Charbonneau began her writing career in journalism with articles and short fiction in such publications as The New York Times, Newsday, Lady's Circle, and Mothering Magazine. In 1988 her first novel, a Young Adult Historical, "The Ghosts of Stony Clove," received an award from RWA as best YA of the year. Her other YA historical novels include "In the Time of the Wolves," and "Honor to the Hills." Her mysteries for young people include "The Mound Builders' Secret," and "Disappearance at Harmony Festival."
This talented author is also an accomplished playwright. In 1996, Forge published Charbonneau's first adult novel, "Waltzing in Ragtime," followed by "The Randolph Legacy" in 1997.The latter has just been released by TOR/Forge in
soft cover (July 1998).
With her third adult historical novel, "Rachel LeMoyne," Charbonneau continues her winning record of memorable stories and strong characterizations. This entertaining and informative story had its genesis in a diary entry of one Gerald Keegan, schoolteacher of County Sligo, Ireland, and victim of the Irish Famine.
"Among all the donations from various parts of the world there is one that is singularly appreciated. It comes from a small tribe of Native American Indians, the Choctaw tribe from central western United States. These noble-minded people, sometimes called savages by those who wantonly released death and destruction among them, raised money from their meager resources to help the starving in this ll the acts of generosity that our condition has inspired among the nations."
Using this event, Charbonneau, of French and Indian ancestry, spins a tale rich in both Choctaw and Irish history. In an Epilogue, the author explains that some 16 years from a Trail of Tears like banishment from their homeland in Mississippi to the Oklahoma Indian Territory, the Choctaw people had drawn up a constitution, some of which is still part of the Oklahoma state constitution. They ruled themselves by council and established prosperous trading towns
along trails to Texas and California. They were already schooling their children by way of Native American teachers, graduates of their own and missionary schools. When the Choctaw people learned of the plight of kindred spirits half the world away, they wanted to help, and did.
Rachel LeMoyne, orphaned on the trek to Oklahoma is raised by the missionaries. She becomes a Christian but never forgets her heritage and lore. At 20 years of age, she is one of the most outstanding teachers in the Indian mission school. Her brother Atoka, a member of the native police force, continues in the "old ways" of the Choctaw much to the dismay of his "benefactors." When the Council votes to send corn to Ireland, Rachel who is considered a peace
chief among her people, is elected to accompany the Presbyterian missionaries on this mission of charity.
Rachel's story, rich in historical detail, becomes an adventure that takes her and one Darragh Ronan, who is considered an outlaw by English authorities, into the heart of Ireland's devastation. After her mission is completed, Rachel assists Darragh (pronounced Dare) in escaping Ireland aboard a ship bound for New Orleans. To circumvent the wrath of her missionary chaperone, Miss. Wakefield, and the immigration authorities, Rachel and Dare are married by the ship's captain.
Atoka meets his sister and her strange new husband in New Orleans. The three flee up river to St. Louis where they hope to join a wagon train to take them on to the Oregon Territory to unite with Rachel and Atoka's long lost uncle. Their misadventures in St. Louis are both
humorous and tragic. The trip across the American wilderness to Oregon is one of the finest pieces of historical writing I've encountered in many years.
Charbonneau's rare talent for dialogue, using subtle cadences rather than dialects to vary the differing voices of her characters, is extraordinary. Her deft portrayal of the many native American tribes and their cultures delights and adds great depth to her story. A special encounter with a band of Pawnee Indians offers a passage from which many lessons are revealed. It is as if Charbonneau is showing her readers the many misconceptions storytellers have brought before,
were but myths in the mists of time. All of her characters, whether major or minor, are polished gems.
Another note of interest to readers is that a character named Baptiste, the wilderness guide, is drawn from a real life person. Baptiste, used fictitiously in this work, was really Jean Baptiste Charbonneau and a cousin of the author. His mother was the Shoshone woman Sacagawea who was a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
I highly recommend "Rachel LeMoyne" as a unique historical novel, guaranteed to touch both the heart and mind.
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(Jones is a published writer and literary critic)
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