Craig Fehrman, a writer and historian, has uncovered new perspectives within the journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, resulting in a fresh interpretation of the well-documented 19th-century journey. His new book, "This Vast Enterprise," offers a biographical history that deepens the narrative by including the viewpoints of Native Americans and other less-represented figures from the expedition.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition, which explored the western territories of the United States between 1804 and 1806, has been the subject of numerous works. However, Fehrman saw untapped material within the extensive diaries of Merriweather Lewis and William Clark, which together amount to over a million words. After multiple readings, Fehrman determined that many details and perspectives had yet to be fully explored, motivating him to undertake a new account over five years.

Fehrman’s approach distinguishes itself by framing the story through the eyes of multiple participants, not just Lewis and Clark. The book is structured in 17 chapters, each shifting the narrative point of view among ten individuals connected to the journey, including Clark’s enslaved servant York, the guide Sacajawea, Lakota leader Black Buffalo, and others. This ensemble storytelling aims to portray a more complex, immersive experience that highlights the diverse experiences and goals of different groups involved in or affected by the expedition.

One notable example Fehrman discusses is the scant mention of York early in the journals. A single line describing York’s labors saw him sawing lumber to build the winter fort at St. Louis before the expedition officially began. Fehrman elaborates on the physical demands and social implications of York’s work, using this brief note to reconstruct York’s layered role within the group, particularly given York’s status as an enslaved man navigating his place amid predominantly white soldiers.

The book also draws from rarely seen sources, such as a century-old interview with Wolf Calf, a Blackfoot man who recounted interactions with Lewis’s party. This Native perspective shed light on encounters previously documented mainly from the explorers’ viewpoints. Fehrman sought to balance these accounts, synthesizing multiple narratives to approach a fuller understanding of the expedition.

Mental health is another subject Fehrman revisits, particularly regarding Merriweather Lewis. Rather than imposing modern diagnostic labels like bipolar disorder or PTSD, Fehrman relied on contemporary accounts—such as Thomas Jefferson’s reference to Lewis’s "sensible depressions of mind" and letters noting struggles with alcoholism—to contextualize Lewis’s condition as he understood it in his time.

Fehrman also examined William Clark’s attitudes toward York, citing correspondence that reveals Clark’s ongoing struggle with his prejudices. Clark, a slave owner, reportedly attempted to discipline York violently after the expedition, underscoring the complexity of their relationship. Fehrman stresses that his biographical method seeks neither to excuse nor condemn historical figures but to present them as multifaceted individuals shaped by their era.

Throughout the writing process, Fehrman deliberately used qualifiers like “probably” and “surely” to convey a historian’s careful judgment rather than uncertainty. He emphasized that such terms reflect a responsible acknowledgment of the limits of the historical record while still offering well-supported interpretations.

Ultimately, "This Vast Enterprise" invites readers to reconsider the Lewis and Clark story by examining it through an expanded lens that includes multiple voices and experiences, with a particular focus on the Native peoples and marginalized participants who played critical roles in the expedition’s history.