Across The Endless River is a wonderful and captivating novel account of the life of Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau. The book is written by Thad Carhart author of The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier which was on the bestseller list.
The marvelous detail and picturesque way in which Carhart brings the known historical details of life during this time frame, together with his detailed and beautifully portrayed thoughts of what could so easily have been the details of Baptiste's life at that time in history is remarkable.
Across The Endless River gives insight into Jean-Baptiste's thoughts about so many things, including viewing those in Europe who were not privy to the rank, wealth, extravagances and royalty of the elite lifestyle of the aristocracy — the life that the majority of people dealt with in the ever crowding Europe at that time.
Carhart also showed great care and at times intricate details of frontier life and Native American life in the wilds of North America, the New World — the freedom in living as well as the dangers and hardships.
Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau is the son of Sacagawea of the Shoshon tribe and the Mandan tribe on the Missouri, and Toussaint Charbonneau, a French fur trader and guide originally from Montreal. Traced is Jean-Baptiste's journey through his youth and young adulthood, told in such a way that I could hardly put the book down until I finished it.
Jean-Baptiste's parents traveled with Lewis and Clark on their historic discovery expedition to the Pacific and back — Baptiste was born on that journey.
As a side note, Captain William Clark gave him the nickname Pomp or Pompy and named Pompys Pillar National Monument after Baptiste. I found out recently that Baptiste as a baby is the only child ever depicted on a United States coin to date - the Sacagawea dollar depicts his mother Sacagawea with Baptiste in his cradle board.
Article comments
1 - Michael Ritter
Hi Fran,
in your marvelous review of Across the Endless River, by Thad Carhartt, you wrote, "...there is little that is actually detailed in writing, or known about, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau's life."
Au contraire, you might appreciate his historical bio: Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, Man of Two Worlds.
Best,
Michael
2 - Fran
Michael, thanks so much for your kind words on my review.
I just read the review for your book, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, Man of Two Worlds. Sounds like a wonderful book! And right up my ally!
Thank you for letting me -- and everyone else who reads this review -- know about it! Awesome!