Product Description

In their only fully collaborative literary work, Michael Dorris and Louise Erdrich have written a gripping novel of history, suspense, recovery, and new beginnings. The Crown of Columbus chronicles the adventures of a pair of mismatched lovers--Vivian Twostar, a divorced, pregnant anthropologist, and Roger Williams, a consummate academic, epic poet, and bewildered father of Vivian's baby--on their quest for the truth about Christopher Columbus and themselves. When Vivian uncovers what is presumed to be the most diary of Christopher Columbus, she and Roger are drawn into a journey from icy New Hampshire to the idyllic Caribbean in search of"the greatest treasure of Europe." Lured by the wild promise of redeeming the past, they are plunged into a harrowing race against time and death that threatens--and finally changes--their lives. A rollicking tale of adventure, The Crown of Columbus is also contemporary love story and a tender examination of parenthood and passion.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #141228 in Books
• Published on: 1999-04-01
• Released on: 1999-03-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Humor and invention guide the voyages of discovery wending through this lighthearted romantic mystery from husband-and-wife team Dorris ( The Broken Cord ) and Erdrich ( Love Medicine ). The tale is narrated in turn by feisty, pregnant Vivian Twostar, a Navaho-Irish 40-year-old associate professor of Native American Studies at Dartmouth, and by her on-again, off-again lover and fellow teacher, the very orderly "Beacon Hill Episcopalian" Roger Williams. In pursuit of tenure, Vivian, who lives a catch-up life with her indomitable mother and exasperating teenage son, has agreed to write an article about Christopher Columbus, who is also the subject of Roger's life's work, a poem expected to confirm his stature as an eminent narrative poet. Doing research, Vivian uncovers documents suggesting the existence of a long-lost diary of Columbus and a treasure he may have hidden in the New World, information that Roger, as expert, dismisses. Seeking the authentic Columbus, the two are buffeted by love and rage as they struggle to find a course that can accommodate their different views and very different natures. After some hilarious academic contretemps, the process leads to life-threatening adventures in the Bahamas and a series of personal and historical discoveries, at the center of which lies their enchanting and forceful infant daughter. Less tightly focused than the authors' other works, this leisurely love story is full of fanciful and convincing charm; readers may find Roger broadly drawn, yet the deeply etched Vivian is a true original (an "indigenous iconoclast," Roger calls her) who leaves indelible traces. 150,000 first printing; $200,000 ad/promo; author tour; BOMC alternate; film rights sold to Cinecom; first serial to Caliban, Mother Jones, Redbook.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
After scoring substantial critical success individually (for Erdrich with the novels Love Medicine , LJ 10/1/84; The Beet Queen , LJ 8/86; etc.; and for Dorris, with A Yellow Raft in Blue Water , LJ 5/1/87, and the nonfiction The Broken Cord , LJ 7/89), this husband-and-wife team combine their talents to produce what looks to be a Big Time, commercially successful novel, pre-sold movie rights and all. Told in the very different voices of college professor lovers Vivian Twostar, Native American single mother, and Roger Williams, poet of an old New England family, the collaborative effort flows smoothly. Although estranged during Vivian's pregnancy, both are working on academic projects concerning the 500th anniversary of the discovery of North America by Columbus. The collision of their two lives is funny, vivid, and life-affirming; add an element of mystery and you have a sure-fire winner on all levels. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 1/91.
-Ann H. Fisher, Radford P.L., Va.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"A thriller and love story...A mediation on power and betrayal...An exhilarating novel of risk, redemption and discovery." -- -- Los Angeles Times

"Highly entertaining, full of intrigue, wit, search for self and a buried treasure. Suspenseful and clever." -- -- Miami Herald

"The rare novel that is both literature and good fun." -- -- Barbara Kingsolver

"A thriller and love story...A mediation on power and betrayal...An exhilarating novel of risk, redemption and discovery." -- Los Angeles Times

"Compelling entertainment...Fast-paced, fluently written...Combines the archaeological suspense of Raiders of the Ark with the scholarly thrills of A. S. Byatt's Possession." -- New York Times

"Highly entertaining, full of intrigue, wit, search for self and a buried treasure. Suspenseful and clever." -- Miami Herald

"Splendid...A novel to cherish and reread...An original genre, using the frame of an adventure yarn to house a love story and a novel of ideas." -- New Woman

"The rare novel that is both literature and good fun." -- Barbara Kingsolver

Customer Reviews

Best book I have read in 10 years
I loved the Crown of Columbus. Everything from the richness of the language and characterization to the intricate plot development. A quintessential love story, Vivien Twostar leaps off the pages: one can identify with her struggles - both as an individual and also in a relationship. While the feckless Roger Williams adrift in his sea of academic and masculine arrogance is a wonderful counterfoil. Beautifully written prose has depth yet is concise and conveys rich imagery and conflict. Oh if only all books were this good!

Captured my attention . . .
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Once I got past the misleading synopsis on back of the novel and accepted the novel for what it really was, I became intensely involved. Roger Williams and Vivian Twostar are stereotypes, which is the point. They are cariactures; Dorris and Erdrich having a little fun with the stereotypes people have placed on them. The depth of character found in Erdrich's other novels is clearing missing; however, _The Crown of Columbus_ is a different kind of novel. It is a modern romance, detective, adventure, and historical novel at the same time. I recommend this book to someone looking for an entertaining read; anyone seeking high literature should read Erdrich's _Tracks_

Crown of Columbus proves thrilling yet educational
In Crown of Columbus, Erdrich created a thrilling novel around historical information regarding Columbus. She further explored many of the cultural perspectives about the meaning of Columbus and particularly looked at Columbus' meaning to many Native Americans. In addition to the educational and historical perspective, she created characters who were real and complex. Erdrich also developed a suspensful end to the story which proved somewhat predictable but none-the-less made the book difficult to put down.