Great River

"Transcends regional history and soars far above the river valley with which it deals . . . a survey, rich in color and fascinating in pictorial detail, of four civilizations: the aboriginal Indian, the Spanish, the Mexican, and the Anglo-American . . . It is, in the best sense of the word, literature. It has architectural plan, scholarly accuracy, stylistic distinction, and not infrequently real nobility of spirit"—Allan Nevins

"One of the major masterpieces of American historical writing."—Carl Carmer

"Extremely well written, in a style that is sometimes as eloquent as Macaulay's, sometimes precise and restrained like that of Prosper MériméeIn short, a book of exceptional merit, among the very best of its kind."—Marcus Cunliffe, Manchester Guardian

"Here is known and unknown history, emotion and color, sense and sensitivity, battles for land and the soul of man, cultures and moods, fused by a glowing pen and a scholarly mind into a cohesive and memorable whole."—Boston Sunday Herald