Let me start by saying this isn't your typical historical novel. Howard Frank Mosher's 'The True Account' takes the Lewis & Clark expedition and turns it into something delightfully absurd, like Mark Twain meets Don Quixote in the American wilderness.

The real star here is Private True Teague Kinneson - this eccentric Vermont character had me laughing out loud with his outrageous antics. Picture this: a Yankee original charging across the Louisiana Territory with his wide-eyed nephew Ticonderoga (yes, that's really his name), determined to beat Lewis & Clark to the Pacific. The sheer audacity of it!

Now, fair warning - the antiquated language threw me at first. I actually put it down twice before pushing through, but boy am I glad I did. Once you get about a third of the way in and accept this isn't meant to be serious history, the story really takes off.

What surprised me most was how Mosher weaves actual historical details into all this madness. It's like eating your vegetables hidden in a deliciously silly cake - you're learning while being thoroughly entertained.

The book arrived in perfect condition (mine was a signed first edition!), and after finishing it, I completely understand why that 92-year-old superfan keeps rereading Mosher's works. There's just something magical about how he blends humor, adventure, and American folklore.

If you love unconventional historical fiction or just need a good laugh wrapped in an adventure story, give this one a shot. Just push through those first few chapters - I promise it's worth it!