AUTHOR TALK & BOOK SIGNING St. Louis Public Library is proud to present author Tom Jewett, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, who will give a talk on his book, "Failed Ambition: the Civil War Journals and Letters of Cavalryman Homer Harris Jewett," at Central Library on Saturday, August 20, 2005. Mr. Jewett has compiled the journals and letters of his ancestor, Private Homer Jewett, a member of the 7th Missouri Cavalry Regiment (the Black Hawk Cavalry), Company D, into a thrilling account of the exploits of Pvt. Jewett and other regiment members as they roam across Missouri and Arkansas in search of pro-Confederate guerrillas during the Civil War, including the notorious William Clarke Quantrill. The 7th Missouri Cavalry certainly saw plenty of action, losing 4 officers and 55 enlisted men who were either killed in action or mortally wounded, while another 4 officers and 228 enlisted men died of disease during the war. We also get glimpses of Pvt. Jewett's life back at home in Iowa, including his devoted Christian mother and risk-taking, daredevil father, and his on-again, off-again pursuit of the girl he left behind, Bell. The title refers to Pvt. Jewett's ambitious streak, and his occasional failure to live up to his own high standards. After his talk, Mr. Jewett will be available to sign copies of his book for interested persons. Don't miss this thrilling look at conditions in wartime Missouri, which is sure to appeal to historians, genealogists, Civil War buffs, and people who just like a good story well-told! Jewett, Tom. Failed Ambition: the Civil War Journals and Letters of Cavalryman Homer Harris Jewett. Virtualbookworm.com, 2004. ISBN 1589396251. Available from Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble.com. Date: Saturday, August 20, 2005 Time: 10 AM- 11:30 AM Place: St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103 3rd Floor, Meeting Room 1 Programs at St. Louis Public Library are always free and open to the public; parking at meters in our area is free on Saturdays. Registration is recommended but not required. For more information, contact Tom Pearson at 314-539-0381 or [email protected]