Il verde fiume della vita

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The narrative spans nine thousand years, beginning with the nascent Columbia River and unfolding a family saga across five generations, from the late 18th century to the present. At the forefront is Ilchee, a Chinook Indian princess who marries a white trader, establishing a courageous dynasty. Her son Caleb navigates life in the white-dominated Fort Vancouver, while Suzanna embarks on a challenging journey across the continent, facing humiliation, death, and love. Isaac, their son, builds a logging empire, only to realize that fate, not time, dictates his path. His Chinese mistress, Ning Ho, imparts lessons about life and pleasure. The story culminates with Will, who diverges from his father's vision to pursue his own ambition of constructing the Grand Coulee Dam, alongside his wife Leona, whose secret threatens the family's legacy. This rich narrative paints a vivid portrait of heroes and villains, illustrating the dreams of land, gold, timber, salmon, and power. It begins with a nomadic hunter's kill of a mastodon and concludes with an archaeology team racing against time to uncover the past before the Columbia's waters erase it forever, encapsulating the idea that "some things must be believed to be seen."