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The Magnificent Adventures of Alexander Mackenzie
The incredible story of the discovery of the long-sought Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean across North America.Although Mackenzie’s journey to the Pacific Ocean preceded the Lewis and Clark expedition by twelve years he remains much less well-known. This biography restores Mackenzie to his rightful place in the pantheon of great American explorers and should be essential reading for all who enjoy accounts of expeditions into the Far West.On 10th October 1792, Alexander Mackenzie, a Scot born in a remote island of the Outer Hebrides, left Fort Chipewyan to begin his journey across the vast American wilderness to the Pacific coast.Mackenzie had left his Scottish home as a boy after his mother had passed away. Apprenticed to a fur trading company in Montreal he learnt how to survive in the brutal conditions of these uncharted territories.Learning from First Nations people that local rivers flowed to the northwest from Fort Chipewyan, Mackenzie began the first of his astounding exploratory journeys in July 1789, travelling on the river that would eventually be named in his honor all the way to the Arctic Ocean.Noel Gerson’s The Magnificent Adventures of Alexander Mackenzie brings the magnitude of these exploratory journeys to life. He uncovers not only the fascinating figure of Mackenzie himself but also his travelling companions and the awe-inspiring landscapes through which they travelled.Gerson’s “admiration for his subject is well-founded in this sturdy, steadily interesting, biography.” Kirkus Reviews
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2021
80 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Noel B. Gerson
131 books27 followersNoel Bertram Gerson (1913-1988) was an American author who wrote 325 books, including several best sellers, among them two screenplay novelizations penned under the pseudonym Samuel Edwards, The Naked Maja, and 55 Days at Peking.
Aside from "Samuel Edwards", which would seem to have been his dedicated by-line for tie-in work, Gerson used the following nine pseudonyms in addition to his own name: Anne Marie Burgess; Michael Burgess; Nicholas Gorham; Paul Lewis; Leon Phillips; Donald Clayton Porter; Dana Fuller Ross; Philip Vail; and Carter A. Vaughan.
Aside from "Samuel Edwards", which would seem to have been his dedicated by-line for tie-in work, Gerson used the following nine pseudonyms in addition to his own name: Anne Marie Burgess; Michael Burgess; Nicholas Gorham; Paul Lewis; Leon Phillips; Donald Clayton Porter; Dana Fuller Ross; Philip Vail; and Carter A. Vaughan.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 7, 2022
a grand adventure of the end of the eighteenth century
How the vast Canadian Rockies were explored and a Northwest passage found.
Having read short bits about Mackenzie, this concise biography covers the important discoveries as well as background and closing years.
A should read for anyone interested in North American colonial history.
Easy and informative read
How the vast Canadian Rockies were explored and a Northwest passage found.
Having read short bits about Mackenzie, this concise biography covers the important discoveries as well as background and closing years.
A should read for anyone interested in North American colonial history.
Easy and informative read
September 20, 2022
A very well-written report on an amazing man and an amazing journey. I love bits of history, especially when they are something new.
Now I am curious about finding a copy of Mackenzie's own book oabout the trek.
Now I am curious about finding a copy of Mackenzie's own book oabout the trek.
June 25, 2025
the original reason I bought this book as I wanted to read another book by Samuel Edwards- turns out Philip Vail is a pseudonym for him. I read Barbary General;: The life of William H. Eaton, and thought Wow that is an amazing man in history that I had never heard of, wonder if there are more, well yes. The reading level on the book is more toward jr high age, but it doesnt talk down to ya, Very "G" rated. I believe the goal of this book was to get young people interested in history and still have the pizazz of an action adventure. Sir Mackenzie works for the North West fur trading company, and is looking for the northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean. He is doing this in 1792. he makes two trips into wild western Canada, "discovers" the Mackenzie River. On his second trip in the spring of 1793 he heads west again and accomplishes that goal that Lewis and Clark do 11 years later, and did it in less than 6 months. He used Indian guides and traded for food, portaged around dangerous rapids of the many rivers including the Peace River. The story is of his entire life, focusing on the journey to the Pacific Ocean.
This review was written in 2010 from an Amazon post I made.
This review was written in 2010 from an Amazon post I made.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews