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.

Drury and Clavin's Thrones of Grace (St. Martin's Press 2024) is a fascinating history of how the sturdy mountain men and the indefatigable fur traders of American legend opened up trade and settlement in the western half of America. I am an aficionado of old west stories so this book caught my attention. I've read hundreds of fictional accounts of life in the old west, but wanted to know more about how America morphed from a natural wilderness to the bustling, people-filled world of settlers, thriving businesses, and commerce. One of the early mountain men who made that possible is Jedidiah Smith. He is a prominent character in this book though only one of many, and there are many. Thanks to this book, a lot of the historical holes I didn't know about are now clear and the who thing makes a lot more sense.

If you love this era in America history, this is the book for you. I award it an enthusiastic 5/5.

Free ARC from NETGALLEY

Jedediah Smith is the focal point and thos3e in 7-12 should be not only exposed to him but learn from him how one is not a number, but one can be enough!!!!



This is the determined duo for now. Almost with an Ambrose flair, but with somehow more intensity and honesty that bring the real past to life, minus the feelings/leanings of today. Read everything they write while you can, fantastic stuff here.