Robert Cavelier de La Salle: daring explorer; empire builder; shaper of history—and shameless schemer who abused his followers and deceived his king. In The Wreck of the Belle; the Ruin of La Salle; acclaimed historian Robert S. Weddle reveals how La Salle and his closest associates spun a web of secrecy and falsehood about their travels; dissembled their objectives; and put their own spin on his exploits by suppressing other would-be diarists. Weddle’s study represents a major revision of the story of La Salle and his times as they have been traditionally understood; with few of the major characters in the epic tale emerging unscathed. Even his death was misreported by survivors of the French colony in Spanish-claimed territory as they sought to save themselves. This book had its genesis in the Texas Historical Commission’s 1995 discovery in Matagorda Bay; along the Texas coast; of the wreck of La Belle; the last of four vessels that La Salle brought to America on his final mission. Artifacts salvaged from the ship shed new light on the efforts of La Salle and his two hundred colonists to establish the first European settlement between Florida and Mexico; a settlement that has been erroneously labeled Fort-Saint-Louis.As history provided the clues that led to this archaeological discovery; so archaeology now fills in the blanks of history; raising a host of new questions about the ill-starred colony. Weddle marshals the evidence to answer those questions; reframing the old picture of one of France’s premier American explorers in the light of new discovery and setting the record straight.Weddle’s exhaustive research has resulted in a work not limited to La Salle’s final misadventures in Texas. Rather; he chronicles the explorer’s activities throughout his travels in North America; drawing on several unpublished sources to provide a more accurate picture of La Salle; both as private individual and as legendary explorer.
#239885 in Books 2012-05-01 2012-05-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.25 x .68 x 9.96l; 1.88 #File Name: 158394446X336 pages
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A Masterpiece of WorkBy Patricia DameryI read this book because of my interest in the Great Serpent Mound of southern Ohio; but I got ever-so-much more than I could have asked for. In this poetically written and accessible book; Hamilton seamlessly weaves together astronomy; geometry; anthropology; and mythology; demonstrating that the builders of the earthworks; which includes the Serpent Mound; had sophisticated knowledge of these disciplines. He argues that the mounds were highly technical tools to manage the environment. He challenges current belief that ancient people’s consciousness was “primitive†and suggest ancient sites built five to six thousand years ago may hold tools for help in our current environmental crisis. His source material for the Native American stories (best read aloud) includes; among other Native Americans; Sioux scholar Vine Deloria; Jr.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. AstonishingBy David Warner MathisenRoss Hamilton has done and continues to do a great service to our generation and future generations in his thorough (and ongoing) exploration of the mysterious "Star Mounds" of the Ohio Valley; and his analysis and attempts to unlock their ancient messages; alignments and meanings. His deep knowledge of geometry; sacred geometry; and astronomy; as well as his profound respect for the Native American traditions and legends and teachings; shine through in this beautiful book. The geometric analysis was astonishing; and the connections to the constellations equally significant: these earthworks are truly an often-overlooked wonder of the world (many of the earthworks surveyed by Squier Davis in the first half of the nineteenth century are now sadly lost); and Ross Hamilton's careful and insightful analysis should increase our awareness of and desire to learn more about these treasures from the distant past; and about those who envisioned them and caused them to take shape upon the terrain of our amazing and wonder-filled world. Through his patient and careful examination and his unique set of skills and abilities; Ross brings to light the truly breathtaking hidden patterns and connections designed into these mounds.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Amazing Book with So Much Ancient Wisdom and Scientific DataBy peace and loveThis book is well written; concise and thorough. It is a treasure of a book with much detail and scientific data. It really makes one wonder on the deepest level of our origins and existence.It's a well researched and thoughtful look at some of human history.And if you ever in the area of these mounds; I say go visit them and discover them for yourself. Enjoy!
