About book Sign-Talker: The Adventure Of George Drouillard On The Lewis And Clark Expedition (2003)
This is a book by a Bloomington author, James Alexander Thom, about the Lewis & Clark expedition, the Corps of Discovery that went from St. Louis to Oregon and back when Th. Jefferson was president (Madison was president by the time they returned). This is a subject I'm really familiar with, not only from books but having lived and traveled in places where the Corps spent significant time. The marvelous thing about this book is that it is told from an Indian standpoint; Lewis, instead of being lionized is many times ridiculed as just another whiteman. The views of the author happen to rest easily on me, and they have little to do with Jefferson in particular. Not only did the subject of the book, and its viewpoint, grip me, but the writing was exemplary. Factual accounts that invoked emotions. An almost perfect historical novel as far as I'm concerned. I do hope I have an opportunity to meet the author one of these days.The best compliment I can pay this book is that it took me forever to read -- I savored it so. Reading and re-reading pages, to absorb the fact and experience the emotions. In retrospect, I didn't read this book, I experienced it.
An entertaining look at the Lewis and Clark adventureLewis and Clark's famous Voyage of Discovery lasted from 1803-1806. Besides Lewis and Clark there were a number of French trappers, Seaman (Lewis' dog) soldiers, frontier hunters, Clark's slave named York, Sacagewa and her son and George Drouillard, a half-French/half-Shawnee brought along with the dual role of sign-language interpreter and hunter. Meriwether Lewis called Drouillard "One of the two or three most valuable members of the expedition..."In Sign-Talker, James Alexander Thom tells the story of Drouillard, focusing on his journey with Lewis and Clark. This book is James Alexander Thom at his descriptive best - the descriptions of camp life, hunting with Drouillard and the look into his presumed spiritual life gives the reader tremendous insight into what life may have been like 200 years ago...Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...Read all of my reviews of James Alexander Thom books at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/searc...
Do You like book Sign-Talker: The Adventure Of George Drouillard On The Lewis And Clark Expedition (2003)?
Great read! Gripping and interesting. Point of view of Native American was very welcome. Alexander Thom's wife Dark Rain is Shawnee, so no doubt helped Mr. Thom in point of view. Read it! It is on my shelf to reread which I've done at least 2x after the first. You might be interested in finding out more about him and his books => jamesalexanderthom dot comI did some "follow-on" Lewis & Clark expedition exploring. This occurred on the exact dates and places of the Expedition 200 years to the date in 2003, etc. Really great with period clothing and equipment. Wow!
—Rich Drouillard
