Poor History
The one excerpt I read from this book - a conversation between Dolley and 'Jimmy' Madison regarding Sally Hemings and her sister 'Betsey', calling Jefferson 'Tom' and referring to Sally and 'Betsey' as 'toddlers' when they came to Monticello - reveals the worst research I have ever seen on the subject, a complete lack of knowledge of the period, and the sort of 'First Name/Last Name' reference common to uneducated writers writing historical fiction of late.
With all due respect, Madison's nickname was 'Jemmy'; Sally Hemings' sister BETTY Brown was a good deal older than a toddler when she came to Monticello (Sally was a year old and thus a toddler); and Mr. Jefferson was known to his VERY intimate friends as Thomas; and Mrs. Madison would hardly have lectured her husband on Martha Wayles Jefferson - a women her husband knew well and she not at all.
I shudder to think what the rest of this book is like, if this half-page is any example! One star because I can't give it zero.
The death of George Washington Is symbolic as the end
of the 18th century & the start of the new one. It is a good jumping off point for this prequel to David Nevin's novel, 1812. It is written four years later but his style is unmistakable. It is 608 pages long. Since it is told like a story, I felt the unabridged audio version was the best way to go.
The presidential camapaign of 1800 may have been the vilest & mean-sprited in our history. It also effected a major change in our constitution. No longer would the runner-up in the presidential race become vice president as had previously been the case. It just became be too politically dificult for the president to have his major opponent sitting as president of the Senate. It was the final step into full blown political parties & conventions that we now have. Interestingly, there is no mention of political parties or conventions in our constitution as a way to nominate a presidential canidate.
There are two major plots in this novel that are connected. The first is an expedition clear accross the continent to the Pacific. First mentioned in 1795 by Thomas Jefferson to his neighbor back home in Virginia. This became the Lewis & Clark Expedition of 1804-06. That neighbor was Merriweather Lewis, a Major, U.S. Army. It was a trip to the moon by today's standards. The other plot line was a the fate of New Orleans. Spanish? French?American? It was nominally owned by Spain who could not hold it much longer & everyone knew that. Much depended on the war in Europe. There was currently a truce as Naploloen pondered an invasion of England. There was a slave revolt in the French Colony of Haiti. France sent 25,000 troops. It was also a conveniant jumping off point to invade New Orleans. The United States also needed New Orleans for it controlled the Mississippi River, gateway to the vast interior of the continent, owned, at this time by France. America could not have resisted the French alone. They would need the British Navy. The British were eager to help the Americans. That would have reduced America to a vassel state beholden to England & hastened the sucession of New England (& New York) from the rest of the union. It never came to that of course. As it turned out Napoloen lost his entire 25,000 man army in Haiti to the heat, disease & fierce native resistance. They never returned. He rethought his plan to send another 25,000 men to New Orleans. As all this was going on Major Lewis was obsessing over the expedition. He finally got the go ahead from President Jefferson. It was at first a secret. The expedition would be tresspaasing through French territory. Lewis felt it would be a long shot that the French would kmow about it much less find him.
Through-out this history lesson is the drama of the personal lives of Lewis, Jefferson, James & Dolly Madison, Vice President Aaron Burr, John Ouincy Adams etc. & many fictious characters to advance the plots. What is happening in New Orleans or Paris or Washinton D.C.? The tension between France & The United States at this time is well exploited by Mr. Nevin.
Spain has given New Orleans legally to the the French. Finally Napoleon sells not only New Orleans but the entire Lousisiana
Territory. He wisely recognizes that he cannot fight in America as well as Europe. It is also a stick in the eye of England who had expansionist plans in the west. This purchase instantly doubles the land mass of the United States. This book, or tape, if your prefer, is an excellent entertainment & historical value & highly recommended.
Fun way to learn history
What other reviewers say about lack of suspense is partially right. Because this novel is based on so much historical fact, not much can be done to dress up the events without altering the heart of what really happened. I didn't find the book to be boring in the least, and thought it very informative. By reading this book I learned more about the people and events of early America - that I had most recently learned in a college US History class, but now have so much accompanying information and a better feel for those times.
Good history, fine story, poor style
Why was the Louisiana Purchase so important? How did it come to pass, anyway? Which one was Meriweather Lewis? Eagle's Cry is a fine piece of historical fiction that will bring back to life many of the influential leaders of the nascent United States. The rise of political parties and the origins of partisanship, the bitterness and animosity against Adams and his Alien and Sedition Acts, and the wisdom of Madison, the quirkiness of Jefferson, and the selfishness of Burr are all here.And yet, somehow, the characters seem almost two dimensional at times under Nevin's pen. The author tries hard - and often succeeds - to bring a level of familiarity and casualness to these exceptional men and women. While that did not bother me, the recurrent technique of beginning sentences with verbs and completely dropping subjects ("Marched into New York", "Felt better already," etcetera etcetera ad infinitum) did. And with all of these wonderfully charismatic historical figures, the introduction of a prominent fictional character detracts from, rather than augments, the novel.
I enjoyed Eagle's Cry and often found myself stealing a few minutes here and there guiltily to advance a chapter whenever possible. And Nevin's history is top notch. So why am I hesitating to read the next in the series?
Not perfect, but highly enjoyable
As others have mentioned, Eagle's Cry isn't perfect. I agree with the reviewer who said that Nevin was projecting current culture onto historical events. However, I think the point of the novel is to remind us that Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were mortal human beings. The book is fascinating because it give an imagined "behind the sceens" look at how these heros might have been in real life. Parts of the book are slow, but overall, I found it throughly enjoyable. A unique book in this age of cookie-cutter romance novels and bland fiction.
Definetly worth reading. I've already bought the sequel and am looking forward to reading it.
(14 reviews)
