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Across the Endless River

by Thad Carhart

3.19 · rating details · 57 ratings · 21 reviews

From the acclaimed bestselling author of The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, a historical novel about Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of Sacagawea, and his intriguing sojourn as a young man in 1820s Paris.

Born in 1805 on the Lewis and Clark expedition, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau was the son of the expedition's translators, Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau. Across the End...more

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published September 1st 2009 by Doubleday (first published January 1st 2009)

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Oct 14, 2009

Janelle rated it

Shelves: 2009-reads

I received this book through GoodReads' First Reads Program. I was especially interested to read it because I had recently read the author's other book, a non-fiction memoir called The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, which I had enjoyed. Here Carhart tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of Sacagawea, as he grows into young manhood.

It seems obvious that this book is the author's first foray from the world of non-fiction to fiction. The historical details are clearly well...more

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Sep 24, 2009

Jeremy rated it

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book through a first reads giveaway. I was thrilled when I received the book days after being notified of winning and there was something very satisfying upon finishing and reading the author’s note which was dated for September 2009. It is not with any frequency that I read brand new books, never mind within a month of its printing. I am glad I had the chance to be one of the first few to read it.

The three stars says exactly how I felt while reading it. I liked it. I...moreI won this book through a first reads giveaway. I was thrilled when I received the book days after being notified of winning and there was something very satisfying upon finishing and reading the author’s note which was dated for September 2009. It is not with any frequency that I read brand new books, never mind within a month of its printing. I am glad I had the chance to be one of the first few to read it.

The three stars says exactly how I felt while reading it. I liked it. I like the historical aspects as it was written from the point of view of Baptiste, the son of Sacagawea. That he was born on an expedition of Lewis and Clark and then later spent roughly half of his childhood in Captain Clark’s household was fascinating. His travels into Europe held my interest somewhat but it was more about the relationships developed during that time that made the book for me.

Carhart writes well. If anything, my biggest criticism is that there was a lack of continuity in the plot which ultimately leads me to conclude that this book is not plot driven. We would be following the events of a couple of months and the abruptly skip ahead a year or two. Perhaps my being a fan of the likes Irving, Russo and Steinbeck is telling that I prefer more detail about characters and their actions. He does supply plenty of details about individual settings almost to a fault. When I start to read about the layout of a room or courtyard my eyes glaze over. I am looking for conversation, action or something that carries the plot or themes further. And maybe if Paul hadn’t been hauling Batiste all over Europe I could have stood for some descriptions but I felt there were far too many settings for a 300 page book.

All in all this was a worthwhile and fulfilling read. I liked the themes on slavery and the lives of “privileged” or noble people versus your average Jake. There was some good perspective on the emergence of the white man into the Native American territory. I will be checking out Carhart’s other book at some point in the future.
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Sep 19, 2009

Beth Anne rated it

Shelves: goodreads-giveaway-first-read

won on goodreads giveaway!

i do love historical fiction...most especially when it's written as wonderfully as this novel was. the imagined story of the young life of Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau (son of Sacagawea) was just captivating. it's hard to believe that the author fabricated the majority of this young man's journey...the story seemed so real.

of course, the meaty portion of the novel, Baptiste's 5 year journey throughout Europe, was the most fascinating and elabora...more

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Oct 16, 2009

K rated it

Shelves: books-i-was-asked-to-read

i very much enjoy LT's Early Reviewers program, and i received "across the endless river" through it. i've been in a reading slump for over a month, since finishing "the shadow of the wind." i was hopeful "river" could pull me out of it. unfortunately, it did not.

"river's" subject matter intrigued me, as i know little about sacagawea, other than her association with lewis and clark (and her appearance in the ben stiller flick, night at the mus...more

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Oct 08, 2009

Bridget rated it

Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau had a baby boy names Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau. His mixed heritage makes him feel like an outcast. When he turns eighteen, he befriends Duke Paul of Wurttemberg and together they travel around Europe. Jean Baptiste and Paul's cousin, Princess Theresa, begin a hot and steamy affair. When Theresa gives Baptiste an ultimatum, he's unsure of what to do. He travels to Paris and meets a woman named Maura. Now he's torn between two worlds and two women. What will he ...more

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Oct 22, 2009

Lila Gustavus rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction, own-it

This historical novel is primarily about Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of Sacagawea and a French translator Toussaint Charbonneau born during the famous voyage of Lewis and Clark. It takes place partly in America and partly in Europe. Jean-Baptiste, also called Pompy in the language of his mother’s tribe, the Mandans, is a bi-racial child who spends his early childhood between two worlds, Sacagawea’s Native American world and the world of captain Clark in St. Louis among the ‘civilized’ chi...moreThis historical novel is primarily about Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of Sacagawea and a French translator Toussaint Charbonneau born during the famous voyage of Lewis and Clark. It takes place partly in America and partly in Europe. Jean-Baptiste, also called Pompy in the language of his mother’s tribe, the Mandans, is a bi-racial child who spends his early childhood between two worlds, Sacagawea’s Native American world and the world of captain Clark in St. Louis among the ‘civilized’ children. His life isn’t easy but neither is it nightmarish and coming from such a mixed family, Jean-Baptiste has an advantage of knowing not one language but many, including French, English and multitude of tribal languages. This knowledge of language as well as various tribal cultures places him in the company of a young Duke of Wurtemberg, Paul with whom he departs to Europe when Jean is eighteen. He crosses the Endless River (Atlantic Ocean) in search for new experiences and maybe even a new life. What he finds there and learns there may actually make him long for America, his true home.

Mr. Carhart had been a published author before Across the Endless River but this book was my first experience of his writing. I therefore really had no expectations towards the novel other than the fact that it’s historical fiction. Sometimes (or most of the time) it’s better to start a book with an open mind expecting nothing but getting back a lot more. Across the Endless River did give me an inside look to what Sacagwea’s life might have been as well as what a chasm divided the new World and the Old World (and I’m not talking about the physical distance here). I think I enjoyed the comparison of the true wilderness of the Frontier with what the Europeans thought to be the wild places where they lived. I never gave it a thought myself but while reading the passages describing the prairies and hills where there is nothing but the wild nature as far as you can see I did understand the difference because there weren’t such places in the Old World, where as Jean mused, even in the highest mountains there were little villages with houses and people. Thad Carhart’s writing about the two worlds is in my opinion the most compelling part of this novel. The scenes of buffalos’ hunt, of endless prairies and even of the arranged deer hunts in Europe were very vivid and as such quite beautiful.

One part of Across the Endless River that I had any real complaint of was that for a historical fiction with a subject of this one, very intriguing but very lonely, lost between two worlds person, it was way too short. It almost seemed to me as if at some point the author just got tired of writing and decided to ‘cut to the chase’. I don’t mind ‘cutting to the chase’ when I read fast-action thrillers, but Across the Endless River is really a book with a potential for a true saga and it would have benefited tremendously from deeper digging into Jean-Baptiste’s affairs and lives shared between the two worlds. It’s almost as if I didn’t get a chance to completely familiarize myself with him or other characters.

However, I still don’t think this should discourage people from reaching for this book. I think it might be a perfect fit for someone who is not fully familiar with the world of historical fiction, is just making a decision to take a plunge into it but doesn’t want to be drowned in a 600+ epic from the get-go. Thad Carhart is definitely an author that will provide you with a taste for more and even me saying that his novel could have been longer only means that yes, I would definitely read more as I enjoyed his writing.(less)

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Jan 01, 2010

Michelle rated it

"I love historical fiction. It offers me a chance to learn more about a person or about an era or a culture while reveling in my love of reading. It's like a pleasurable history lesson without the boring teacher droning on about dates. I agreed to review Across the Endless River solely because of my love of historical fiction, and I am supremely glad that I did. [return][return]While I love historical fiction, I find myself not reading it as often as I would like. Mr. Carhart reminded m...more"I love historical fiction. It offers me a chance to learn more about a person or about an era or a culture while reveling in my love of reading. It's like a pleasurable history lesson without the boring teacher droning on about dates. I agreed to review Across the Endless River solely because of my love of historical fiction, and I am supremely glad that I did. [return][return]While I love historical fiction, I find myself not reading it as often as I would like. Mr. Carhart reminded me why I love this particular genre so much. The descriptions of life on the frontier and in 1800s Europe was amazingly and gloriously detailed. I was able to immerse myself into the sights and smells of the scene. I mention the smells because it isn't often that scents are described in such detail, but I was able to imagine the scent of a huge herd of buffalo or a southern German forest. Descriptions like that definitely add to the overall historical aspect of the book, in my opinion.[return][return]Baptiste's struggles to find his place in society definitely highlight similar plights and cause the reader to reflect on what life was like for those considered inferior. From royalty looking down on their servants and villagers to women struggling to enter into a profession considered only suitable for men, Mr. Carhart brings these struggles to the fore and offers the reader a chance to look at history from another angle, one not often mentioned in the history books.[return][return]The other interesting aspect of the book was the lesson regarding learning for learning's sake without thinking of the consequences. Given the furor over environmental issues in today's society, the discussion of lost or conquered civilizations and a scientist's duty to preserve those civilizations any way possible does seem very pertinent to today's issues. Should we become so concerned with preserving specimens that we fail to see the big picture? What is a scientist's duty to civilization, to a culture?[return][return]As enjoyable as it was, Across the Endless River was not without its drawbacks. From one, there was a constant switch in narration that was extremely distracting. Switching from Baptiste to Paul and even to Maura left the reader feeling confused and prevented one from truly being engrossed in the book. The narrator's omniscience also felt as if it was a part-time plot device - when it suited the plot, the narrator was omniscient. When it was not necessary, then the narrator was as much in the dark about feelings and inner thoughts as the reader. Again, it was distracting.[return][return]Other than that, as I already mentioned, I really enjoyed this book. I had never given much thought to Sacagawea other than what she did for Lewis and Clark. To see the expedition from her eyes and then see the results of that expedition through the eyes of her son was a historical thrill. Having lived in Germany and having specialized in European history, to read about life as a royal in Europe from the inside circle was also engrossing. I have already passed along this book to my husband, who is currently reading it without any prompting from me. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in historical fiction, especially life on the frontier.[return][return]Thank you to Anna Suknov from FSB Associates for the opportunity to review this book!"(less)

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Sep 11, 2009

Liviu rated it

Shelves: 2009_release_read, mainstream, read_2009

This is a pretty good novel about the European travels of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau in the company of a German naturalist prince from 1824-1829; leaving aside the relative lack of plot which is not a big deal since the novel works well as a travelogue/meeting of cultures, the main falling is that in following a relatively well documented historical person, son of the famous Native American explorer Sacagwea and her French/Canadian husband, who had the distinction of following his mother a...more

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Oct 01, 2009

penny rated it

Shelves: giveaway, fiction, first-reads

I received this book very quickly after I won the giveaway. The blurb indicated a book that combined elements I knew I could enjoy. Upon reading I found that and much more. This novel contains historical fiction, American frontier history, and European history in a delightful way by combining travelogue, epistolary writing, and journal entries into a novel which kept me turning pages. That it also raised thoughts on the servant/slave/whoami debate made me stop and think and want to read more abo...more

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Dec 29, 2009

Morris rated it

The first opinion I formed as I was reading this book was that the author must have done a lot of research before writing this. The level of detail provided about both life in America and life in Europe during this time period is staggering. Thad Carhart vividly recreates the contrasting societies and the citizens that comprise them.

Jean Baptiste is born from the union of parents from very different worlds. His struggles to fit in with both the Mandan tribe and the people of St. Loui...moreThe first opinion I formed as I was reading this book was that the author must have done a lot of research before writing this. The level of detail provided about both life in America and life in Europe during this time period is staggering. Thad Carhart vividly recreates the contrasting societies and the citizens that comprise them.

Jean Baptiste is born from the union of parents from very different worlds. His struggles to fit in with both the Mandan tribe and the people of St. Louis prove fruitless as neither accept him fully. Baptiste being allowed to witness, but not take part in, the trials of his friends becoming men, punctuated the fact that he would not become a Mandan warrior. St. Louis society never truly accepts him as one their own either.

I found the overall theme of contrasting societies fascinating. The early part of the book concentrates on the differences between the Native Americans and the settlers on the frontier, while the latter part of the book focuses more on the contrast between European and American society. Baptiste is unprepared for what he finds in European culture. The best example of the differences occurs when Baptiste is invited to take part in a hunt while in France. In Europe the hunt is more of a game than anything else, whereas back in America his tribe hunted to provide food for their families.

The relationship between Baptiste and Duke Paul evolves throughout the story. Baptiste begins as guide to Paul during his travels along the frontier. Paul turns to guide once they depart St. Louis for Europe. The two are quite friendly with each other, yet Paul never truly sees Baptiste as an equal. If anything, he is seen as more of a science experiment; take the native out of the woods and see how he acts. It was rewarding to read that Baptiste was able to adapt to his new surrounding but still keep his homeland in his heart.

One downside to the novel comes with the descriptions of traveling from one family member to another. This grew a bit tedious throughout the later sections of the book. I enjoyed the descriptions of each area, but the plot could use a bit of a boost during this section. The first part of the book is fairly fast paced and the ending moves along quickly as well, the middle section gets a bit bogged down.

Most of the story takes place from Baptiste's point of view. Sprinkled throughout there are small pieces that show us perceptions from other characters. There are several segments from Duke Paul's journal that provide uneasy insight into his character. There are also letters from Maura to Baptiste that provide insight into her situation.

I enjoyed this book very much. I have been to Wikipedia to research several points from the book and that is always a good sign for a work of historical fiction. This is a good book for people new to historical fiction, the pace is, overall, fast for a work of this type and will hold your interest from the beginning. Seasoned readers of historical fiction will appreciate the research and thought that went into writing this novel.(less)

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Oct 16, 2011

Jennifer rated it

From my book review blog Rundpinne... "Across the Endless River is a masterfully told tale of the life of Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau. The novel is told in such a manner that the reader is transported to the 19th century and one cannot help but feel as though one is transported back in time standing alongside Jean-Baptiste as he journeys, loves and ultimately must decide where he belongs. While historical in nature, the heart of the book is Jean...more

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May 05, 2010

Michelle Griep rated it

Lots and lots of history and detail, which is great for a textbook but not so much for a novel. Yes, I'm saying it dragged. I found myself skimming over entire paragraphs, and believe me, I NEVER do that.
The other thing that really bugged me was that the main character is in love with a woman yet sleeps with a different woman. What is that all about? Made me want to slap the fella.
Definitely not a thumbs-up kind of read.

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Sep 01, 2010

MJ rated it

Shelves: book-club

I ‘m still scratching my head after reading Across the Endless River, trying to figure out the author’s point in writing it? I happen to be reading The Count of Monte Cristo in tandem with Across the Endless River. They are of the same era, with some of the same themes, Europe after Napoleon, and the fascination with travel and all things exotic, and even many of the characters have the same names, but there is where they part company. Dumas is such a master of conversation, and Carhart just ...more

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Sep 14, 2010

Cheryl rated it

I had always heard of Sacagawea & sort of remembered that she gave birth to a baby on the trip across America, but never knew anything about the child. This book sheds light on her son. Very well written & I enjoyed it a lot.

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Oct 14, 2010

Kathy Spencer rated it

This book was about the son of Sacaqwea who was born on the Lewis and Clark expedition. It was intereting, but by the second half I had to half-skim sections to keep interested. At least I have a historical factoid in case a trivia question about Sacagwea or her son comes my way!

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Jun 02, 2010

Athena rated it

Fabulous historical fiction about Sacagawea's son and his adventures in the Old World. Worth reading.

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Oct 11, 2010

Marie rated it

Shelves: favorites

I read this in one sitting, I didn't have a choice it was so good! Anyone that loves history and the lives of the people who lived during the events that made the books, would love this book, it's a fictionalized story (based on the few facts that are out there) of Sacajawea's son, and his very interesting life, the end... well read it for yourself.

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Feb 03, 2011

Nettie Rosenow rated it

A good book for a cold, midwestern winter read. History is blended with what the author thinks might have happened to particular characters, much like " The Girl With the Pearl Earring". Not as good as his first book, "The Piano Shop On The Left Bank" but worth the effort. There is a factual book about the life of Jean Baptiste available which would be interesting to read. I noted that the author did not credit that book in his acknowledgements.

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Nov 24, 2009

Christine (booktumbling) rated it

review coming soon

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Feb 05, 2011

stillme added it

Shelves: didn-t-finish

The author seems so condescending to his own main character that I can't continue reading. This, despite the fact that I find the historical aspects fairly fascinating.

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Dec 24, 2011

Sherri Huntley rated it

Shelves: first-reads

I really enjoyed this book. The topic was interesting and the story line very good.

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Thad Carhart, author of Across the Endless River, is a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland. He lives in Paris with his wife, the photographer Simo Neri, and their two children.

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The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier

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