Jim Bridger

Trailblazer of the American West

By: Jerry Enzler

Narrated by: Danny Campbell

Even among iconic frontiersmen like John C. Fremont, Kit Carson, and Jedediah Smith, Jim Bridger stands out. A mountain man of the American West, straddling the fur trade era and the age of exploration, he lived the life legends are made of. Here, in a biography that finally gives this outsize character his due, Jerry Enzler takes this frontiersman's full measure for the first time—and tells a story that would do Jim Bridger proud.

Born in 1804 and orphaned at thirteen, Bridger made his first western foray in 1822, traveling up the Missouri River with Mike Fink and a hundred enterprising young men to trap beaver. At twenty he "discovered" the Great Salt Lake. In the following years, he led trapping brigades into Blackfeet territory; guided expeditions of Smithsonian scientists, topographical engineers, and army leaders; and, though he could neither read nor write, mapped the tribal boundaries for the Great Indian Treaty of 1851. Enzler charts Bridger's path from the fort he built on the Oregon Trail to the route he blazed for Montana gold miners to avert war with Red Cloud and his Lakota coalition.

Tapping sources uncovered in the six decades since the last documented Bridger biography, Enzler's book fully conveys the drama and details of the larger-than-life history of the "King of the Mountain Men."

©2021 Jerome Enzler (P)2023 Tantor

Amazing Explorer

Fascinating story about a man who travelled and explored the unmapped areas west of the Mississippi. He forged pathways for others to follow, and he did it all by foot or horseback. An excellent read!

Great History But the Writing

Great history but written in a way that makes it difficult to follow as there is so much. The narrator's voice is good for the subject matter but the pace is too rapid. Jim Bridger was a tip scout but the writing might have martyred him a bit too much.

I like the narrator he had the voice of mountain man

Looks like the author tried hard to get the truth for many legends about Jim Bridger

Well Yep!

Very good colorful well researched historical lesson about the Spirit of the 19th century exploring American! We need more people like Jim Bridger today!

Interesting Historical Account

I have to admit, when I first started the book I was a little underwhelmed and I think I was letting some of the reviews get to me. But I pushed on and after a couple of chapters I was hooked. It’s more like a documentary that they massaged to sound like a story but they did a fair job. It must have taken a ton of time to collect all of this information and put it in chronological order so hats off to the team that did that. The narrator was ok, he has an old timey voice that works pretty well with the story. Definitely recommended to those of you who like American history.

very good

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. it was a great listen. Just a bit dry at times.

Amazing story, glad I chose it!

Packed with adventure and history!
I didn’t care for the “1950’s cartoon prospector” voice of the narrator at first, but it grew on me and ended up being the perfect voice to narrate this story!
I liked that Bridger was respected by the natives when most were not, that speaks volumes to his character.
Well done!

Great recounting of the life of a great man.

Very detailed biography with many personal references that keep the listener wanting to hear more.

Bridger stands tall

The author treads the fine line between telling this iconic man’s story without falling down the slippery slope of embellishment for its own sake. There is much here to whet the appetite of those interested in the early days of the Western expansion. I learned a lot and was pleased to note that other unsung almost forgotten men such as Joseph Walker got a mention alongside Smith and Carson, The Young/Donner party catastrophe was matter of factly retold, stripped of hyperbole the story was made all the more understandable. The forces of nature in the wilderness must be understood if one is to survive.
Narration initially seemed disjointed but he grew on me.
Excellent, highly recommended.
John

History of the West

Great story and oral presentation . Jim Bridger was a true hero of the early American West