Captain Cook Rediscovered is the first modern study to frame Captain James Cook's career from a North American vantage. Although Cook is inextricably linked to the South Pacific in the popular imagination, his crowning navigational and scientific achievements took place in the polar regions. David L. Nicandri acknowledges the cartographic accomplishments of the Australasian first voyage but focuses on the second- and third-voyage discovery missions in the extreme latitudes, where Cook pioneered the science of iceberg and icepack formation. A truly modern appraisal of early polar science, Captain Cook Rediscovered resonates in the climate change era.

Captain Cook Rediscovered: Voyaging to the Icy Latitudes

Nicandri, David L.

Travel

University of British Columbia Press

Discovering Nothing: In Pursuit of an Elusive Northwest Passage

The many attempts by navigators to find a Northwest Passage via its Pacific portal all ended in failure; however, their discoveries spurred expansionist developments that would forever alter the landscape of North America. In Discovering Nothing, David L. Nicandri maps a cast of geographic visionaries and practical explorers as they promoted or sought a workable commercial route linking the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. The discovery of the legendary northern passage proved elusive, but the equivalent land bridges that were built in the form of two transcontinental railroads changed the futures of Canada and the United States. Drawing from close readings of explorers' personal journals, Nicandri provides readers a detailed, engaging, and multifaceted investigation into the many players and failed enterprises at the core of this search, beginning in the eighteenth century through to today -- and to the unexpected impact of climate change on this fabled passage.

"A former Washington State Historical Society director examines the Corps of Discoverys journey after they crossed the Rocky Mountains. He places curious and seemingly inexplicable aspects of the Lewis and Clark Expedition story into a broader historical context, and reveals how earlier explorers and fur traders influenced the American captains"--

Lewis & Clark Reframed: Examining Ties to Cook, Vancouver, and Mackenzie

History

Americas

Washington State Univ Pr

River of Promise focuses on often-overlooked yet essential aspects of the Lewis and Clark expedition: locating the headwaters of the Columbia and a water route to the Pacific Ocean; William Clark's role as the partnership's primary geographic problem-solver; and the contributions of Indian leaders in Columbia River country. The volume also offers comparisons to other explorers and a provocative analysis of Lewis's 1809 suicide. Originally published by The Dakota Institute.

River of Promise: Lewis and Clark on the Columbia

In the many published accounts of the Lewis and Clark expedition, historians have tended to undervalue the explorers’ encounter with Columbia River country. Most narratives emphasize Lewis and Clark’s adventures through their journey to the Bitterroot Mountains but have said little about the rest of their travels west of there.River of Promise fills a significant gap in our understanding of Lewis and Clark’s legendary expedition.
Historian David L. Nicandri shifts the focus to an essential goal of the explorers: to discover the headwaters of the Columbia and a water route to the Pacific Ocean. He also restores William Clark in his role as the primary geographic problem-solver of the partnership. Most historians assume that Meriwether Lewis was a more distinguished scientist than Clark because of his formal training in Philadelphia and superior writing skills. Here we see Clark as Lewis’s equal as scientific geographer, not merely the practical manager of boats and personnel.
Nicandri places the legend of Sacagawea in clearer perspective by focusing instead on the contributions of often-overlooked Indian leaders in Columbia River country. He also offers many points of comparison to other explorers and a provocative analysis of Lewis’s suicide in 1809, arguing that it was not a sudden event but fruit of a seed planted much earlier, quite possibly in Columbia country.

The Dakota Institute

In the many published accounts of the Lewis and Clark expedition, historians have tended to undervalue the explorers’ encounter with Columbia River country. Most narratives emphasize Lewis and Clark’s adventures through their journey to the Bitterroot Mountains but have said little about the rest of their travels west of there.
River of Promise fills a significant gap in our understanding of Lewis and Clark’s legendary expedition. Historian David L. Nicandri shifts the focus to an essential goal of the explorers: to discover the headwaters of the Columbia and a water route to the Pacific Ocean. He also restores William Clark in his role as the primary geographic problem-solver of the partnership. Most historians assume that Meriwether Lewis was a more distinguished scientist than Clark because of his formal training in Philadelphia and superior writing skills. Here we see Clark as Lewis’s equal as scientific geographer, not merely the practical manager of boats and personnel.
Nicandri places the legend of Sacagawea in clearer perspective by focusing instead on the contributions of often-overlooked Indian leaders in Columbia River country. He also offers many points of comparison to other explorers and a provocative analysis of Lewis’s suicide in 1809, arguing that it was not a sudden event but fruit of a seed planted much earlier, quite possibly in Columbia country.

Biographies & Memoirs

Historical

University of Oklahoma Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Nicandri, David L.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Nicandri, David L.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Nicandri, David L.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Captain Cook Rediscovered: Voyaging to the Icy Latitudes

Discovering Nothing: In Pursuit of an Elusive Northwest Passage

Discovering Nothing: In Pursuit of an Elusive Northwest Passage

Lewis & Clark Reframed: Examining Ties to Cook, Vancouver, and Mackenzie

River of Promise: Lewis and Clark on the Columbia

River of Promise: Lewis and Clark on the Columbia

River of Promise: Lewis and Clark on the Columbia