Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy Through the Grand Canyon - Softcover

Dolnick, Edward

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0060955864 ISBN 13: 9780060955861

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2002

Synopsis

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 ten 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.

About this title

Review:

"Written with authority and zeal, this rich narrative is popular history at its best."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Edward Dolnick's Down the Great Unknown is both good history and a successful adventure yarn."--Harper's Magazine

From the Back Cover:

0n May 24, 1869, a one-armed Civil War veteran named John Wesley Powell and a ragtag band of nine mountain men embarked on the last great quest in the American West. No one had ever explored the fabled Grand Canyon; to adventurers of that era it was a region almost as mysterious as Atlantis -- and as perilous.

The ten men set out down the mighty Colorado River in wooden rowboats. Six survived. Drawing on rarely examined diaries and journals, Down the Great Unknown is the first book to tell the full, true story.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0060955864
• ISBN 13: 9780060955861
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400