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Behind the Book with Craig Fehrman

Bestselling author Craig Fehrman shares his new book "The Vast Enterprise." Registration is required for this free author event.

This Vast Enterprise offers a fresh and more accurate account of one of the most important episodes in American history, humanizing forgotten figures and shattering long-held myths. In 1806, when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark return from their journey—having led the Corps of Discovery across eight thousand miles of rapids, mountains, forests, and ravines—they bring an incredible tale starring themselves as courageous explorers, skilled survivalists, underrated scientists, and peaceful ambassadors. While there is truth in those descriptions, there is also distortion. Author Craig Fehrman spent five years visiting more than thirty archives, interviewing more than a hundred sources, and collecting oral history passed down over centuries. Drawing on extensive research, he reveals how the expedition’s success relied on a diverse cast—soldiers, Indigenous leaders, and enslaved individuals—whose stories have long been sidelined. Fehrman balances the story’s adventure with the humanity of its protagonists. The result is a thrilling reminder that even the most familiar moments in history can still surprise us.

Book sales and signing will follow the conversation. Registration is required for this free author event. Presented by the Carmel Clay Public Library Foundation.

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