This is a well written and engaging look into the importance of the Mandan and Hidatsa Indian villages as a pivotal point in trade systems during the late 1700's through early 1800's. Being located along the Missouri River in present day North Dakota, the Mandan/Hidatsa Indians traded horses, robes and furs to Canadian Fur Companies in return for guns and ammunition. They would then trade these goods for other commodities from various Northern Plains Indian Tribes, who previously may have traded with other tribes or the Spaniards further south. In part one, the authors give a lengthy but excellent and relevant chronological introduction as to the fur trade history of this geographical area. Part two includes five journals (or excerpts) of some of these Northwest Fur Company traders' first hand accounts depicting life as it was: John Macdonell's descriptions of the Indians, geography and trade in the 1790's; David Thompson's narrative describing his harrowing 1797 journey from Fort Assiniboine to the Mandan villages in the dead of winter; Larocque's two narratives, the "Missouri (1804)" and "Yellowstone (1805)" Journals, the latter of which, in the company with Crow Indians, he may possibly have been the first white man to descend the Yellowstone River, pre-dating William Clark by more than a year. The final narrative is of Charles McKenzie's four journeys to the Mandan villages (1804-1806), the first two in company with Larocque's expeditions. This is a fascinating read for fur trade enthusiasts and/or those whose interests are in early western exploration.

Jane Hieb has done an excellent job researching this fair Midwestern town. I'll recommend this to anyone interested in this particular town's history, or anyone who might enjoy learning more about the hard work and sacrifices that everyday Americans face when trying to build a functioning community. Also, if you can get a hold of it, a must read is Jane Hieb's "Country Roads and Other Trecherous Paths." You may have to directly write the author to get a hold of it, but this hillarious collection of real life stories is well worth it. Some of the most enjoyable and heart warming non-fiction comes not from celebrities or politicians or New York Times bestselling authors but from hard working Americans who happen to have a great gift for writing. Get both of these books and you well surely treasure them.

Who's dont want to know what is inside our head? Another lifes?, Another remembers? We are really or just we are hidding ourselves? Fasciniting. Sorry the english (¿Quién no quiere saber qué es lo que hay dentro de nuestra cabeza? ¿Otras vidas? ¿Otros recuerdos? Somos en realidad nosotros mismos o sólo fingimos serlo y escondemos nuestra verdadera personalidad?

This wonderful book has recieved little circulation and I rate it among the true classics. Like Rolvaag's "Giants in the Earth", this narration of pioneering Americana touches to the very heart of the people of the time. The author himself has one of the most interesting backgrounds imaginable. The author, Albert Wass, the last Count of Transylvania (Count Dr. Albert Wass de Czege) . Fled the communists as a youth, and at the end of the war, after serving in the Hungarian army made his way to Germany and surrendered himself to the American forces. Wass de Czege and five school age sons emigrated to the United States in 1951. The following year they settled to Astor Florida, where he became involved in the first local newspaper. While his own background is truly amazing, it fails to answer how he recieves the insight to breathe life into the charecters Elza and Jacob. This book is based on fact, and succeeds in catching the feelings,and putting them into words. Reconstructing the past, the dreams, the struggles, successes and failures
of these long gone people, who left their footprints on the banks of the Ohio.

I think you should read this book because it shows patience, in what Elizabeth did for her teacher, it may have taken a lot of work to make the money, but she kept on trying to make her teacher's wedding the best! I read this four times! It's a great book. If you like Sweet Valley Kids this'll be one of your faves!

I like this book because a new girl comes to Sweet Valley Elementry school. It's Eva one of my my favorite charcters. Eva is a nice character because she brought Elizabeth and Jessica back together again after a fight! I think you should read my favorite Sweet Valley Kids book in the world!

This is a great book if you love fiction that is written from a Christian point of view. Very exotic and exciting. Wonderful plot and developed characters. Makes you care for and hope for the best for them. I highly recommend it to all who like mystery and romance combinded.

An excellent reference for the keystone and umbrella endangered species of the San Joaquin Valley. Any biologist that works in California should have this fine collection of papers. The species are in peril and it's up to us to do something about it.

I ordered "Explore Scotty's Castle in Virtual Reality
by Paul Fretheim", after I viewed a television program about the castle on the Travel Channel. Since I'll soon be building a home in the Spanish Colonial style, I am always looking for inspiration through magazines and books. When I received the Scotty's Castle CD, I sat down in front of my computer with a cup of tea and toured each room in virtual reality. It is so entirely wonderful. I really felt as though I was there. Several days later, the Travel Channel aired the same program again, and I felt like I was viewing it from the eyes of someone who had actually been there. Thank you, Paul Fretheim! You should create more of the VR tour CD's of other glorious estates.

I have read and re-read this wonderful account of the history of Amazonian exploration since the hardcover edition first came out in 1990. Anthony Smith, an inveterate science writer, writes with warmth and humor as he describes the very first European travels down this mighty waterway, those of the Spaniards Don Francisco de Orellana and the notorious Lope de Aguirre (the subject of Werner Herzog's 1972 movie "Aguirre, Wrath of God") and the Portugese navigator Pedro Teixeira. Next came the scientists, including la Condamine and von Humboldt followed in the latter nineteenth century by a bevy of entrepeneurs who expropriated rubber and other commodities from the rainforest. A well-written book on a fascinating subject!