"An exhilarating adventure story . . . also a significant description of life in the region [of the Missouri River] as it was . . . years ago, enlivened by humor, social criticism, and philosophic speculation."—<i>Western American Literature</i>
"For pleasure reading, the story has much charm and interest. The reader gets the ‘feel’ of the journey but escapes its actual hardships."—<i>Journal of the West</i>
"A memorable blending of poetry, realistic on-the-spot reporting, fur trade history, Greek mythology, and love for the river . . . that reaches a high-water mark in the literature of the West."—<i>Denver Westerners Monthly Roundup</i>
"It is hard not to be caught up in this enthusiastic young man’s glimpse of Americana."—<i>Christian Century</i>