventures
took them 863 days. Authors Thomas
Schmidt and Jeremy Schmidt retraced
the same route Lewis & Clark took as preparation
for this book and photographer Wayne Mumford
traveled the route in the same seasons as the
explorers which results in beautiful photography,
some of which must have been the same as Lewis
& Clark saw it -- as some of the land is still relatively
untouched
by man today.
The authors' retelling of the story of Lewis & Clark is extremely well done and the result is an exciting narrative from start to finish. Actual quotes from the journals of Lewis & Clark included within the text and the beautiful photography add to the book's appeal and portray the wonder the explorers must have felt on their travels. A fascinating look into this extraordinary American adventure.
Wonders of the African World by Henry Louis Gates. Jr. with photographs by Lynn Davis
Knopf, September 1999.Hardcover, 275 pages.
ISBN: 0375402357.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
This compelling literary and photographic
view of Africa and its culture is an absolute pleasure to read.
Traveling
by foot, by camel, by dhow and by
land cruiser, reknowned scholar Henry
Louis Gates, Jr. traveled Africa to report on
the impact that ancient African cultures have had
on today's civilization. The result is a fascinating book
which contains beautiful photography
of relics, buildings, art, temples and
monuments and detailed text covering
various parts of African history based on
Gates's travels. Throughout his journey Gates
writes about the uniqueness of each
culture, its legacy and its impact on modern
Africa and the rest of the world. Gates delves
into the impact of the slave trade and turns
his keen eye to the cultures of Nubia, Ethiopia, Timbuktu, the
Swahili, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Also included in the book are colorful maps and
a comprehensive author's notes section.
Gates is a W.E.B. Du Bois Professor of Humanities and Chair of the Department of Afro-American Studies at Harvard University. He was named one of the 25 most influential men of the year in 1997 by Time magazine. His talents in writing and history and his love for African culture are clearly visible in this wonderful historical guide. Professor Gates and photographer Lynn Davis have combined their skills to leave us with a stunning visual and written tour through Africa's history. Highly recommended.
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