In their only fully collaborative literary work， Michael Dorris and Louise Erdrich have written a gripping novel of history， suspense， recovery， and new beginnings. The Crown of Columbus chronicles the adventures of a pair of mismatched lovers--Vivian Twostar， a divorced， pregnant anthropologist， and Roger Williams， a consummate academic， epic poet， and bewildered father of Vivian s baby--on their quest for the truth about Christopher Columbus and themselves. When Vivian uncovers what is presumed to be the most diary of Christopher Columbus， she and Roger are drawn into a journey from icy New Hampshire to the idyllic Caribbean in search of"the greatest treasure of Europe." Lured by the wild promise of redeeming the past， they are plunged into a harrowing race against time and death that threatens--and finally changes--their lives. A rollicking tale of adventure， The Crown of Columbus is also contemporary love story and a tender examination of parenthood and passion.