Eagle's Cry: a Novel of the Lousiana Purchase [Hardcover]

David Nevin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 2000

With the death of George Washington, symbol of American unity and a man who abhorred factions, comes the two party system. And with it, comes inherent struggle that the young nation is ill prepared for. A dashing Aaron Burr has a grip on New York, and a coup detat is planned that could bring the two leaders down. Madison learns that Napolean Bonaparte has forced the Spanish to turn New Orleans over to him and thereby potentially take control of the Mississippi River Valley. A country as strong as France could stop the aspiring free trade market growing on the Mississippi River, including the business of widow Danny Mulberry, a New Orleans shipping tycoon and one of the most sought after woman in New Orleans. As the young nation's hands are forced economically and politically by France, there is a movement in the Northeast to turn towards England. This could bring them under the Imperial yoke they just shook off. Suddenly the nation is a global nation, as the greatest minds and visionaries of a young America struggle to hold it together.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The second installment in Nevin's (1812) American Story series actually marks the chronological beginning of this epic history of the early years of American democracy. Covering the politically chaotic years from 1799 to 1803, Nevin spins a complex, plodding yarn of conspiracy and intrigue as the fledgling U.S. suffers internal strife and external pressure from the French, Spanish and British. Numerous parallel stories march along through the years as major historical figures maneuver, scheme and plot for personal advantage, the good of the nation or both. Thomas Jefferson barely wins the presidential race in 1800 and is criticized for being weak and too cozy with the French. Secretary of State James Madison must posture and bluff to deflect the Spanish and prevent the French from reasserting control over New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory. Vice-president Aaron Burr hates President Jefferson and all Democrats and plots with a treacherous army general to break with the Union and create a separate Federalist empire in New York and New England. Capt. Meriwether Lewis hungers for adventure and dreams of leading an expedition in search of the Northwest Passage. Other less weighty characters struggle with issues of slavery, diplomacy, women in business and affairs of the heart, but the meat of this story is the historical significance of Burr's treason and the Louisiana Purchase. While historically colorful and accurate, the narrative drags along, offering little suspense or excitement and succeeding better as a history lesson than a novel. However, the simmering controversy over Thomas Jefferson's descendants and two recent books on Aaron Burr (Thomas Fleming's The Duel and Arnold Rogow's A Fatal Friendship) may have created readership for another look at these controversial igures. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Nevin, the author of the acclaimed novel 1812, provides an intriguing overview of the fractious early days of the American republic in his latest novel. As the newly minted nation struggles to forge a cohesive identity, Thomas Jefferson's radical vision of a modern democracy is threatened by both domestic and international strife. While the crafty Aaron Burr pursues his own private and public agendas, France poses a more tangible danger, necessitating delicate diplomatic negotiations and the controversial acquisition of the Louisiana territory. Brimming with personal and political tension, the gripping narrative vividly re-creates a seminal moment in the infancy of the U.S. An intelligent, well-crafted drama featuring a cast of authentically rendered historical characters. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; 1st edition (October 13, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312855117
• ISBN-13: 978-0312855116
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,187,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not perfect by a long shot, but compelling, December 13, 2001

By 

Paul Dana (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eagle's Cry: A Novel of the Louisiana Purchase (Mass Market Paperback)

David Nevin is not a particularly great writer. (Either that, or he's been remarkably underserved by his editors who allow him to get away with far too much repetition, such as, for example, redundant references to the "clattering guillotine" until you find yourself screaming "Enough already!")

What David Nevin is, however, is a particularly gifted writer. His gifts include an immense talent for characterization and development, a thorough understanding of his subject matter (in this case, the crisis-ridden days of the United States as the 18th century gave way to the 19th), and the ability to convey his passion for his characters and their story over to his reader.

The result is well worth reading. You may find yourself, as I did (much to my surprise), on the edge of your seat at times, worried that we're going to end up at war with France; or maybe you'll find yourself aching with young Merriwether Lewis at the seemingly elusive prospect of an exploration; you might even -- if you don't watch out -- find yourself strangely smitten with a married woman and hoping against hope that she will eventually get her chance to live in that big white house and make the improvements she longs to carry out (of course, that means that her husband will have to overcome his reticence and actually allow himself to be put forward for president once Jefferson's time is ended). And then you'll have to slap yourself with the realization that these events are two hundred years in the past and of course this and that did happen, and of course such and such didn't . . .

Which is the point at which I realized why "Eagle's Cry" is such a totally satisfying experience. I gave it only three stars; this, as I alluded to earlier, is the result of sloppy editing at Nevin's publishing house. He deserves far better.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Reading - Great Insight into historical characters, January 26, 2002

By 

John Begnaud (Beaumont, TX. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eagle's Cry: a Novel of the Lousiana Purchase (Hardcover)

Although he took some creative license when developing the characters and the dialog for Eagle's Cry and 1812, David Nevin generated more interest for me in the early years of our country then years of history in school could ever hope to accomplish. You can really appreciate the trials our young nation faced with this "great experiment" called democracy after reading his books. Because of books like this (and Jeff & Michael Shaara's for the Civil War Era), I've bought numerous other books that have helped humanize the early history of our country in my mind.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The death of George Washington Is symbolic as the end, May 26, 2005

By 

JOHN GODFREY (Milwaukee ,WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eagle's Cry: a Novel of the Lousiana Purchase (Hardcover)

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.