Brittain's 'Eagle Across the Sun' is a fresh addition to the growing list of works on the early 19th. century Southwest. Thoughtful, balanced, and well-written, the book provides a good introduction to the American explorers and the Santa Fe Trail merchants who paved the way for U.S. expansion in this region. The author's careful narrative will appeal to general readers looking for a comprehensive treatment of this perennially fascinating chapter in our national history." - Marc Simmons, Historian