Jamestown 1607

VOYA - Anita Beaman

The year 1607 saw the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement on American soil. The British were late in beginning settlement of the New World and had already suffered a mysterious and tragic setback at Roanoke. Determined to stake a claim in the New World, a brave group of settlers founded a new colony. Cooper describes the early years of the colony that provided the basis for the language, economy, and form of government of this New World. With a brief exploration of the events leading up to the settlement and readable text describing the early years of the colony, Cooper relies on primary sources to tell his story. Unfortunately it results in a traditional and one-dimensional view of history. Events such as John Smith's legendary rescue by the Princess Pocahontas are presented as fact, without discussing the bias of European authors or the subjectivity of Smith's accounts. Settlement is presented strictly from a European point of view, with little attention given to Native American cultures or the impact that European settlement had on Native American life. Recent archaeological exploration and discovery at Jamestown is not discussed. The illustrations are rich, however, and add considerably to the information presented in the text. The result is an accurate but one-dimensional description of the complex history of the settlement. Although the book is recommended for purchase, especially as the nation celebrates Jamestown's 400th anniversary, be sure to add depth to the story with additional sources such as Karen Lange's 1607: A New Look at Jamestown (National Geographic, 2007).