The twaining of America
 

The twaining of America

B.J. Fiske's "The Twaining of America" tells the story of Ramon Clemente as it intertwines the history of his growing adopted home. He meets and marries Leann, a girl from St. Louis whose family never quite gets used to the idea of their daughter marrying a "foreigner," and gains a job at the Department of State. Ramon's travels take him across this great country, and he attaches his star to that of patriot John Freemont. The story of the Clementes encompasses the nineteenth century, ending in 1900 with the birth of a new era and the declination of their own lives.

Fiske, with the help of journals, papers, and photographs found in a family friend's old trunk, has reconstructed the lives of Ramon Clemente and his darling wife, Leann, as he leads readers through the amazing progress of the United States during its most extensive period of growth. "The Twaining of America" is a well-written historical look at the captivating lives of one man, one couple, and one nation.

This is a bicoastal historical novel about the westward growth of the United States as seen by a Spanish-Mexican Californian. "Twaining" refers not only to the joining of east and west but also to the coming together of two people from different backgrounds and different parts of the country.

Ramon's many cross-country trips brought him familiarity with many growing American cities, such as St. Louis, New Orleans, New York, Washington, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. There is also a tour with the American Embassy in Mexico City and a trip to Europe in 1870. His Hispanic background, frequent travels, and work with the U.S. government give him a unique perspective on American growth and events such as the Mexican, Civil, and Spanish-American wars.

The sixty illustrations are maps, drawings, paintings, and photographs of the period from collections around the country and abroad.