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

by James Alexander Thom

“A cracking good yarn . . . sheer storytelling power . . . James Alexander Thom is one of the finest historical novelists writing today. . . . Anyone who thinks there’s nothing left to be said about the Lewis and Clark expedition should read this book.”—John Sugden, author of A Life

Following the Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson sends Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly acquired territory. To survive, the two captains need an extraordinary hunter who will be able to provide the expedition with fresh game, and a sign-talker to communicate with the native tribes. They choose George Drouillard. It is Drouillard, an actual historical figure, who becomes our eyes and ears on this unforgettable odyssey.

A magnificent tale told with intelligence and insight, Sign-Talker is full of song and suffering, humor and pathos. James Alexander Thom has created the rarest reading one that entertains us even as it shows us a new vision of our nation, our past, and ourselves.

“Excellent . . . It is at once an adventure story [and] a historical document. . . . Even though many readers know the story of Lewis and Clark, Thom’s novel will give them new insight.”— The Indianapolis Star (four-star review)

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Adventure, Adult, Westerns, 19th Century

492 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

James Alexander Thom (born 1933) is an American author, most famous for his works in the Western genre. Born in Gosport, Indiana, he graduated from Butler University and served in the United States Marine Corps. He is a former professor of journalism at Indiana University, and a contributor to the The Saturday Evening Post. His fifth wife, Dark Rain Thom was a member of the Shawnee United Remnant Band until its dissolution; the Thoms presently live in the "Indiana hill country" near Bloomington.

Reviews

[Gail Amendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several books about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, including a previous one by this author, but this one is told from a very different perspective than the others. George Drouillard was hired by Lewis and Clark as a hunter and civilian interpreter due to his proficiency in the sign language native tribes used to bridge the language barrier between peoples. He appears in the journals of both leaders of the expedition, and of many of the other men involved, and was obviously an important and valued member of the expedition. What is lost on most readers of these journals is that he was native. He was Metis...the son of a French Canadian father and a Shawnee mother, and had been raised mostly in his mother's culture, but due to his French name has always appeared to readers as just another white man. To tell the story through his eyes puts a whole new spin on the Lewis and Clark expedition. We see his disdain for the way the two captains, but particularly Lewis, bungle their interactions with the tribes they meet. We see his guilt over his participation in something that he knows will bring harm to these innocent people. He has seen what the arrival of the white man has done to his people, the Shawnee, and knows that that damage will be spread westward. He also knows that it will happen regardless of his participation, and hopes that his presence and interpreting skills will ease the awkward and painful first encounters. We witness his delight and fascination when he meets tribes who are still living a truly free and traditional lifestyle, and sympathize with his desire to return to the west and join them after the expedition is complete. I really came to feel for this poor man stuck between two worlds. I think that everyone studying the Lewis and Clark Expedition should step into George Drouillard's shoes, and the more well known Sacajawea's shoes, and consider what Lewis and Clark actually did...that these two American heroes might not be quite so heroic after all. Yes they accomplished something big, but not on their own, and certainly on the backs of some unrecognized and downtrodden people. After five??? books on the topic, I think I'm finished with the Lewis and Clark Expedition for a while. I have learned that it makes me sad, both Lewis and Clark were white supremacists, those who did the work didn't really get the credit, and Meriwether Lewis was a pompous ass.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book by a Bloomington author, James Alexander Thom, about the Lewis & Clark expedition, the Corps of Discovery that went from St. Louis to Oregon and back when Th. Jefferson was president (Madison was president by the time they returned).

This is a subject I'm really familiar with, not only from books but having lived and traveled in places where the Corps spent significant time. The marvelous thing about this book is that it is told from an Indian standpoint; Lewis, instead of being lionized is many times ridiculed as just another whiteman. The views of the author happen to rest easily on me, and they have little to do with Jefferson in particular.

Not only did the subject of the book, and its viewpoint, grip me, but the writing was exemplary. Factual accounts that invoked emotions. An almost perfect historical novel as far as I'm concerned.

I do hope I have an opportunity to meet the author one of these days.

The best compliment I can pay this book is that it took me forever to read -- I savored it so. Reading and re-reading pages, to absorb the fact and experience the emotions. In retrospect, I didn't read this book, I experienced it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed Alexander Thom's other books about the Lewis & Clark expedition. I expected to find more of the same in this book, as so many of his books overlap. But it is very different, and I enjoyed it greatly. I didn't realize that George Drouillard was an Indian, even though he had a French father. I always thought with a name like George he was probably raised more as a white man. This book presented the the expedition through the eyes of a Native American. Great book. I would recommend reading "From Sea to Shining Sea" first to get the Clark viewpoint of the expedition.

[David Shere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beyond amazing. It tells the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition through the eyes of George Drouillard, their main interpreter and most skilled hunter. Lewis and Clark hired him before they left and he continued to work for Clark even after they returned. This man you've never heard of was a much bigger part of the expedition than Sacagawea. The words of the author: "Because he went by his French name, most people who read about Lewis and Clark presume he was another of the thirty-odd white men who made up the Corps of Discovery. If he had ever given the captains his Shawnee name, it might have gotten into the journals, and he would have been conspicuous as a 'person of color' in this Anglo-American troop. He does not deserve the obscurity that has clouded his name. Without him, Lewis and Clark might well have failed to complete the trip. He was an Indian and understood the doubts and feelings Indians had about these presumptuous white intruders."

[Brenda G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. What a great way to read about the expedition! I wish all history could be written this way! The alternate point of view presented by the narrator provided several "ahh ha" moments and even a few chuckles.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything about Lewis & Clark’s Voyage of Discovery interests me, since reading about Sacajawea many years ago. I have read the journals, Stephen Ambrose’s books, been on accessible parts of the route, visited Fts. Mandan & Clatsop & the museums. So, when this book popped up on one of ebook bargain sites, I bought it & was not disappointed.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was already a fan of this author, this sort of story, and this time period, so this seemed like a recipe for a joyful read. And it was. I had to force myself to stop reading each night. It was wonderful to follow such an exciting story from an aboriginal point of view. But in the end, the story revealed itself to be a tragedy.

However, it makes sense why, and Thom helps to explain that in his afterword, which includes this poignant portion:

“This is the story of a métis, or mixed-blood Indian, a tan man who in his time would have been considered far down the scale of innate human worth. By excelling in these excruciating tests, he showed again and again that human worth is measured in the heart, not the skin. That’s a lesson that can’t be taught too often.“

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Gripping and interesting. Point of view of Native American was very welcome. Alexander Thom's wife Dark Rain is Shawnee, so no doubt helped Mr. Thom in point of view. Read it! It is on my shelf to reread which I've done at least 2x after the first. You might be interested in finding out more about him and his books => jamesalexanderthom dot com
I did some "follow-on" Lewis & Clark expedition exploring. This occurred on the exact dates and places of the Expedition 200 years to the date in 2003, etc. Really great with period clothing and equipment. Wow!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book opened my eyes to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. I very much appreciated the perspective of Drouillard, who was half Native American and half French. I had no idea how unlikely it was that they survived the trip at all. Neither the Native Americans nor the rigors of the trip killed them off, surprisingly.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were taught in school that Sacajawea was with Lewis and Clark for the whole trip as their interpreter...boy, did we get scammed!!! And George Droulliard got a raw deal in Lewis and Clark history.
As for James Alexander Thom...still at the top of my favorite writers right now.

[Larry Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and well researched (as far as I can tell). Nice to get a perspective of the expedition from a Native American rather than the Euro-centric, Manifest Destiny view that dominates history in the U.S.

[Jane]

I liked this book for the interesting perspective of Native American Life. It held my interest to the end.

[James Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Alexander Thom once again prooves that he is the Best expert on writing about the American Indian way of life, their character and culture and their way of life and their over all contribution to American history. Even though this book is a work of fiction, it is very well researched and historically accurate. It feels like it should be a book written as a history book on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. To me this was not a book I was reading, It was a walk through history, While I was reading it, I was walking back in time, every step and canoe ride, I lived the experience, the hunts, the kills and all the tribes that were encountered on the expedition, all the good and all the hardships. When I wasn't reading about the book, I was dreaming about it. I felt all of the emotions and feelings that George Droullard must of felt, the confussion of being Shawnee and white and not being accepted for who he was as an individual only being judged by the pigmentation of his skin. I didn't want the adventure to end, but end it did.
Although this book will forever will be apart of me, it also brought the anger I often feel how the American Indian were treated, and all the land and their way of life the was taken from them.
I highly recommend this book to all.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating history of the Lewis and Clark expedition from the point of view of George Drouillard, the half Shawnee native American who served as chief hunter for the entire expedition and their interpreter using sign language throughout the 3 year trip to the Pacific ocean and return. Having read histories of the expedition and some of their actual journals, I found this an engrossing book giving a realistic perspective of the natives across the country in 1804 to 1806 with their rich and diverse lives as they first began to interact with white men, who unfortunately thought they owned the land they were passing through. The amount of meat the expedition ate each and every day is astounding, requiring several deer, elk, pronghorns or a buffalo EVERY DAY! So, Drouillard's expertise was essential to the success of the trip!
It was a herculean accomplishment of the expedition, more so when you consider they only had one man die along the way, Sergeant Floyd (likely from appendicitis), had to make new clothing, moccasins, cache canoes, food, gunpowder and tobacco; then found their caches again as they returned east. While the end was sad, the Author's Note at end lifted my spirit to know that a tall peak is named for him in Montana.

[Cynthia Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real flesh and blood American superhero worthy of his own comic book

Every one of the men and women of the Corps of Discovery by now have probably had a novel written by or about them and some are well remembered even 300 years later. George Drouillard half Native American,French super hunter and translator/peacemaker is a lesser known or remembered hero of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Thankfully this author/historian obviously took many years studying and researching to insure that this amazingly powerful and skilled man's perspective & story would be available and not forgotten to many generations to come.

The images of the U.S. In the early 1800's painted by this author alone were worth the read from St.Louis to Yellowstone to the Pacific the details taken from Lewis and Clark' journals are breathtaking,glorious and sometimes stark and sad.

The descriptions of animal life and hunting are both awe inspiring and often graphically violent and brutal as are the practices of the early American white male society and the Native Americans.

I enjoyed this book immensely and will read this author's works again and recommend his books to others!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read every other book by this author, some more than once, but just got around to this one, which I think is one of his best. Vivid descriptions of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and the places and people they encountered on their expedition indicate the meticulous research that went into this compelling book. George Drouillard was a "half-breed," probably illiterate, so many people would have been dismissive of him in the early nineteenth century. His skill as a hunter and his ability to translate through sign language, though, made him an invaluable member of Lewis & Clark's party, and Thom has brought him to life in this book, imagining that he also smoothed things over with several tribes when the captains were insensitive, disrespectful and overbearing. The message here is the utter ignorance of Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, and most white people of the day, about Native American cultures and civilizations, which still exists today. The author imagines that Droiullard did his work, and led later groups to establish forts and trading posts even as he understood the eventual consequences.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Alexander Thom is an amazing writer. I have read some of his other works and stand in awe of his skill. This book was equally well written. It took me a while to get through but I enjoyed the story of George Drouillard and his essential contributions to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. I especially appreciated the author's note at the end in which he states that the expedition very well may have failed without Drouillard there. I believe that's true. Drouillard kept the men fed and enabled them to communicate with all the natives they encountered.

I enjoyed the native American perspective from which the book was written. We all learned about the Lewis and Clark Expedition in grade school from the white man's perspective--something called "Manifest Destiny" in those textbooks, meaning that Americans were destined to extend their influence across the whole continent. This book made me rethink some things and realize how much the white settlers took from the native people.

[Sylvia Tedesco · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition is told in a long novel from the point of view of an Indian member travelling with the party. George Drouillard is a half-breed Shoshone/French Sign-Talker whose abilities included great hunting ability to feed this large group with game for the long trek as well as a sensitivity to the tribes and peoples they met and whose help they often needed along the way. Took me much longer to read than usual because I kept stopping to enjoy the scenery and comments on the feelings and sentiments of this amazing man whose appreciation of the beauty of nature, long descriptions of his personal beliefs and traditions enriched the story substantially. The personalities of Lewis and Clark stand out and the narrative is interspersed with parts of their daily journals.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

With no hesitation, I give this book five stars. It is the best book I've read in recent memory. I had just finished a more traditional book about the L&C expedition when my husband suggested this. The expedition realistically should have been called the Lewis, Clark and Drouillard expedition, since he was so essential to its success on so many factors. He deserves the same recognition given to Sacagewea - also a heroine of the voyage. It is so important to get the Indian perspective on this important undertaking of the US govt. The writing is stellar, forward moving, insiteful. It is based on much research, but ultimately is a fictional account of the voyage as seen from this expedition member's point of view.

[Steve Wegman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thom is at his historical fiction best as he tells the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition from the viewpoint of George Drouillard, a mixed race Shawnee/French Canadian, who was invited on the trip because of his language (including hand signs) and hunting skills. He captures well how outrageous the expedition and the attempts to dictate to the locals about how the land was now part of the US must have looked to the peoples they met along the way.

I've read other Lewis and Clark stories and I knew that Lewis probably committed suicide (although some think he was murdered), but Thom really dislikes Lewis. Saw him as the source of much of the trouble they had on the trip and for bad relations with Indians after he became governor of the territory.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed a number of Thom's books, especially From Sea to Shining Sea. Like that one, this is about the Lewis and Clark expedition, but told from George Drouillard's POV. While it was a good book, at times I felt like it read as a nonfiction account of the expedition. Maybe I'm just Lewis & Clark'd out having read From Sea to Shining Sea, Undaunted Courage, and The Journals of Lewis and Clark over the years. Still, Drouillard's story is an important one to tell and know so I don't regret reading this. Fair warning: The last 2 pages of this book were quite possibly the hardest, saddest, most harrowing, and horrific 2 pages I've ever read in all of my years reading.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is historical fiction. We learn of a member of the Lewis & Clark exhibition that I believe very few of us know of. His name is George Drouillard. He is half French and half Shawnee. He is hired for his hunting and hand-signing skills. Because he used his French name, he was mostly hidden in historical records. The author created a spectacular story. The reader learns a huge amount. There are descriptions of the country they pass through and the tribes that are encountered. It was fun for me when the description of my area was covered. You gain an understanding of the time the trip took. My one word description would be "rich."

[Donna Dobihal Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on true events, this thoroughly researched work of fiction is impressive and fascinating. Utterly captivating, Mr. Thom's work takes readers along as Lewis, Clark, and those who joined their expedition, most particularly the "half-breed" Mr. Drouillard, face unbelievable physical, emotional, and intellectual challenges. A worthy read, it gives the Indian perspective on not only this famous expedition but its leaders as well. My understanding of this part of history has been forever changed. Highly recommended.

[Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, enetertaining look at the Lewis and Clark expedition from a very different perspective. Often takes the luster off of the leading figures with their oppressively racist viewpoints and especially Lewis's huge ego, but at the same time does show their extreme efforts to make this journey successful. Clark for the most part coming off far to the better of his comrade. This book is a huge improvement over Ambrose's" Undaunted Courage" and gets a solid 4 stars.

[Bill Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical Fiction at its Best

The Lewis and Clark expedition is part of the history of many states. There are monuments all along their trails. Yet, this is the first book I have read that documents the journey from the eyes their hunter and translator George Drouillard, whose mother was Shawnee and father a French trapper. Excellent story.

[Karen Luoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as it is from the Indian Guide's perspective. It follows the expedition and is an historical fiction account but based on notes, journals and multiple sources from several members of the Discovery group as well as newspaper articles and other sources. I think it reflects a more unbiased view of the actual events that took place. I rate it 5+*.

[Joanna Shere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is from the perspective of George Drouillard, hunter and interpreter on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. I wanted to read this book because Drouillard is a distant cousin of mine. We share a common grandfather. I really enjoyed how this novel unraveled and learned a lot about Drouillard that I was not aware of. I highly recommend.

[Michelle Watrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book about an Indigenous perspective of the Lewis and Clark expedition. I sincerely thank James Alexander Thom for his (and his wife’s) incredible research and insights to this seemingly impossible accomplishment that happened despite the prejudice and sometimes ignorance of the leaders of the journey. It is a fascinating read.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thom tells a great story from historical facts. Having grown up in Montana among the Crow, Blackfeet, Assinaboine and some of the Sioux (Mandan) People (albeit 200 years later) and reading other books related to the journey of Lewis and Clark as well as books about other key members of their party made it very realistic(all listed in my book list). However, it is still a great read on its own.

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of Thom's books that I read years ago and plan to re-read as I work in these areas with tours. I am fascinated by the fact that in school we learned so much about Lewis and Clark but so little about key figures like George Drouillard and Sacagawea. The Corps of Discovery might very well have not survived without these two and their huge contributions.