BRIDGER: The Story of a Mountain Man
By
In this fictionalized treatment, Jim Bridger, renowned American trailblazer and scout, relates the adventures of his first trapping expedition 200 (miles up the Missouri River and beyond. In 1822, 18-year-old Jim answers an ad for ""enterprising young men"" and soon finds himself on a Missouri Rivet keelboat along with river men (including a raunchy Mike Fink), trappers, soldiers, and greenhorns. Jim describes in concise but graphic passages his first lessons in beaver trapping, his horror at the mutilation of bodies by victorious Indian warriors, and the fine art of butchering a buffalo. There are lyrical descriptions of the Crow Indians' ancient home, the first sighting of the Continental Divide and the Great Salt Lake, and the night he shares with an Indian maiden. Bridger's comments also offer a glimpse into the politics of fur trading and trapping. Kherdian's portrait will appeal to adventure-minded readers. Those who want to read more about Bridger will be frustrated by the absence of a bibliography or any indication of sources consulted.