"La Salle is probably one of the most important explorers of the Great Lakes region."

René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle is probably one of the most important explorers of the Great Lakes region.

Born in Rouen, France in 1643, LaSalle in his youth entertained the idea of entering the priesthood. However, after spending a few years in a Jesuit College near his home, he decided that the priesthood was not for him, and at the age of twenty-two, in the year 1666, he left for Canada, or as it was then known, Nouvelle France (New France). Landing in Montréal, he was granted tracts of land situated near rapids that are today known as the Lachine Rapids. It was in Montréal where he learned several Native languages, as well as their customs and etiquette. In exchange, he had exposed the Natives to European arts and science.

His first major explorations began in 1669, when he had sold all of his interests in La Chine, and was convinced that an important river system must flow into the Gulf of California and provide passage to China. Unfortunately, the expedition had eventually been abandoned, and historians are not even certain if he ever reached the Mississippi.

Ten years later, in 1679, LaSalle's importance as a great explorer began to unfold. First time novelist Russell Breighner, in the opening book of his trilogy, The Noble Free, picks up LaSalle's story from here.

Relying on the information garnered from LaSalle's biographers, Francis Parkman, Anka Muhlstein and John Upton Terrell, Breighner dramatizes factual events in order to bring them into focus for the reader.

The book is intriguing in its reference to some of the most important aspects of LaSalle's career, such as the voyage of the Griffin. A boat built under the orders of LaSalle by his longtime friend, Henri de Tonti, that was "the first sailing ship to appear on the upper Great Lakes." The principal objective of the building of this ship was to transport the fruits of LaSalle's trade, animal skins, beaver furs, buffalo hides and other small animal skins from Lake Michigan to the Niagara portage for transfer to Montreal and eventually to France. In return, the ship transported supplies, trade goods, weapons, and gunpowder to support LaSalle's expeditions.

Breighner does a fairly good job in painting a picture of LaSalle that are unknown to many readers. An explorer, who had a warm understanding of the culture and humanity of Native Americans, and who confidently asserted: "My enemies are not here. I do not fear these natives; I travel freely here, and am always welcome among the Indians." It is not surprising that he was able to survive his ventures, consolidate alliances with the Natives, and build a warehouse at Niagara and a fort among the Illinois.

Where the book falters, however, is that much of the dialogue of his characters are not convincing. I felt they did not take true events into their lives in the same way we do as living breathing human beings. Characters were not effectively reconstructed with imagined dialogue that would seem to be most appropriate to the material at hand.

Having said that, I will have to admit that one of the impacts of the book was to force me to research LaSalle's life to gain a better understanding of this great explorer.

Reviewed by Norman Goldman
Courtesy Bookpleasures
Posted August 10, 2003