Scenes of Visionary Enchantment

"Each essay or address presented here typically first appeared in another setting, yet this collection can nonetheless 'enchant' both veteran readers and those not yet ensnarled in the Lewis and Clark web. . . . Duncan is an inspired storyteller adept at enthralling audiences already conversant with the details and successes of the mission. Passionately presented, this volume is excellent evidence of that remarkable ability."--Vernon L./I>--Vernon L. Volpe "Annals of Iowa " "The threads uniting the seventeen colorful vignettes in Scenes of Visionary Enchantment are the colors, textures, sounds, and human experiences inherent in the grand story of the Lewis and Clark exploration."--Joseph A. Mussulman, Montana: The Magazine of Western History--Joseph A. Mussulman "Montana: The Magazine of Western History " "For decades, Lewis and Clark have been blessed with eloquent chroniclers who have retold their story in far more dramatic ways than the participants did themselves. But no writer--not DeVoto, not Ambrose--tells this story with the flair and passion of Dayton Duncan."--Carolyn Gilman, Great Plains Quarterly--Carolyn Gilman "Great Plains Quarterly " "In his collection of 17 finely crafted essays, Duncan brings the dramatic, significant or revealing moments of the exhibition alive, and draws compelling themes and lessons from each story. . . . Duncan is one of the most vivid guides to the expedition writing today. In an essay entitled 'The Lewis and Clark Guide to Leadership, ' Duncan draws ten points from the Corps that every would-be captain today should read and follow."--Nebraskaland--Nebraskaland "Essays on eclectic aspects of America's most famous road trip. . . . Duncan's orations typically draw inspiration from something in the explorers' journals that instantly resonates with enthusiasts, such as Lewis' escape from a bear, or simply a rapturous phrase, such as the one Duncan borrowed for his title."--Booklist--Booklist "An admittedly die-hard fan of Lewis and Clark, Duncan is extremely knowledgeable about the Corps of Discovery's expedition, which is reflected in this fine collection of 16 road essays inspired by his retracing Lewis and Clark's trail over the past 20 years.--Library Journal--Library Journal

Dayton Duncan is an award-winning writer and documentary filmmaker and the author of twelve books, including Out West: A Journey through Lewis and Clark's America and Miles from Nowhere: Tales from America's Contemporary Frontier, both available in Bison Books editions. His most recent books (coauthored with Ken Burns) are The National Parks: America's Best Idea and The Dust Bowl: An Illustrated History.