At just seven years old, David Thompson leaves his mother and brother behind to attend Grey Coat School as a charity student. Sponsored by a governor who recognizes his gift for mathematics, Thompson's brilliance soon sets him apart. But his destiny lies far beyond the classroom. Chosen to apprentice with the Hudson's Bay Company, Thompson sails across the Atlantic into a world harsher and more unforgiving than he ever imagined. From the frozen desolation of Fort Churchill to the mosquito-ridden swamps of York Factory, he endures brutal winters, polar bears, and the crushing loneliness of life without word from home. Yet amid hardship, he discovers his true calling: the art of navigation and map making. Guided by veteran fur traders and Indigenous allies, Thompson learns languages, cultures, and survival in the wilderness. He witnesses the devastation of war and smallpox, the rivalry between fur companies, and the corrosive power of alcohol in trade, a substance he swears he will never barter. His explorations carry him westward to Rockies, where a prophecy foretells he will one day cross the great mountains to the sea. But ambition comes at a cost. Injuries, betrayals, and the politics of the Hudson's Bay force Thompson to make the most difficult choice of his life: loyalty to the company or to his own ideals and dreams. From London's docks to the vast wilderness of Rupert's Land, this is the epic coming-of-age tale of a boy who becomes one of history's greatest mapmakers. A story of resilience, conviction, and the relentless pursuit of a dream, The Man Who Talked to Stars is a journey into the heart of a vast continent and the heart of a young man who would become a legend.