Voyagers to the New World. Nigel Davies.

Voyagers to the New World.
Nigel Davies
William Morrow: 1979.

Here is a book that should be updated every decade or two. This is a thorough review of the main theories of precolumbian contacts between the Americas and the rest of the world.

Davies covers everything from the colonists' theories, to the Mormons, to scientific hypotheses, and even UFO contacts. His most interesting writing involves the very earliest ideas.

By reviewing the scientific literature on plants, arts, histories, ships, etc., the author is pretty convincing that there was probably scant contact between the Old and New worlds, and if there were, such contact had little, if any, impact on American culture. Not entirely convincing, and I personally suspect there may have been more contact than Davies thinks.

The author's final chapter deals with alternative theories on the striking similarities between cultures: these are cognitive, archetypal, and dream/hallucinogenic theories which, he urges, need further research.

By Neva's Waters. John R. Carling.

By Neva's Waters.

John R. Carling.
Little, Brown: 1907.

An uncommon title by Carling, who was a writer of historical romances. A hundred years ago, there was much more emphasis on the adventure than the romance, though. This is a simply marvellous tale of Russia at the time of czar Alexander I's rise. A dashing and gallant Englishman, Lord Wilfrid Courtenay, falls in love with a beautiful Russian noblewoman.

Various adventures and political intrigues ensue. At times, this is more a drama of manners, as it were, since so much of the plot revolves around certain people's perceptions of other people. Nowadays, of course, such thinking seems quaint and it is felt to be an outdated plot device.

At the end, it turns out that Wilfrid's love is in fact the Czarina, and as such, a relationship is impossible. So, he settles for his second favorite lady, who was in love with the Czar, but now prefers Wilfrid. Strange, but wistfully happy.