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Red Hands
Based on extensive interviews, Colin Sargent has written a fictional account of the rise and fall of the Ceausescus family in Romania. The interviews were with, and the book is told from the point of view of the ex-wife of the eldent son Valentine.
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About the author
Colin Sargent
4 books25 followersColin Sargent is a playwright and author of three books of poetry. A Maine resident, he is also the founding publisher of Portland Magazine. Museum of Human Beings is his first novel. According to Publishers Weekly, "Playwright Sargent's debut novel is a stylish look at the fate of Sacagawea's baby son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau An impressively rounded portrait of the laid-back, introspective, nomadic Baptiste, this novel will satisfy fans of American history." "Heart-wrenching"--Smithsonian Institute
Authors on Museum of Human Beings
"Yikes, there's a market for this. It's timely, it has feminist appeal, it has race appeal, it's so American. The direction of American Literature has been from the East Coast to the West. There's a new trend reversing this, a trend that whispers, 'Somehow we are weary itinerants. Somehow the dream has failed.' Museum of Human Beings is an unraveling of the patriarchy. It's spooky like Hawthorne with a Toni-Morrison-like sense of place. It's a huge and important story."
Joan Connor, AWP Award winner, for History Lessons
"In pulsating prose that triggers all of the senses, Museum of Human Beings takes us on a spirited journey to discover the far-flung life of Sacagawea's son. Smart, imaginative, and historically-informed, this novel contains heartbreaks of many dimensions, all of them believable and thought-provoking. It captivated me, start to finish."
Bunny McBride, Pulitzer nominee and author of Women of the Dawn and Molly Spotted Elk: A Penobscot in Paris
"Magic. There is real heart to Museum of Human Beings, real depth and humanity, and in addition a plot that propels this reader forward. Full of polish and authority, as well as a story both cared-about and clearly imagined. I stand to applaud his talent. He's the real thing."
Jack Driscoll, How Like an Angel
"Colin Sargent's inspired novel, Museum of Human Beings, is the fast-paced, historically well informed saga of Baptiste, the son of famous Lewis & Clark Expedition Guide Sacagawea. It is a uniquely American tale of Baptiste's search for reconciliation, understanding, and a place in the scheme of things. Whether in St. Louis, the far West, Europe, or the Levant, the story rings true, as do the colorful, complex characters who inhabit the Museum of Human Beings. This is a first-rate piece of writing that never lets up and never lets the reader down."
William David Barry, Pyrrhus Venture
"A grand and interesting romp through history, an intriguing, masterfully written novel about a little-known person in history, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, the child of Sacagawea."
Michael C. White, Soul Catcher
Playwright Sargent's debut novel is a stylish look at the fate of Sacagawea's baby son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, the first Native American to tour Europeas a curiosity and entertainment, of course. Twenty-four-year-old Sacagawea, though married, becomes William Clark's lover while helping guide the Lewis and Clark Expedition; after she dies on the trail, Clark adopts her son, Baptiste. Soon, Clark establishes his home in St. Louis, as well as a garish museum dedicated to his expedition, and sets to educating his new son. Soon, Baptiste is traveling Europe under the protection of Duke Paul, a cruel man who, when he isn't exhibiting the boy to royal courts, repeatedly rapes young Baptiste. Six years later, Baptiste returns to America (astonishingly, still accompanied by Paul), where he confronts Clark over his mother's mysterious death; unsatisfied and restless, Baptiste heads west and finds work as a fur trapper, an Army scout and gold prospector. Increasingly haunted by his mother, Baptiste revisits her in memories and visions that lend themselves nicely to Sargent's lyrical prose. With historical cameos (Beethoven, Kit Carson, Washington Irving) and an impressively rounded portrait of the laid-back, introspective, nomadic Baptiste, this novel will satisfy fans of American history. (Nov.)
Publishers Weekly
"
Authors on Museum of Human Beings
"Yikes, there's a market for this. It's timely, it has feminist appeal, it has race appeal, it's so American. The direction of American Literature has been from the East Coast to the West. There's a new trend reversing this, a trend that whispers, 'Somehow we are weary itinerants. Somehow the dream has failed.' Museum of Human Beings is an unraveling of the patriarchy. It's spooky like Hawthorne with a Toni-Morrison-like sense of place. It's a huge and important story."
Joan Connor, AWP Award winner, for History Lessons
"In pulsating prose that triggers all of the senses, Museum of Human Beings takes us on a spirited journey to discover the far-flung life of Sacagawea's son. Smart, imaginative, and historically-informed, this novel contains heartbreaks of many dimensions, all of them believable and thought-provoking. It captivated me, start to finish."
Bunny McBride, Pulitzer nominee and author of Women of the Dawn and Molly Spotted Elk: A Penobscot in Paris
"Magic. There is real heart to Museum of Human Beings, real depth and humanity, and in addition a plot that propels this reader forward. Full of polish and authority, as well as a story both cared-about and clearly imagined. I stand to applaud his talent. He's the real thing."
Jack Driscoll, How Like an Angel
"Colin Sargent's inspired novel, Museum of Human Beings, is the fast-paced, historically well informed saga of Baptiste, the son of famous Lewis & Clark Expedition Guide Sacagawea. It is a uniquely American tale of Baptiste's search for reconciliation, understanding, and a place in the scheme of things. Whether in St. Louis, the far West, Europe, or the Levant, the story rings true, as do the colorful, complex characters who inhabit the Museum of Human Beings. This is a first-rate piece of writing that never lets up and never lets the reader down."
William David Barry, Pyrrhus Venture
"A grand and interesting romp through history, an intriguing, masterfully written novel about a little-known person in history, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, the child of Sacagawea."
Michael C. White, Soul Catcher
Playwright Sargent's debut novel is a stylish look at the fate of Sacagawea's baby son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, the first Native American to tour Europeas a curiosity and entertainment, of course. Twenty-four-year-old Sacagawea, though married, becomes William Clark's lover while helping guide the Lewis and Clark Expedition; after she dies on the trail, Clark adopts her son, Baptiste. Soon, Clark establishes his home in St. Louis, as well as a garish museum dedicated to his expedition, and sets to educating his new son. Soon, Baptiste is traveling Europe under the protection of Duke Paul, a cruel man who, when he isn't exhibiting the boy to royal courts, repeatedly rapes young Baptiste. Six years later, Baptiste returns to America (astonishingly, still accompanied by Paul), where he confronts Clark over his mother's mysterious death; unsatisfied and restless, Baptiste heads west and finds work as a fur trapper, an Army scout and gold prospector. Increasingly haunted by his mother, Baptiste revisits her in memories and visions that lend themselves nicely to Sargent's lyrical prose. With historical cameos (Beethoven, Kit Carson, Washington Irving) and an impressively rounded portrait of the laid-back, introspective, nomadic Baptiste, this novel will satisfy fans of American history. (Nov.)
Publishers Weekly
"
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 4, 2020
This review contains facts, but not spoilers.
Based on extensive interviews, Colin Sargent has written a fictional account of the rise and fall of the Ceausescus family as rulers of Romania from 1965 to 1989. Sargent had the opportunity to interview Ioradana (Dana), who was the ex-wife of the eldest son, Valentine.
As historical fiction goes, this story is every bit as fascinating as anything written by Erik Larson. Sargent writes beautifully, and one gets pulled into the story. Although I describe it as being about the Ceausescu family, the theme, when I began reading it, seemed to be one of young love. Valentine and Dana were known as the Romeo and Juliet of Romania, because of the political intrigue, and bad blood between the families. As such stories usually go, the parents strive mightily to keep them apart, and the young lovers have more important concerns than the probable consequences of their union.
Valentine's father, Nicolae Ceausescu and Nicolae's wife Elena, take over Romania after the death of Gheorghin-Dej (by illness or otherwise in 1965). They take their lovely country in a direction utterly destructive to anyone but their inner circle. The riches of the country are drained to build monuments to their "greatness." Dana's father, who had been a leader in the country, is now on the "outs," made worse by the youngsters' romance.
The ensuing years are offered up with doses of human greed, ego, domestic tranquility turned to stagnation, and impending doom as the workers are made poorer, hungrier, and more downtrodden until it all erupts in 1989. While only the Ceausescu elders are assassinated at the time, the entire family is sought for imprisonment and possible destruction as collaborators. Because of a most heroic friend, Dana and her son escape Romania and end up in the USA in hiding.
This incredible tale is turned from news bulletin to a richly constructed novel by Sargent's lyrical writing, including a theme of red that runs through the book, humor, intrigue, and Romanian idioms and proverbs. Even if you don't know where Romania is geographically, after reading this novel, you are likely to find it in your heart.
Based on extensive interviews, Colin Sargent has written a fictional account of the rise and fall of the Ceausescus family as rulers of Romania from 1965 to 1989. Sargent had the opportunity to interview Ioradana (Dana), who was the ex-wife of the eldest son, Valentine.
As historical fiction goes, this story is every bit as fascinating as anything written by Erik Larson. Sargent writes beautifully, and one gets pulled into the story. Although I describe it as being about the Ceausescu family, the theme, when I began reading it, seemed to be one of young love. Valentine and Dana were known as the Romeo and Juliet of Romania, because of the political intrigue, and bad blood between the families. As such stories usually go, the parents strive mightily to keep them apart, and the young lovers have more important concerns than the probable consequences of their union.
Valentine's father, Nicolae Ceausescu and Nicolae's wife Elena, take over Romania after the death of Gheorghin-Dej (by illness or otherwise in 1965). They take their lovely country in a direction utterly destructive to anyone but their inner circle. The riches of the country are drained to build monuments to their "greatness." Dana's father, who had been a leader in the country, is now on the "outs," made worse by the youngsters' romance.
The ensuing years are offered up with doses of human greed, ego, domestic tranquility turned to stagnation, and impending doom as the workers are made poorer, hungrier, and more downtrodden until it all erupts in 1989. While only the Ceausescu elders are assassinated at the time, the entire family is sought for imprisonment and possible destruction as collaborators. Because of a most heroic friend, Dana and her son escape Romania and end up in the USA in hiding.
This incredible tale is turned from news bulletin to a richly constructed novel by Sargent's lyrical writing, including a theme of red that runs through the book, humor, intrigue, and Romanian idioms and proverbs. Even if you don't know where Romania is geographically, after reading this novel, you are likely to find it in your heart.
Displaying 1 of 1 review