CHAMPLAIN'S DREAM

"A dream of humanity and peace in a world of cruelty and violence" inspired French explorer Samuel Champlain as he brokered alliances with Native Americans and built the settlements that grew into modern Canada. Edward Herrmann's reading of Fischer's biography is dramatic and compelling as the explorer faces trials such as harsh winters, conflict with the English, and an unhappy marriage. The biography looks not only at Champlain's efforts in the New World, but also at the religious war and personal observations of Spanish cruelty that shaped his utopian dreams. Herrmann's reading is graceful and exciting, but the true appeal of the book lies in its depiction of a life that is simply extraordinary. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]