The Red River Half-Breed: A Tale of the Wild North-West

by Gustave Aimard

Overview

Excerpt: We stand on the loftiest peak of the Big Wind River Mountains, that highest and longest chain of the Northern Rockies, a chaos of granite fifteen thousand feet towards the firmament from the sea. Around us the lesser pinnacles hold up heads as fantastic in shape as an Indian's plumed for battle, and, below a little, diamonds of ice deck the snowy ermine of the colossal giant's robe. Far beneath, the mosses are grown upon by sparse grasses, and they by scrub evergreens, gradually displaced in the descent to the warm alcoved valleys by taller and taller pines, spruce, larch, and cedar. But the ancient ocean wash here shows lines alone of the constant west and southwest winds, which never bring a seed or grain into this calm frigidity. In the placid afternoon, the beats are audible of the wings of the king of the air, that proud eagle which Milton chose as the finest emblem of the American people who, in their vigorous youth, had lit their eyes in the unclouded sunbeams; and the song of the Arctic bluebird, startled by the unwonted squeaking of the dry ice powder intermixed with ground fossils and granite, as horses in the uneven line of a new and breakneck trail crunch antediluvian shells to atoms as they follow a daring man up the heights along chasms of ten thousand feet, from the western acclivity to the actual summit divide, not two yards wide. It was November, a time when the almost impossible crossing was alone in the power of man, since in the thaws of summer the ravines are choke full of resistless water, and, later, the snowstorms are overwhelming.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783958648494
Publisher:	Otbebookpublishing
Publication date:	10/24/2017
Series:	Classics To Go
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	216
File size:	593 KB

About the Author

Gustave Aimard, born Olivier Aimard on September 13, 1818, in Paris, was a prolific French author whose adventurous life deeply influenced his literary works. Aimard's early years were marked by a series of dramatic escapades; he ran away to sea at a young age and later joined a band of pirates, experiences that would fuel his vivid storytelling. His travels took him across the Americas, where he lived among Native American tribes, gaining firsthand knowledge of their cultures and lifestyles.Aimard's literary career began in earnest in the mid-19th century, and he quickly became known for his adventure novels set in the American frontier. His works, characterized by their rich detail and dynamic narratives, captivated readers and offered a romanticized yet insightful portrayal of the untamed West. Aimard's ability to blend fact with fiction made his stories both educational and entertaining, appealing to a wide audience.Controversy surrounded Aimard's life and work, particularly regarding his claims of authenticity and his portrayal of indigenous peoples. Critics questioned the veracity of his experiences, while others praised his efforts to bring attention to the complexities of frontier life. Despite the debates, Aimard's influence on contemporary writers was significant; his adventurous spirit and narrative style inspired a generation of authors, including Jules Verne.Aimard's revolutionary ideas about freedom and exploration resonated with the zeitgeist of his time, reflecting the broader 19th-century fascination with the exotic and the unknown. His legacy endures as a testament to the power of storytelling in bridging cultural divides and igniting the imagination. Gustave Aimard passed away on June 20, 1883, leaving behind a rich tapestry of adventure that continues to intrigue modern readers.
Gustave Aimard (13 September 1818[1] – 20 June 1883) was the author of numerous books about Latin America. Aimard was born Olivier Aimard in Paris. As he once said, he was the son of two people who were married, "but not to each other". His father, François Sébastiani de la Porta (1775–1851) was a general in Napoleon’s army and one of the ambassadors of the Louis Philippe government. Sébastini was married to the Duchess de Coigny. In 1806 the couple produced a daughter: Alatrice-Rosalba Fanny. Shortly after her birth the mother died. Fanny was raised by her grandmother, the Duchess de Coigny. According to the New York Times of July 9, 1883, Aimard’s mother was Mme. de Faudoas, married to Anne Jean Marie René de Savary, Duke de Rovigo (1774–1833). (Wikipedia)