Customer Reviews

Sign-Talker: The Adventure of George Drouillard on the Lewis and Clark Expedition

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If you're a fan of James Alexander Thom then you'll not be disappointed by ths story. So much of the Lewis and Clark epic centers upon the exploits of the two leaders that it is refreshing to find an account from another point of view. And, that's exactly what happens here as Thom tells the story as Drouillard sees it. Although Drouillard was an illiterate half-breed who was unable to write personal journals, he is mentioned often in the journals of both Lewis and Clark. From that alone, we get a picture of an extremely capable individual who often went far beyond what was expected of him. The success of the expedition owed much to Drouillard's efforts. Thom's account relies heavily upon the published journals of Lewis and Clark for accuracy in telling the story. The one thing which may bother some readers is that much of Drouillard's story is based upon Thom's own imagination as to what Drouillard thought and felt. However, any novelist in a similar situation would have to do the same thing. In this case, there is no better man than Thom to fill in the blanks. His past books and extensive research into this part of our history gives him great credibility. Sign Talker is a great story and well worth your time to read.

The strength of this book lies in the masterful detail. James Alexander Thom invokes the sights, sounds, and (sometimes unpleasant) smells of the Lewis & Clark expedition with unfailing attention to detail. His knowledge of the expedition and early-American life is impressive. Unfortunately, other aspects of the book don't live up to the same level of quality. Thom strikes the same note over and over - the whites are clueless destroyers, the Indians are mystic children of nature, and the overall tone of the Lewis & Clark Expedition was cynicism and greed. About halfway through, when I realized the book had no other insights to offer, I grew weary of the righteousness of the main character George Droulliard and was ready to skip to the end. Thom's portrait of Lewis as a raving, incompetent jerk seems like a literary device thrown in to create more conflict, instead of really trying to analyze the man's character. Similarly, Thom paints Droulliard as a near saint, ignoring the fact that he owned at least one slave. I enjoyed this book for the interesting detail, but I could've done without all the "political correctness."

Thom has created a new American hero with this book -- the brooding, efficient half-breed George Drouillard -- and he has singed the reputation of an existing hero: the dark and depressive Meriwether Lewis.

French/Indian mixed bloods were the pathfinders who led the Anglos into the wilderness and Thom gives some long-overdue recognition to them. Drouillard's reaction to the well-known events of the Lewis and Clark expedition are what make this book fascinating. We get a view of the white man from the standpoint of an outsider. Unlike most books of this sort, however, Drouillard's views are multi-layered. He admires Clark -- and occasionally even Lewis -- at the same time that he often finds their attitudes and actions reprehensible. He sees the Indians in a sympathetic light and he foresees their rapid downfall at the hands of the rapacious Anglos, but he doesn't idealize them a la Dances with Wolves.

History confirms that Drouillard was a formidable woodsman and hunter, one of the most valuable members of the expedition. Thom gives him also that mythic quality of Shane and every other lonely gunslinger of American literature.

Smallchief

Georges Drouillard has long been one of my heros. The real George Drouillard, who lived 200 years ago, was a real life hero who was absolutely key to the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition. His great skill as scout and hunter repeatedly saved the crew from going hungry. This book however is not about that Georges Drouillard. It's about some modern American 'sensitive' male with all the usual politically correct viewpoints about how evil and nasty white Americans are. In addition to the unremitting harping about the stupid 'whitemen', the book constantly hints that Drouillard was victimized as a youth by homosexual Catholic 'black robes'. The author has plugged this imaginary ideal flower boy into the character of Drouillard. Very unfair to the real Georges Drouillard, the real man and hero, who died some years after the expedition in an amazing but ultimately unsuccessful single-handed self-defensive battle against a band of Blackfeet. In my opinion, the author, Thom, has shamefully raped the image of a fine man in order to indulge in his own agenda. Any readers out there looking for this kind of stuff, go ahead and read the book. Otherwise, forget it...

Long overshadowed by Lewis, Clark, and Sacagaweah, George Drouillard finally gets his due in this latest historical novel from James Alexander Thom. A French-Canadian/Shawnee mixed blood, Drouillard is recruited by Lewis and Clark to accompany the Corps of Discovery on their famous journey across the West to the Pacific Ocean and back. Along the way, Drouillard acts as hunter and interpreter, helping to keep the expedition alive and to provide positive relations with the many Indian tribes encountered along the way. We get a different interpretation of the journey, that of a non-white outsider who knows only too well the ultimate fate of these yet unspoiled lands and the native peoples who inhabit them. It is in stark contrast to the heroification that oozes from many other traditional treatments of this subject. It is a refreshing look at the complex personalities that made up this arduous crusade across a continent. While the Lewis and Clark Expedition was a great and momentous historic event which helped pave the way for the future of the country, Thom shows us the dark side too. Through Droulliard, we get a foreshadowing of the many years of hardships, triumphs, and tragedies that will come. Nearly forgotten by history today, the story of George Drouillard is indeed the tale of a true warrior and a great adventure.

This was one of the most captivating adventures I've read about in a long time. I'm a slow reader, and enjoy savoring the details of a good book, but still surprised myself as I finished this in (for me) record time. J. A. Thom's intensely sensitive portrayal of the conflicted and insightful soul of Lewis and Clark's half Shawnee, half French communicator and hunter, George Drouillard, made the details of two-year expedition come alive. Other accountings I've read of the Lewis and Clark Expedition left me dry, but Thom fills in the facts with riveting narrative and anchors it with fascinating historical journal entries. A thoroughly good read. Thank you, Mr. Thom.

If you are interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition,
then this is the book for you. It is one of the best books
I have ever read. It brought the expedition to life for me
and made me feel like I was there. My main problem with
the book is that it is a novel. I would have preferred a
biography, even though a biography would not have been as
much fun to read. On almost every page I found myself
asking, "Did Thom make this up, or did it really happen?"
Here are a few examples. Did George Drouillard think of
himself as 100% Indian, Indian and French, or French?
Did Drouillard have a special friendship with Clark's
black slave, York? Was Drouillard so bold as to frequently
pester York for York to ask Clark for his freedom and get
away? Was Lewis slightly crazy at the beginning of the
expedition, or did he go crazy as the trip progressed?
Could Drouillard conduct detailed and complex conversations
with every Indian tribe he met, using only sign language?
Did Drouillard have the wisdom and attitude of a twentieth-
century liberal?

As Historian buff this novel is gripping as a story and has a historical value. Amazon was johnny-on-the-spot making purchase a 'no pain' issue & delivery was exactly as advertised. I am very pleased with my purchase.

An entertaining look at the Lewis and Clark adventure


Lewis and Clark's famous Corps 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.


However, this book is also infused with a streak of political correctness that will be sure to irritate most readers. Drouillard continually comments on the cultural insensitivity of Lewis and Clark - and to be sure, they brought more than their share of cultural bigotry to their dealings with the local native tribes as they traveled - but he never expects those local native tribes to be more open and tolerant of the ways of the white men in the Corps of Discovery. Tolerance is not a one-way street.


Anyway, the PC streak did not detract much for me (although it is a sign of things to come with Thom's later books). The story is interesting, well told and I do recommend it.

George Drouillard - A forgotten hero - Outside of the captains of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, he was the most valuable member. Half Shawnee / Half French, he had the language, and hand sign language skills to communicate with the Indian tribes they met. This book gives the story from a half breed Indian from his eyes. Slightly different from the view from the white American side. He was one of the first of the mountain men. Died too early.