Genre: Nonfiction—History
Completed: 10 February 2018
Summary & Review:
In 1606, just a few short years after the failed Roanoke colony disappeared, three ships, the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery, set sail for the New World form England in an attempt to make a permanent beachhead in Virginia. One of the sailors was a former soldier named John Smith who would become an iconic figure in American history. Equally famous, perhaps even more so, is his twice savior, Pocahontas. The events of the early days of permanent English settlement in the New World and the story of John Smith and Pocahontas are expertly told in this accessible history.
This was a great book. When I learn about events like this and understand how important they were to the development of America, I am perplexed as to why we never covered it in school. Sure, the broad timelines of English colonization were touched on, but most of the time the story was simplified to English settlers came and, despite the magnanimity of Pocahontas in saving John Smith’s life, her people were repaid with theft and slaughter.
That doesn’t seem to be even close to the true story (and don’t even get me started on Disney’s absolute travesty, their 1995 animated film Pocahontas). In contrast to the Spanish and Portuguese, the English were very concerned with their treatment of the natives and John Smith was repeatedly reprimanded when we took too firm a hand, like burning a village in retaliation for thefts or attacks. In fact, there were years of peace between the Indians and English as the English settled on land that was either unused or purchased from the tribes. Not until a gruesome, unprovoked massacre by the Powhatans against the men, women, and children English farmers who the Indians were working with, did the English begin to justify taking land by force.
And why isn’t John Smith still popularly celebrated and remembered? He was almost singly responsible for keeping the Jamestown colony alive during the early years through his expert diplomacy, shrewd use of force, leadership, and desire to truly understand the natives' culture and language. And, while we’re talking about unsung heroes, Pocahontas deserves some major kudos as well. She stopped the execution of John Smith and then later warned him and others about a forthcoming ambush. Additionally, she took a keen interest in English culture eventually converting to Christianity and marrying an Englishman named John Rolfe. The example of John Smith and Pocahontas, as two people who looked for the admirable qualities of one another’s cultures, learned the other’s language and religion, and strove for understanding and peace could have set a precedent for English/Indian relations. Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be and the massacre of March 22, 1622 seemed to cement the dire fate of the native tribes.
Aside from the fascinating subject matter, Price was also a deft touch with his scholarship. It was deep enough to feel substantial, but he didn’t get bogged down in arcane trivialities. I would recommend this book.
Rating: 9.0
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