Jim Bridger, Mountain Man: A Biography

by Stanley Vestal

Book Overview

Even among the mighty mountain men, Jim Bridger was a towering figure. He was one of the greatest explorers and pathfinders in American history. He couldn't write his name, but at eighteen he had braved the fury of the Missouri, ascending it in a keelboat flotilla commanded by that stalwart Mike Fink. By 1824, when he was only twenty, he had discovered the Great Salt Lake. Later he was to open the Overland Route, which was the path of the Overland...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803257201
• ISBN13: 9780803257207
• Release Date: March 1970
• Publisher: Bison Books
• Length: 346 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Biography

I just finish reading this book. I thought it was very excellent and intriguing about Jim Bridger. A man, who took no pleasure in killing, following the number one rule, "Survival of the Fittest and Kill or be Killed. I would've like to have gotten more information on his wife and children. It's sad about what happened to his daughter and that he was widowed twice. But it's good to know that his last years were spent with his children and grandchildren. I was brought almost to tears upon reading the final chapter of this book. I'm very fascinated with the Mountain Men and the Indian women they married.

Jim Bridger

So far so good. The book tells the life story of Bridger, which is what I wanted to see.

An endearing llook at an historic character

Bridger is a larger than life character. The author portrays Bridger as a character who was unimpressed with developed society. His treasure was the mountains and the mystery of an undeveoped land and people. His humility and lack of concern for unbelievers of the wonder of the mountains aligns him with someone who has a tremendous fishing hole but doesnt want anyone to fish it dry.

It's the best book ever

This book is awesome !!!!!!!

Histroial Biography Of Jim Bridger Early American Explorer

Stanley Vestal did an admirably good job in recreating an accurate history of the early 1800's in the American West. This historical biography delves into the little known life of the great American explorer, trapper, and scout, Jim Bridger. He starts with his youth and factually chronicles almost every known aspect of his life until his death at the old age 76. (which you will find was quite characteristic of many a mountain man.) Jim Bridger was the discoverer of the Great Salt Lake and most points of interest in the Rocky Mountain Range. His verbal descriptions of the unknown west are given in Vestal's book and vividly show why Bridger was one of the main reasons the early settlers heading west to Oregon survived. Vestal writes this book in the language used by the early "mountain men." He explains the "special" vocabulary used by these early men of courage. Vestal tells of actual evnts involving the American aboriginal peoples known as "Indians." He tells of the good things and the bad things that happen to these people, and why; and yet doesn't present the episodes in the usual "cry baby" attitude used by many of today's writers describing our aboriginal Americans In this book, Vestal gives the reader glimpes of the real lives of Hugh Glass, Kit Carson, William Sublette, and other explorers of the time. Jim Bridger, although not usually recognized for this, was nearly single-handedly responsible for the opening of the Great American West. Jim Bridger was a friend to the aboriginal Americans. He understood them. Vestal brings this to life, as well as explaining thr REAL reason the settlers and aboriginal Americans developed conflicts. Stanley Vestal did a marvelous job in this book. I highly recommend it as a textbook for any student of American history. It is told in real terms, without appologies. This book would be a great book to precede James Michener's Centennial, and Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage (a history of Lewis and Clark). Thank you. ---- Paul Holtzheimer II (request@nas.com