With THRONE OF GRACE, Tom Clavin and Bob Drury took me on an adventure to early 1800s West, so remote and unknown it wasn't even wild yet. Exploring the unknown land, the bands of explorers encountered animals, sights, and experiences unfathomable to those back in the comfortable, civilized East. That Jedediah Smith forded the rivers, pushed through impossible passages, and managed to live through meetings with friendly and hostile Indians and other beings is remarkable. I was gripped by imagining his and other explorers' journey and delighted to read such a thoughtful, descriptive story.

Nonfiction that is much more exciting than many fiction books I've read lately. History books are filled with the trials, tribulations, and horrors that the brave men and women crossing what would become western United States but so many of the stories are pared down to meet standards for universal readers. Not so THRONE OF GRACE. Tom Clavin and Bob Drury take readers on several of the most dangerous journeys in American history. Jedidiah Smith and the Mountain Men who would travel and fight along side him met every danger and every glory known to men of the time. The story is told with great detail and realistically accurate. I've read several of Clavin's westerns and loved them but he has set a very high bar for his next bar to exceed.

An advance reading copy (arc) of this book was given to me by NetGalley.com and the publisher in return for a fair review. Right off the bat, I will tell you that Tom Clavin (whether he writes alone or with a partner) is one of my favorite authors and he never disappoints. This book was very interesting as it takes places in the early 1800s when the westward movement was just beginning. Experienced trappers and mountain men like Jed Smith were already out there working, mapping, and dealing with the rugged terrain. It's hard to think about a country where there were no roads (let alone highways) and no easy way to get to places like Missouri, Colorado, and Utah--let alone California. These men also had to deal with Native Americans who resented the intrusion on their land, as well as Mexican officials who felt the same way (remember much of our western territory was owned by Mexico at the time). Authors Tom Clavin and Bob Drury did a great job brining this era to life through their vivid descriptions of people and places. My only complaint is that I found it hard to keep track of all of the mountain men depicted in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Westward movement as it really marked the very beginning. Can't wait to see what Tom Clavin comes up with next!

I enjoyed the book right from the beginning, but there were a few areas in the first third that really bored me. It might be simply a personal preference, but there were a few sections that I would have cut or at least pared back if I were the editor of this book. Some of the details of the first part of Jed Smith's life and journey with Major Ashley didn't feel necessary to me at all and really slowed things down. As a reference book, I can understand wanting to keep those sections in. As someone reading it just for pleasure, they felt unnecessary. Take from that what you will.

Things picked up a bit once we got to Hugh Glass and the bear attack. There still were sections that I didn't find necessary (did we really need all that background on every single Indian tribe Jed came within fifty miles of?) but at least interesting things were finally happening. I was most intrigued by the last 2/3 of the book, when Jed and friends finally got to California. The mission system, viewed by outsiders, is one of the most interesting things to me, and I enjoyed most of the book past about 60%. I would have liked to hear more about the Russians in America, especially their connection with the fur trade that brought Jed out west, however they merited only a few passing mentions. I really wish much of the first half of the book had been cut and more time had been spent on all the cool things Jed Smith did, instead of focusing on so many boring things, but I can't tell how much of this is just personal preference. I'm not saying that the book is terrible since so much of it feels like a prologue to all the thrilling things that happened in Jed Smith's life, because perhaps that was partly the intent of the author, to show how Jed came to be what he was, but I was a bit let down by what a small portion of the book was devoted to what I found truly engrossing about this mountain man (mainly his exploits after 1825). It made the whole thing feel much more like the kind of book one would only pick up to check a certain fact, rather than the kind that one (someone like me) reads just for fun. Perhaps that was 100% the intention of the authors and publishing team etc. I certainly don't know. But in my personal experience with this book, I found most of it difficult to read because it seemed like the magnifying glass was trained on all the wrong parts of Jed Smith's life. His super cool exploits got only passing mentions and all the uninteresting things he did before that were described in such detail that one's eyes glazed over almost immediately upon trying to read them. It felt like the purview was both too wide in its scope (in how no tiny mundane detail was excluded at times) but also too narrow (in how some of the most interesting things were relegated to a few hasty mentions in the final handful of chapters).

Some of the Indians in the first half of the book were described ad nauseum, yet the same treatment wasn't given to the Indians Jed meets the second half. For example, we learn an immense amount about the different Sioux tribes and the Arikara, what they eat, what they wear, where they live, how old their children were when they had to start carrying tipi skins, where they originally migrated from, which prehistoric Central American people they broke from thousands of years ago, etc. But we are given only the barest glance into the lives of the Miwok Indians even though Jed Smith was accused of conspiring with them against the Mexicans and was warned by them that the soldatos were coming for him, and that's how he escaped arrest. Who knows how different his life (and this book) might have been if he'd spent years rotting away in a Mexican prison? Yet apparently the author decided the Miwok weren't as interesting as the Pawnee or Blackfeet, so their history is excluded. Again, this is simply my opinion and may not affect another's enjoyment of the book.

All of these complaints aside, there were parts of the book that I absolutely loved. There were a handful of chapters that I enjoyed immensely. The footnotes in every chapter were almost always interesting and really added some flavor to an otherwise occasionally dull narrative. And there were certainly pockets of thought-provoking material all throughout. One of my favorite small sections was the part where we learn about the history of the horse in North America. I could have read several chapters on just how the Indians took the horses from the Spanish and modeled huge aspects of their culture around it after only a few years. Completely engrossing. I only wish the book had spent as much time describing the Spanish missions (and history of the mission system in general) as it did horses or a single Indian tribe's history, especially since Jed actually stayed at some of the missions while in California. A few real missed opportunities.

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A detailed account of the opening of the West from the perspective of the Mountain Men. The book focuses on Jedediah Smith, but includes many other adventurers including Hugh Glass (the subject of the movie Revenant), Jim Bridger and others. We think of the Oregon Trail as the opening of the West. However, this book takes us back to the days when no one knew a route to safely get over the Rocky Mountains to California. Smith and his contemporaries were motivated by the quest for beaver pelts. They were under constant attack from wildlife (both Smith and Glass were mauled by bears and lived to tell about it). More threatening were the various tribes of native Americans, especially the Blackfeet who were as warlike in the northern Rockies as the Comanche were in the Southwest. If not for the lure of treasure in beaver pelts and the daring of men like Smith, the West would not have been opened for many years.
A well written book that is carefully researched and is very readable.
Thanks the the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an amazing book about mountain men. Transportation is so easy now and we ca fly coast to coast in hours. There are not men like these today. They spent months traveling thousands of miles into unknown and often hostile territory. Some survived horrific near deaths and fought unbelievable owes to survive. This is a must read about the true history of our country

I found this account of the explorer and mountain man Jedediah Smith interesting and engaging.. What a fascinating life, and it's told in a way that illuminates the larger history of the West and the first white encounters there. I hadn't realized how widespread the beaver trade was, or that many of the western rivers were already trapped out by the 1820s. So I enjoyed this book but it was diminished a bit by comparison with Stephen Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage," which covered the Lewis & Clark expedition and was a masterpiece. They both discussed the early United States adventures in the West, and any book would be diminished in comparison with Ambrose.

DNF -- read two chapters and that just wasn't what I thought it would be. Very straight-informational more than a story.

I first must start this review by stating that I love history. I am fascinated with history from all time periods. For me, military history is probably my favorite. My husband and I sell cartographic books and maps as well as other types of books. This book appealed to me because I didn't know a lot about Mountain Men. I could follow along easily, one reason was because I have crisscrossed the US, from coast to coast including all 50 states including most of Canada. Anyone reading this book must take to heart the unyielding land, the complexity of having to cope with all the different tribes, the Canadians, and the list goes on. I found it to be a compelling read, definitely not a mundane dry recitation of facts. History buffs aside, this book will appeal to a wide audience from adventure lovers to just about anyone who enjoys a well-written book. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

This is a powerful story of the true men who opened up the Mountain West and the way to California. These me went in search of beaver pelts which were plentiful in the rivers coming off the continental divide. They tried to get along with the native tribes in the area, learning the language and many marrying into the many tribes (sometimes in more than one).

They tried to combine trapping with ecology, they understood how easily it would be to annihilate the animals in a single area in a short time, so they tried to spread their trapping in different areas each season. They had problems with those Companies like the Hudson Bay Company who sold alcohol to the natives and wiped out the beavers in one area after another. The Canadian wanted to turn a part of the northern Rockies into a 'beaver desert;' to protect the beaver in Canada.

Though some of these mountain men became famous for their discoveries and knowledge, most of them died at a young age (under fifty) unknown and unmorned.

Throne of Grace, while mentioned briefly late in the book, doesn't seem to be a title that encapsulates the adventure that Clavin and Drury take the reader on. The main figure the book follows is Jedediah Smith, a man that signed on as a hunter for a fur trapping expedition in the years not long removed from Lewis and Clark's expedition. Smith, a man mostly forgotten to history that I knew nothing about before reading this, evolved from a hunter to a full blown mountain man, capable of trapping, surviving harsh weather and climate, and skirmishes with indigenous tribes, Canadian trappers and representatives of the Mexican government. The book is a reminder of what an open wilderness much of the United States used to be, the beginnings of the many years of hostile interactions between whites and native tribes west of the Mississippi, the next generation of pioneering spirit after the much more well known Daniel Boone, and the greed of men for money and territory that started destroying species like the beaver and the impact their disappearance had on the environment several centuries before current times. The book feels like a constant string of adventures, near misses, and hostile encounters - but of course it's much easier to tell this part of the story and keep the reader engaged than try and wax poetic about the days of little food and little excitement. When Jedediah's time on this green Earth comes to an end, it feels like too quick of a finish for all the time the book spent focused on his adventures and ability to survive despite less than favorable odds, but the book is still enjoyable and covers a time, place and historical figure that often receive little focus. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It feels only fair to preface this review with the fact that I typically am not a reader of history books. I was invited to read this one and I jumped at the opportunity to learn more about American history and the discovery of the western part of our country.

That said, this book reads more like a story than a textbook, which I appreciate (I’ve read some very dry historical books). It’s hard to imagine a time when the US wasn’t fully discovered and explored, so it was definitely interesting to read about what happened and what Jed and others saw and experienced (however, some of it is very sad). It’s amazing that he was one of the first to cross the Mojave desert and enter California.

Ultimately, I enjoyed the book and I feel like I learned a lot. I also have an appreciation for the men that were brave enough to explore the unknown (I’d like to say I’d be brave enough to do that, but I’m not sure I would!)

Yet another wonderfully informative and delightfully written story of those who explored the West and laid the foundation for further explorations. This is the story of Jed Smith who mapped a lot of the West with maps later used by the US Army.

This was easily readable, very informative and most enjoyable.

I’m grateful to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This well-written and nicely-paced story of the lesser known mountain man and explorer Jedediah Smith is a great read. Because Smith was not the self-promoter that so many of these men were, his story is less popular although every bit as fascinating. Smith was one of, if not the first, explorers to open up the western United States.

Smith was one of those people with a curiosity about what lay beyond, around the next turn, over the next mountain. He didn't fit any of the stereotypes: he neither smoked nor drank, never took a native wife, and traveled with a Bible in his saddlebags. He had a canny intelligence and sense of direction and geography and his journals, now in the Library of Congress, are articulate and filled with information.

His modesty coupled with his early death led to popular ignorance of his many achievements and journeys. It was a revelation to read this well-told account. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Up until now, every book I have read by Tom Clavin and Bob Drury has received my hearty approval. That streak will not end with Throne of Grace. Drury and Clavin have mastered the ability to make a history book sound like a story you hear from a long lost friend at the bar. There is a ton of characters, dramatic twists, and more than a few laughs.

Throne of Grace tells the story of the first forays of Americans into what would become the Wild West and the West Coast. Specifically, the story tries to center around one Jedediah Smith. As you may have guessed from the first name, he grew up religious and stayed that way. Somehow, he still answered the call to explore the west. As with any Clavin and Drury book though, it would be a bit misleading to say this book is about one person. The authors love to pepper their books with quick asides about side characters and will tell a great tall tale even if they point out it probably never happened.

This book also displays the authors willingness to call out hypocrisy and deploy their sardonic wit. A fur trapper starts spouting off about "savages" killing his friends? Clavin and Drury don't hesitate to remind the readers of the massacre that man took part in. American Indians confronting explorers about their greed? It will be pointed out that the accuser recently stole 40 horses from a traveling party outside their own territory. None of these people were saints and I appreciate storytellers who don't shy away from the ugly side of history.

So, as per usual, you should read this. In fact, you can read anything with their names on it.

(This book was provided as an advance reader copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.)

The mountain man is central to the American experience and they embody the spirit of the nation. Desiring a life free from constraints and exploring unknown territories these men continued the spirit of those before them. Jedidiah Smith is one of these legends and Clavin and Drury have done a great job of recreating his life story. We see Smith’s beginnings and his whole life while we also see a young nation grow and the interactions with the native tribes of this land which past Jedidiah Smith’s would reach a tragic conclusion. Hats off to these gentlemen form chronicling this American legend’s life,

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book on the opening of the American west, the explorers who mapped it, the indigenous people who lived there, and the many inevitable clashes that would occur.

Between the Wars of 1812 and the American Civil war, vast expanses of the west and Northwest were opened to people with the want, desire and willingness to face death in many ways. The purchase of much of this land by President Thomas Jefferson had led to one successful expedition the Lewis and Clark Corps of America. People were land hungry, and wanted to know what was out there. Especially those in the fur trade who knew that a good hunting season could make a small fortune in China. Beaver pelts were in demand, and people were willing to face the unknown to quench that need, and make fortunes. However this land was home to quite a few indigenous people, who might not be happy with the encroaching hordes. Added to this were Canadian fur trappers also interested in making their own wealth. Into this rode a young man, whose head was full of tales from Lewis and Clark, and need to make his own name. Though it would take awhile. Throne of Grace: A Mountain Man, an Epic Adventure, and the Bloody Conquest of the American West by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin is a story about a young America, the birth of manifest destiny and the legacy these men and women, explorer, settlers, and Indigenous left behind.

The book begins in an arid desert, with water holes drying out, two explorers running low on supplies, and in the distance trouble. This is our introduction to Jedediah Smith, one of the premiere explorers of the west, one whose story was lost for awhile. Smith grew up in New York of good strong Puritan stock, but with dreams of exploration passed to him by a teacher and mentor. Smith left home to make his wealth, travelling to the, at the time, border town of St. Louis, where Smith saw an ad that made his legacy. The ad was for one hundred enterprising young men to travel to the Rocky Mountains and explore and trap this new area, for profit. Smith was an imposing man, and even though he lacked experience, made Wiliam Ashley, who was in charge, hire him. Smith was soon fighting, exploring and making a strong name for himself, both for his tenacity in combat, and his wanderings. Smith was one of the first Americans to cross the Mojave Desert, and enter California, which at the time was still a part of Mexico. Along with Smith, readers meet many others, hunters, fur trappers, natives, foreigners, as well as learn about the times and especially the areas Smith walked through.

A book about a country growing in leaps and bounds, and how brave men and women were willing to go West and make their fortunes. Or lose their lives. I've read quite a few books by Clavin and Drury and have always been impressed not only with their writing, but the research that they do in finding people to discuss, and their lives. The narratives moves well, the characters are of course interesting. Both men bring a bit of boy's own adventure to the story, with battles, small fights, bad situations, and lots and lots of walking, along with a good understanding or what was at stake and what the big picture was. Also their view of the indigenous people and the slow erosion in land, culture and way of life is explored. A history of the west, before the west really began.

Recommended for fans of their previous books. This goes well with the book on Daniel Boone, two men who seem bigger than life and legend. Fans of western history and American history in general will also enjoy.

Knowing almost nothing about Jedediah Smith or the Mountain Men, this account was eye-opening. I felt sorry for the poor decimated beavers, victims of fashion and international jockeying for territory, and killed by the thousands. (Read EAGER to learn more about these wonderful, drought-busting animals who should always be allowed to do whatever they like because they're so helpful for the environment.) But while Smith and his counterparts (both white and Indian) may not have died by the thousands, they certainly did die in the most gruesome of ways and usually at each other's hands.

This book will make you break out the road atlas and make you wish to get out exploring the highways and byways of the American West.

This book is about Jed Smith and his adventures of as one the first Mountain Men in the west and one who was the first to explore several areas of the western United States. It is a combination of historical fact and projections of conversations. It is well written and an engaging read.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page

I had really enjoyed blood and treasure by the same authors. So I was really excited to get back into the American frontier with them. It had what I enjoyed from that book in this book. And I had never heard a Jedediah Smith before, so it was exciting to learn about something new.
It tells a great story that that works so well with the exploration theme, and from what I enjoyed from the first book I read from them..Tom Clavin and Bob Drury have a great style to them and you could tell they did the research for this type of book. I'm glad I got to read this and hope to read more Western adventures with them.