Brave Companions by David McCullough: book review

Brave Companions: Portraits in History (2007) is a collection of stories, articles, or profiles, of 17 great people in history.

Historian David McCullough divides the book into five sections: (1) Phenomena, (2) The Real West, (3) Pioneers, (4) Figures in a Landscape, and (5) On We Go.

He covers the following people: (1) Alexander von Humboldt, (2) Louis Agassiz, (3) Harriet Beecher Stowe, (4) Antoine de Vallombrosa, Marqis de Mores, (5) Fred Remington, (6) Bedford Clapperton Pim, (7) Washington Roebling, (8) Francis P. Valentine, (9) Charles A. Lindbergh Jr., (10) Conrad Richter, (11) Harry Monroe Caudill, (12) Miriam Rothschild, (13) David Plowden, (14) the city, Washington DC, (15) America 1936-1969, (16) Anna Sadilek, and (17) Simon Willard.

These are all brave companions, ‘the best of companions.’

Not all were as successful as they aimed to be: ‘Humboldt never reached the summit of Chimborazo. Agassiz’s star faded. Washington Roebling endured the painful effects of his work on the Brooklyn Bridge for the rest of his days. Harry Caudill did not live to see an end to strip mining or poverty in Kentucky. Yet … these are all success stories.’

As the author says, history is chiefly about life. And so he tells of the lives of the ‘unfathomable forces’ in history that make great individuals. Are the forces events, single personalities, a person’s character, or the collective activities of a group?

There are interesting facts throughout the book. German explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt put the village Esmeralda in South America on the map, where it often remains to this day, ‘despite the fact that there is no longer a single trace of the place.’

I liked the chapter on British naturalist Miriam Rothschild (1908-2005), whose specialty was fleas, especially bird fleas. But she also contributed knowledge on anatomy, chemistry, entomology, pharmacology, neurophysiology, zoology, marine biology, and botany. She was the first person to install seat belts in a motor car, and tried, unsuccessfully, to have the idea patented. Miriam was also, secretly, involved in the Enigma Project at Bletchley Park trying to decipher German code during the war. For all of that, living to 96 years of age, she describes herself as a farmer.

I also liked the chapter on American Simon Willard (1605-1676), the clockmaker – but before that he was a senator, secretary of state, and president. He established the Smithsonian Institution.

McCullough includes a range of historical people and their impact on the world in diverse fields. What do they have in common? Their common traits include engagement, commitment, enthusiasm, focus, concentrated effort, energy, stamina, and the belief that everything in life is interesting. The key is attitude, McCullough says. This fascinating book proves it.

MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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