The wreck of the Belle, the ruin of La Salle
By: Robert S. Weddle.
Edition: 1st ed.
Series: Centennial series of the Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University ;; no. 88
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Published: 2001
Place of publication: College Station
Language: eng
Number of pages: 327
Subjects: La Salle, Robert Cavelier, sieur de, 1643-1687.; La Belle (Frigate); Explorers -- North America -- Biography.; Explorers -- France -- Biography.; Shipwrecks -- Texas -- Matagorda Bay.; Mississippi River Valley -- Discovery and exploration -- French.; Mexico, Gulf of -- Discovery and exploration -- French.; Matagorda Bay (Tex.) -- Antiquities.; France -- Colonies -- America -- History -- 17th century.
Genres: Biography.
Description: "Robert Cavelier De La Salle: darling explorer, empire builder, shaper of history - and shameless schemer who abused his followers and deceived his king. In The Wreck of the Belle, the Ruin of La Salle, acclaimed historian Robert S. Weddle reveals how La Salle and his closest associates spun a web of secrecy and falsehood about their travels, dissembled their objectives, and put their own spin on his exploits by suppressing other would-be diarists.

Weddle's study represents a major revision of the story of La Salle and his times as they have been traditionally understood, with few of the major characters in the epic tale emerging unscathed. Even his death was misreported by survivors of the French colony in Spanish-claimed territory as they sought to save themselves."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 305-311) and index.