By his own hand? : the mysterious death of Meriwether Lewis /

This book examines in detail whether Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809), co-leader of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition, was murdered or shot himself while traveling the Natchez Trace in 1809. Essays by historians Guice (emeritus, Univ. of Southern Mississippi; Frontiers in Conflict: The Old Southwest) and James J. Holmberg (editor, Exploring with Lewis and Clark: The 1804 Journal of Charles Floyd) argue the merits of each case. New forensic interpretations update previous treatments by Vardis Fisher (Suicide or Murder? The Strange Death of Governor Meriwether Lewis) and David Leon Chandler (The Jefferson Conspiracies: A President's Role in the Assassination of Meriwether Lewis). A final summary by Jay H. Buckley (contributing author, America Looks West: Lewis and Clark on the Missouri) takes the form of a fascinating historical trial in which the reader is given the role of juror. Published in the final bicentennial year of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, this well-written study attempts to throw light on what has been the dark shadow of the otherwise dazzling success of the Corps of Discovery. Highly recommended for public, high school, and academic libraries.-Nathan E. Bender, Univ. of Idaho Lib., Moscow (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.