1607: A New Look at Jamestown

The story of the Mayflower and the first Thanksgiving is the feel good story of early Colonial America. For the first generation, the Native Americans and English colonists coexisted in a somewhat harmonious fashion. It is not until King Phillip's War that their relationship is radically transformed. On the other hand, the settlement of Jamestown is violent almost from the very beginning. There is the whole Pocahantus narrative which is a nice story but at the same time there is a lot of brutality taking place.To my great surprise "1607: A New Look at Jamestown" is very honest about what took place in the early years of the settlement. This honest treatment of the story in a book addressed to young children is refreshing. In that sense this book is "revisionist". A clear eyed view of American history is not for every parent or child. If you are looking for a more upbeat take on early Colonial history, I would suggest Catherine O'Neill Grace's "Mayflower 1620" or "1621 a New Look at Thanksgiving". Fortunately, my nine year old son is mature enough to understand that American history can have both its good and bad sides. This a beautifully photographed and well written book and I recommend it for anyone who can hold an expansive view of American history.

A quality book from a production standpoint. Limited, but very good photographs. However, very little meaningful information provided to support the overall quality of the photographs. I think it would work well for school children. Too small (number of pages) for the price. I returned my copy for a refund.

Well written if brief book on this very early America.

Good supplement if you are teaching children about Jamestown. The images are well done.

The story of Jamestown is the story of a nation’s birth. The struggle was real, and not one of failures brought about by lazy gentlemen too incompetent and unwilling to work, as erroneously assumed for so long. New archaeological evidence proves otherwise, and National Geographic sets out this information in a beautifully presented volume of research, photography, and illustrations. This is a children’s book, however adults will undoubtedly be captivated, and in some cases shocked, as well.1607 A New Look at Jamestown would be a valuable addition to any home or school library.

When I was growing up in western New York, studying colonial America was about the Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock. It was not about Jamestown, even though the landing at Jamestown occurred 13 years earlier. I learned a lot about Jamestown upon moving to Virginia, and with the 400th anniversary this year, I've learned even more.In recent years, finding text resources about Jamestown that present a true picture of colonization, warts and all, has been hard to find. This situation has changed with the publication of Karen Lange's book, 1607: A New Look at Jamestown. Lange, a journalist and writer with National Geographic Magazine, presents a brief history of the settling of Jamestown using new archaeological evidence to tell the story.The Foreword begins in this fashion:Many people feel that to discover the past, all you have to do is find a book, open the pages, and read a single story. That couldn't be farther from the truth. History is not static: It is not a single story. Simple discovery may only yield you one layer. To really begin to understand the multi-faceted stories that make up our past, you must dig beyond what we think we know. You must discover and then re-discover.This volume takes these words to heart as it reveals the recent discoveries at the Jamestown archaeological site. Supported by an extensive bibliography of primary sources, Lange presents the grim reality that was the founding of this American colony. The narrative describes the settlers' struggles through the artifacts left behind. Color photographs of the dig site, found treasures, and historical reenactment scenes give readers a glimpse of what life was like for those who lived inside the Jamestown fort.Lange does an especially good job of describing how native peoples were living when the settlers arrived, and how their arrival forever changed their way of life. Lange even highlights the response of the Paspahegh (Powhatan) descendants to the planned celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, noting:"For the Indians, Jamestown is nothing to celebrate. To them, it meant the end of their ancestors' way of life."I was completely enthralled by this book and found myself engaged by the remarkable, yet difficult history presented. Believe me, this is not the standard fare served up in history textbooks. Don't miss this amazing book on a bit of American history you only think you know. I highly recommend it.