Book Description

Timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition is this remarkable account of Alexander Mackenzie--the explorer who beat Lewis and Clark across the North American continent. Mackenzie accomplished this feat an astounding twelve years before the Corps of Discovery. Drawing extensively on the journals of Mackenzie and other turn-of-the-century explorers--and featuring historical and contemporary photographs, illustrations, and maps--Hayes presents a lively portrait of the explorer who both preceded Lewis and Clark and provided an impetus for their expedition. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Illustrated throughout with maps and photographs
First Crossing by historian Derek Hayes is the amazing story of Alexander Mackenzie, and his trailblazing journey across the North American continent before civilized society conquered the North American wilderness. Illustrated throughout with maps and photographs in black-and-white and color, the deftly researched and meticulously reported details of Mackenzie's voyage vividly reconstruct an 18th Century expedition of truly insurmountable bravery and pivotally important discovery.

Not much new!
OK, there is some new information here. Mostly it seems that Hayes has helped illustrate the travels of Mackenzie, something that was not available previously. Barry Gough's book is notoriously lacking in any illustration of Mackenzie's voyages and Mackenzie's own book is virtually without useful illustration. Maybe having read the previous two books makes me jaded but Mackenzie's voyages can only be retold so many times.
Hayes has presented us with a slightly new take on telling the story with pictures, maps and historical vignettes but I hunger for a more thorough job. Perhaps more in the nature of Moulton's "Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition". Finding someone willing to wade through Mackenzie's rather impenetrable prose may be a challenge.
Notwithstanding the above this is probably the best explanation of Mackenzie's voyages since the original journals. ... Read more

Book Description

Considering the fact that he was one of the greatest golf course architects in the history of the game, Dr. Alister MacKenzie has long been something of a puzzle-if not a mystery.He liked to wear kilts, but he wasn't a Scotsman.He graduated from medical school, but he never made a living at it.He designed spectacular courses, but he was not a good golfer.At the height of his career he was one of the most sought after designers in the world, but he was nearly broke when he died.

The Life and Work of Dr. Alister MacKenzie by Tom Doak, James Scott, and Ray Haddock uses detailed text, four-color photograpy and vintage maps, drawings and pictures to bring together many pieces of the puzzle.Questions about his boyhood, his military service, his many design trips in various parts of the world, what made him so good at his craft, and why his name is rarely mentioned at the second-golf course he ever worked on, are all answered.Golfers, golf historians, and students of golf course architecture will learn a great deal from this interesting biography.

Fact: When MacKenzie designed what would become one of the most famous courses in America, he forgot to include a 9th hole.

Fact: He once wrote that: "I have always wanted to live where one could practice (golf) shots in one's pajamas before breakfast..."

The Life and Work of Dr. Alister MacKenzie: A biography on one of golf's most eccentric, interesting, brilliant, colorful, and sometimes sad characters. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Life and Work of Dr. Alister MacKenzie
A collaboration of love - not only for Dr. MacKenzie but the essential history of the game of golf. Insightful, textured prose combined with correspondence, primary architectural renderings by Dr. MacKenzie and photographs, this work is the finest published on his life,and his life's work. This book comes with my highest recommendation and should be an integral
addition to every golf library. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first white man to cross North America, Scottish-born Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820) was typical of his generation of explorers: this bold adventurer who surveyed the untamed wilderness with impressive accuracy was also a hardheaded businessman who ventured into unknown Canadian territory in search of profits from fur trading. Canadian historian Barry Gough admires Mackenzie's toughness and daring without glossing over the towering ego and knack for self-promotion that won him a knighthood from England in 1802. First Across the Continent is another enjoyable entry in the University of Oklahoma's WesternBiographies series. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Factual narrative
Pretty good book.Gives a rather matter-of-fact account of MacKenzie's life.Not alot of detail or passion in either of his 2 great voyages.Interesting in all the other people brought into the story.Now I want toread about Peter Pond, MacKenzies' predecessor.Short and a quick read. ... Read more

Download Description

Alexander Mackenzie, explorer and fur trader, was possibly the first white man to cross North America, travelling mostly by canoe. This edition includes journals of both his 1798 and 1893 trips, plus his History of the Fur Trade. ... Read more