- Format
- Book
- Language
- French
- Published/Created
-
- [Paris] : Flammarion, [2019]
- ©2019
- Description
- 653 pages, 32 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (chiefly color), maps (some color) ; 24 cm.
Availability
Table of Contents
Copies in the Library
ReCAP – Remote Storage
Details
- Subject(s)
- Series
- Bibliographic references
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 587-625) and index.
- Contents
-
- A shadow in Florida: The murder of Pierre Gambie
- The torn intermediary: Étienne Brûlé
- A picaresque hero: Pierre-Esprit Radisson
- The misfortunes of an honest man: Nicolas Perrot
- The enigmas of a lead plate: The ghost expedition of the La Vérendrye brothers
- Putting morals to the test: The tribulations of Jean-Baptiste Truteau
- The Free Man of Upper Missouri: Toussaint Charbonneau
- The Mountain Man: Étienne Provost
- The prairie runner: Pierre Beauchamp.
Show 6 more Contents items
- ISBN
- 9782082105163 ((paperback))
- OCLC
- 1119025784
- RCP
- N – S
- Statement on responsible collection description
- Princeton University Library aims to describe library materials in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections we manage. Read more…
Supplementary Information
Paris, France – A new book published in 2019 sheds light on a largely forgotten chapter of North American history: the exploits of French adventurers in the New World. Gilles Havard’s 653-page work, titled L’Amérique fantôme: les aventuriers francophones du Nouveau Monde (The Phantom America: French-Speaking Adventurers of the New World), details the lives of explorers, traders, and frontiersmen who shaped the continent.
Beyond Champlain: Unsung Heroes of New France
While Samuel de Champlain often dominates narratives of French exploration, Havard’s book dives deeper, profiling figures like Pierre Gambie, whose murder in Florida kicks off the narrative, and Étienne Brûlé, a pivotal, yet often overlooked, intermediary between French settlers and Indigenous populations. The book, richly illustrated with 32 plates and maps, isn’t just a recounting of events; it’s a character study of individuals navigating a brutal and unfamiliar landscape.
- The book includes extensive bibliographical references (pages 587-625) and an index.
- L’Amérique fantôme is published in French and consists of 653 pages.
- The ISBN for the paperback edition is 9782082105163, and the OCLC number is 1119025784.
From Mountain Men to Prairie Runners
Havard doesn’t shy away from the complexities of these historical figures. He examines the tribulations of Jean-Baptiste Truteau, the exploits of Toussaint Charbonneau—known for his role in the Lewis and Clark expedition—and the life of Étienne Provost, a quintessential mountain man. The book also profiles Pierre Beauchamp, a “prairie runner,” highlighting the diverse roles French adventurers played in the shaping of North America.
What were the primary challenges faced by French adventurers in the New World? These explorers contended with harsh environments, conflicts with Indigenous groups, and the moral ambiguities inherent in the fur trade and colonial expansion. Havard’s work offers a nuanced perspective on these challenges, moving beyond simplistic narratives of heroism and conquest.
A Deep Dive into Forgotten Expeditions
The book also revisits lesser-known episodes, such as the enigmatic expedition of the La Vérendrye brothers and the mystery surrounding a lead plate they left behind. These stories, meticulously researched and vividly recounted, contribute to a more complete understanding of the French presence in North America.
Currently, copies of L’Amérique fantôme are held in the ReCAP remote storage facility, according to library records.
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