Narrative of a Journey across the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River (Northwest Reprints (Paperback)) Paperback – November 1, 1999

A literate account by a naturalist during the fur trade days. Good companion to Across the Wide Missouri or Osborne Russell's journal.

The author is a blueblood dandy and I don't like him. So why the high stars? His early 1800's account is superbly written from exacting eyes. He is proof that a scientist, however flawed, can produce high quality work. Sorry, I just don't like guys who go around shooting and stuffing birds and animals. But if he can tell of it in an interesting honest way, i'll like his book. You'll like this one too. Delightful.

I found Townsend's and Nuttall's experiences very interesting. I've been birding for almost 70 years but I never had to deal with Indians or the physical hardship that those guys did. Many of the birds names have been altered and sometimes it is hard to know what species he is talking about. A real good look into the past. I and many other people saw a Townsend's Warbler in Chicago October 12, 2002. 5th Illinois record I think. John Purcell

Many non-fiction books and other writing about the wild west were largely self-aggrandizing works of fiction. Townsend (along with his companion Nuttall) was a legitimate naturalist stepping beyond the frontier of the biological sciences. Not just a trained observer of nature, Townsend was a Quaker and peacenik who abstained from drinking; making his observations all-the-more lucid. Not only does the journal provide a fascinating detailed description of the land and wildlife, but Townsend was clearly captivated by the human drama's going on around him and used his eye for detail and competent writing ability to make some of the most valuable descriptions of many midwestern and northwestern tribes that we have.

This is a remarkable look at the untamed American West of 1834-1837 through the eyes of a young naturalist. Despite its age, this account is quite readable. The smaller segments describing Townsend's visits to Hawaii, Tahiti and Chile are also enjoyable.Since this is a diary, it does have some flat spots (not every day can be an adventure), but mostly Townsend fills his descriptions with details and color that bring his encounters alive. You can sense Townsend maturing as the journey goes on. One suggestion to the editors: If a new edition is produced, it would be nice to include a map of Townsend's travels, because in some places it's hard to tell where he is.A tip to the reader: Skip the introduction, since it's mostly just a summary of what you'll be reading. It does, however, contain a description of what happened to Townsend after the book, so go back and read that once you finish.