To get a complete picture of the culture and life of the native American tribes, it is enough to read the novels of a French writer named Gustav Emard (Oliver Glu, 1818-1883). Heroes and circumstances are mostly written off from real stories.
Restless french man
Such a lover of North America in an amazing way was not even a colonist in the usual sense of the word and remained faithful to his homeland. At a young age, Oliver Glu (real name of the writer) leaves France on a merchant ship. And has spent more than 10 years traveling not only across the seas and oceans, but also overland. Apparently, in the world, it was best accepted among the Indian tribes. It is precisely known about his living among Native Americans and close friendship with many of them. In any case, the Frenchman tightly linked his literary career with the description of this particular page in the history of North America.
Following the writer's risky expeditions from 1858 to 1870, dozens of popular novels were published to the delight of adventure literature lovers. Almost all of them are composed of real stories and fates. Moreover, no one liked to visit unexplored and uninhabited places as often as Emar Gustav. Books under his name also were of great importance, and probably many adventurers in America at that time could travel not on a map, but on the novels of a troubled Frenchman.
Adventure gatherers
Of course, his stories were not confined only to the coloring of Indian life and generally described the misadventures of the conquerors of the continent. As you know, the conquest of the New World at all times was one continuous adventure. Here, it is difficult for any writer to keep his ink dry. Before and after Gutstav Emard, many more writers will describe the romance of American freedoms. But the native of France and at home had something to write about. In fact, he survived two wars on European soil (taking into account the revolution), and yet he wrote more about America.
Contemporaries of Oliver, despite the writer's long wanderings, had every right to call him a true Frenchman and a patriot of France because of the events of 1848.
At the age of 30, already an adult man, he takes part in the revolution. Such a chronology allows one to judge the character and life priorities of this person. While everything is relatively calm in his homeland, he simply has nothing to do there - and with any unrest he is already there. For a man by the name of Emar Gustav, the biography was compiled on the ship's deck or as part of expeditions. In the future, his life only confirms this conjecture. It is enough to recall at least his participation in the Franco-Prussian war. And in the status of a young man on a merchant ship, and in long wanderings around the world by the eminent writer under the pseudonym Gustav Emar, the novelist was not indifferent to France.
So in world literature there is a unique example of descriptions of American culture, not only by the representative of the Old World, but also by the fierce patriot of his historical homeland.
Real america
The Indians remained heroes in all the works of Gustav Emar in the full diversity of their culture with nobility, courage and generosity. In the eyes of the writer, they have always been a receptacle of military spirit with firm notions of honor. But you should not take his novels as one continuous laudatory ode. Emar was devoted to realism in every line with a willingness to also describe the darkest nooks in Native American culture. We are talking about the glorification of violence and cruelty. The Frenchman from the merchant ship was not just in love with Native Americans, but created the most truthful encyclopedia of the New World in a fascinating literary form.
Perhaps, in attempts to study American history, it is really worth re-reading the novels by Gustav Emar - in particular, the detailed descriptions of life in a realistic manner are striking.
He himself could serve as a good prototype of one of his heroes. During the Franco-Prussian War, Gustav in 1870 assembled a rifle detachment to fight against German troops. But the main thing - the detachment consisted of writers only. In terrible battles, as before in the next French Revolution, the writer not only fought bravely, but also survived. Then another 10 novels were written.
Adventure author
It is noteworthy that Gustav Emar made a lot of adventures on European soil and could write a huge number of stories about it. But he transferred to the pages only the American travel experience. For a writer named Emar Gustav, a biography could end in death or injury many times, but all the dangers whizzed past. It is difficult to judge at what age this person acquired a love of danger. Perhaps this was the case from birth, or maybe as a boy in the service of the position of a young man in a long voyage, he instilled in himself courage and determination. These qualities were in abundance. And in an ordinary calm life, Gustav, apparently, could no longer remain as before.
Like all leading adventure authors, Gustav Emar gathered an audience of readers from different countries and ages.
Citizen of the world
Gustav Emar did not belong to the number of writers who only after death received their recognition. He fully felt the readership. His "Golden Castile" about the misadventure of pirates in the Caribbean expanses attracted a huge number of enthusiastic readers. The main character of "Golden Castile", one of the pirate leaders nicknamed the Ruiner, learned about the wealth of the Mexican city of Maracaibo and is now obsessed with the intention to capture it. He can not do without the full support of filibusters. And an experienced pirate is desperately convincing his team to participate in his plan. Montbar the Destroyer intends to pose as a pompous count in an attempt to earn the trust of a city governor named Fernando d'Aville. And this is the only way to count on a successful assault on the city walls.
Of course, Gustav’s book fees would be enough for a prosperous life. But a furious adventurer did not want to settle down in a cozy house on the coast of France.
For people like Emar Gustav, a family photo in a happy environment is not as important as military excitement in battle. And the writer with special ease exchanged a calm settled life for travel and adventure on the road. Work on books alternated with traveling and battles without rest.