At the beginning of the Lewis and Clark Expedition the United States of America had announced the sovereignty of seventeen states. Only thirty years earlier, at the end of the Revolutionary War, the United States had gained independence from Great Britain. Until that point, few people in the United States had seen a map of their country. For this reason, the Lewis and Clark expedition was of inestimable value for the United States of America. In Erin H. Turner's book It Happened on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, she reveals the fact and fiction of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's epic journey. In his book, Turner takes the reader into everything about Lewis and Clark, from their heady nights on the banks of the Missouri River to their discovery of the Pacific. Turner's writing style is boring but effective and gets straight to the point. Instead of leading readers down a path filled with redundant adjectives and vague foreshadowing, he instead focuses on the story and its value. He writes at a level that most people can understand, while still answering any questions the reader may encounter. The obvious reason he wrote this book was to inform readers of the trials and tribulations of Lewis and Clark, while still putting his own interpretation on the events of the expedition. Since Erin Turner was born well after the Lewis and Clark escapade, this means she is recanting the story based on historical writings and diaries. Because of this information gap, the reader sometimes feels a little lost in his words. One of the main objectives of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's expedition was to map the western territory they would pass through. Maps abounded in the journals of Clark and Lewis. These identified maps...... middle of sheet ...... h. Some readers don't even read the epilogue, which in turn leaves his argument silent to the ears of some of his readers. Despite being in the epilogue, Turner highlights in great detail the events he thinks happened to the mysterious diary. Overall, Turner does a great job telling the epic story of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Turner's rather rough dialogue jumps off the page when you fully understand what he is trying to convey. While Turner doesn't include maps, photographs, or even simple drawings, he still finds a way to express his ideas and bring out the full story. This modern and well-written book can be read and interpreted by most scholars and is one of the most fun books to read. Additionally, any scholar looking for a good read on the epic journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, look no further.