GEORGE ROGERS CLARK

An experienced biographer (see her books on La Salle and John Brown) tells the story of the explorer whose efforts helped swing the opening west towards Colonial victory in the Revolutionary war- in a direct narrative form. Starting her account at the time when Clark was a young man- she sets the scene on the Virginia plantation. There is talk of the political issues alive in 1772 and, as Clark goes to Ohio, there are the on-the-scene pioneering elements that were to influence the war. Closely connected with the work of Boone and the Kentuckians, Clark became one of their representatives at Williamsburg and his later campaigns as Major of the militia- at Kaskaskia and Vincennes- made their invaluable contributions to the cause. Though Clark fell under criticism for financial management, this is viewed as an error in judgement against Clark as a patriot and a man whose brother, William, was to become Lewis' partner in future explorations.