Originally stories for family members, The Allards series has been critically acclaimed and is now widely read. It promises to become for French-Canadian-Americans what Roots was for African-Americans. The fifth in this series of eight historical novels tracing the lives of the Allard family, The City in the Wilderness, follows the fifth generation in the New World. As before, the author brings these people and their history to life, showing history through their eyes. Jacques Allard and his son travel to the sea with Lewis and Clark returning to find Detroit in ruins after the fire of 1805. They witness the rebuilding of the city, the war of 1812 and the world-wide cholera epidemic. It is during this time that Detroit turns from a military outpost to a true city. Historical figures such as Lewis, Woodward, and Gabriel Richard are accurately displayed with the author's own touch of personalization. The book must not be missed by anyone interested in French-Canadian history and genealogy. Reach the author at wilmontk@gmail.com"