Wheeler, Richard S. Eclipse; a novel of Lewis and Clark - Brief Article - Young Adult Review - Book Review

Tor, Forge. 380p. c2002. 0-765-30876-2. $15.95. SA

Picking up at the end of their journey, the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrives at the city of St. Louis tired and filthy from their multi-year trek. While deftly alternating chapters between the first-person voice of Meriwether Lewis and the perspective of William Clark. the personalities of both men are beautifully drawn. The well-educated, wife-seeking Lewis wrestles with his guilt over having succumbed to his lust with a Shoshone woman while basking in the glory of his new fame. His night of passion has caused him to contract syphilis and his slow physical and mental degeneration results in an addiction to laudanum. William Clark is also shown with all his flaws. As he courts his young bride and begins a family, he must contend with the increased independence of York, his slave, who was treated as an equal member of the exploration party and now chafes at the return of his role of servant and property.

The author based this novel on the new interpretations of research into Meriwether Lewis and the strange behavior witnessed prior to his mysterious death. Excellent author notes at the end of the book detail the research process behind these findings. Richard Wheeler has produced a riveting tale of two imperfect men who through their work changed the course of a nation. A first selection for high school and public libraries. Courtney Lewis, Libn., Wyoming Seminary Sch., Kingston, PA

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

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