Charbonneau: Man of Two Dreams

by Win Blevins

This is the remarkable story of an authentic adventurer, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. He lived his dream in clashing cultures—that of Native American vitality and that of high European society. He mastered both worlds, but was ultimately forced to choose between them. The son of Sacajawea, guide for Lewis and Clark, Charbonneau was born on the adventure, and born to explore.

As an infant, he infant traveled from North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean and back, carried along in the expedition's boats or upon his mother's back. As a child, Sacajawea sent her son to William Clark. There Charbonneau was raised in Clark’s posh society, had Jesuit schooling in St. Louis, and was later educated in Europe—he became the welcome guest of kings.

Throughout his life, Charbonneau and Clark maintained an extraordinary relationship. Charbonneau became a cultured man, at ease in the gentile civilization of European courts. But he was a man of two dreams, and the Western wilderness pulled at his heart.

Charbonneau became an American explorer, guide, fur trapper-trader, military scout during the Mexican-American War, alcalde (mayor) of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, and a gold prospector and hotel operator in Northern California. He spoke French and English, and learned German and Spanish during his six years in Europe. He also spoke Shoshone and other western Native American languages, which he learned first from his family and then during his years of trapping and guiding.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Amazon, Historical

376 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Winfred Blevins

Reviews

[Chrisl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Speculation about Sacagawea's son, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau. Brings to life his schooling in St. Louis, travels in Europe and Africa. Returned to the Rocky Mountains, he must choose between white and Indian cultures. (I'm not a Blevins fan, and this is 3.55 kind of 4.)

Map : Rocky Mountain Fur Trapping Area, 1806--1843

From the hardcover jacket : "Here is the compelling story of a man who lived in a castle with the Prince of Wurttemberg and in a tipi with the king of the Rocky Mountain fur trappers ... a unique individual who was at ease conversing in formal German with a marquesa, or in fluent Crow with a war chief; whether playing a new Beethoven sonata at the pianoforte, or participating in a Shoshone buffalo dance ...


Blevin, Charbonneau

“The principal difference between the Indian gods and the Christian god, Baptiste answered, was that Jehovah was a defined sort of person, a kind of superman, and the Indian gods were natural forces, power of the water that makes it flow, the power that brings rain, the power of the winds, the power in animate and inanimate thing—the secret power that made it what it was—and he revered and solicited that power, the hardness of the rock, the ferocity of the bear, the warmth and light of the sun. That was the essence of his religion.”

“Why, then, do you wear that totem object about your neck? … What is your meaning for it?” … Like this stone, I am an alien.” (He wears a meteorite necklace and refers to his heritage.)

“We have been riding for some days now on high plateaus of grassland, with mountains sometimes visible to the southwest. It is an odd country, and has strange effect on the mind. One moves as though through an illusion of time … We might be on some vast treadmill, creating the illusion of movement in a landscape that moves by without any shift in its character, an endless repetition of the same hills, ravines, and far-stretching grass; a sort of cosmic joke.” (During the camel ride south from Tangiers)

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting but because it porported to be his own writings, thoughts I was left a lot of time wondering about what he thought. The book did a much better job at the beginning explaining his world view, but really did not describe Germany except he liked studying music and did not like studying much else and he fell in love but even that was casual at the end.
Women sure are not treated like much in most cultures throughout history. According to the book they are mostly property, they do all of the work provide sex and can be discarded without a thought.
I understand in the book he had some resentments against white people especially because he could not marry whom he wanted but I wanted more of his thoughts, feelings

[Stanley McShane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charbonneau-Man of Two Dreams by Win Blevins is a beautifully written story woven in and around Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, born of Sacajawea and his French-Canadian father, Toussaint, who was born at the Lewis and Clark winter camp, Ft. Mandan, ND in 1805. A fur trapper, Toussaint was far less support for the westward expedition to the Pacific than was the better-known Sacajawea (a Lemhi Shoshone), who provided excellent trail guidance as well as interpretive services in dealing with the other tribes of the northwest. It was Clark who took a vested interest in the boy he nicknamed "Pomp" (Shoshone for "first born") and became his guardian. Blevins notes at the beginning of the book, "...I have played free with history where it suited my dramatic and thematic purposes." While he admits that he made the character more sophisticated than his actual historical personage did, he definitely changed the whole scene of his ending, including allowing him 10 more years than he actually lived. There is a lot of poetic license in this account of an historic figure of our early northwest development, so much so that he is the only child (along with his mother) to ever be depicted on a US (gold) dollar coin. Still, Blevins catches the major events in the man's life, most particularly Clark's insistence on Baptiste's education, and his introduction to a German prince who took him home to Germany and introduced him to royal society as well as traveled to Africa. When he returned to the frontier, he was fluent in German, Spanish, and French (as well as the language of the tribes he was acquainted with through his mother). Baptiste went on to enjoy a number of vocations, including guiding and trapping and spent his years in the high mountains of the rugged northwest. Blevins includes notes from the journals of Lewis and Clark, as well as letters, and peripheral historical documents. Interesting were the recitals of native songs, though I doubt Charbonneau was as gifted musically as might be Blevins himself. I downloaded this book from an offering on BookBub and recognized the author's name that I've read and reviewed previously. Really, it is a touching and emotional tribute to the native peoples and a personal bow of acknowledgement to Charbonneau for his contribution. Recommended for a compelling fiction read.

[Skip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Book. It was a fasinating story of the life of Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau. A man born of Native American mother and French-Canadian father and educated in St. Louis through the kindness of William Clark, and later in europe with the help of a Prince of Wurttemberg. I was particularly interested in how Charbonneau developed his attitude toward religion. The early influences of Native American culture contrasted against the strict Bible study and Jesuit catholic education and mixed with the worldly adventures of youth prove to be a remarkable philosophic question. As a mature adult, his resolutions seem reasonable to me. This is the only Win Blevins book that I have read, but most of the historical events coincide with what I have read elsewhere. It is a great historical fiction.
Skip T. 7/24/2017

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a historical novel based on the story of Jean-Baptiste Carbonneau, son of the famous indian guide Sacajawea, who led Lewis & Clark on their expeditions into the west. Baptiste was an infant riding on his mother's back during those expeditions. As he grew he was educated by the white men, learning to read and write. Through a series of interesting circumstances, he befriends a european prince and spends part of his young adulthood in european courts. On returning, he heads west again and, since he is proficient in several languages, becomes quite useful in negotiating between natives and settlers, as well as between indian tribes. It's a very interesting story, but i feel like it really glosses over the atrocities inflicted on indians by the settlers and the government.

[Matt Kelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm. I'm fascinated by tales of people growing up in two cultures, and how they adjust. In this case, I was fascinated by the bit where Charbonneau goes to Europe and spends his time with royalty. But when he comes back to the States, I lost interest. The inherent racism overpowers his attempts to straddle two worlds (constantly referring to the native Americans as nigguhs, crittuhs, beasts, brutes, and savages, for example, and accepting that whites killing natives by mistake is unfortunate while decrying any native attack on poor innocent settlers).

[Ron and Ginette Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

A very interesting read about the displacement of American natives from their land and culture with incites on what is taking place thoughout the world at the same time. All witnessed through the eyes and experience of Charnonneau, a half native, half French, as his adventures take him first to be educated in America and then overseas, and finally back to the fur traders life and a full circle as the fur trade is winding down and the west is being occupied by ever more settlers.

[Dave Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent tale combining history and practical literary liscence.

The life and times of an extraordinary person who experienced History as it happened.
Very well researched, it is a good ( and very probably close to the truth) story of a person influenced uniquely by several cultures. These experiences gave him insights into truths about people which transcend race, color, creed, or culture.
Again, a very good book!

[Richard Hohnbaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, Was disappointed in the ending since we know the Paump died in Jordan Valley Oregon on his way from California to the gold hill of the Dakotas. It ran true to many of Paumps experiences but ended on such "false" note. Being active in the Lewis and /Clark Trail Heritage Foundation and one of the sponsors of redoing Paump's grave site in Jordan Valley I felt that it could ended better.

[Gerald Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative

I first became aware of Sacajawea's son, John Batiste Charbonneau, in James Alexander Thom's historic documentation of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Sign Talker. Blevins' historic novel lacked the pace and storytelling skills of Thom and I was happy to make it to the end.

[Linda G Potter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. The use of the word squaw made me cringe but I got past that. The word used in place of woman actually means female genitals.
I wanted to be interested in the story of Sacajawea's son. I just didn't find this book interesting.

[Lia Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half Native,Half White

The son of Sacagawea lived in a changing time in America's history. This story vividly describes his life with poignant images of his life inside his heart and mind and of the environment in which he lived. Priceless!

[Brenda Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great History Lesson

Excellent history reference for the settling of the American Frontier and the lives of the Mountain tain men who lived in that era. Charbonneau was blessed with living between 2 cultures and being educated by both.

[R.L.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I read this novelized biography because Charbonneau's life was interesting, and I learned a great deal from it, not least about missiology. The prose, however, was uneven, and for every section where I felt fully engaged there was a section that felt pedantic and plodding.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original and Interesting

Well written and placed within historical events for context, "Charbonneau" does an admirable job of capturing the cultural differences that eventually led to the near total destruction of the native American Indians of the western plains. Great reading!

[Christy Olesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and entertaining look at a remarkable life. He was a man who had the opportunity to know and learn from some remarkable people and to live among several different peoples and cultures.

[Ann Meyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was excited to start reading this but so disappointed! I didn't appreciate how the writing styles jumped around, from first person narrative to historic journal entries. There was no flow, no character development. Frustrated, I just quit.

[Jane Faulkner · Rating 4 out of 5]

American history

This book is a good choice for those interested in the history of the old west, mountain men and native American people. Would have liked more of the female perspective.

[Jerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is way more fiction then fact because there is not much historical evidence about the main character. In my opinion, the book would have been better if it wasn't for the negative bias of the author on the subject of Christianity. I feel he lacks wisdom on that matter.

[Suanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

too much emphasis on Lewis and Clark's journals and slow to get to Charbonneau's story

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to know about the lewis and clark and what happen after this is the book to read

[Rbjumbob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the addition of a little fiction to make a more interesting story. Mountain Men, Native Americans

[Cheri McGunagle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too long and disconnected.

Chose this book for our book club. Fortunately the library could not get copies. I previewed the book and finished it, what a chore!

[Liyan Liu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started strong; lost steam as it goes

[Stephanie Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting subject matter, but presented in an awkward form.

[Cyndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't flow as well as it could have. Characters needed to be more developed at the beginning. Instead it relied heavily on a readers historical knowledge.

[Bonnie Sogoloff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of this book put me right to sleep, but I loved most of it. Charbonneau’s time in Europe was a snoozer as well as a head shaker for me.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early 1800’s novel recounting the story of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, son of Sacajawea, as he grew up after the Lewis and Clark expedition.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not overly romanticized

I live in SW Montana and and enjoyed reading more about the person we call "Pomp." I have read Lewis and Clark's original journals as well as "Undaunted Courage" while canoeing down those same stretches of the mighty Missouri --I enjoyed thinking about what Sacajawea's baby did when he got to be a man. Good job, Mr. Blevins!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Blevins earlier books and while I enjoyed it it was not on the same level as other books I've read by him. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau is an historic character, son of Sacajawea and her French husband. His life is very interesting, but the book is fictional and at times I wondered if his life was anything like the story. In addition the story was somewhat repetitive. But overall, it tells a good story.