A Kingdom Strange: The Brief and Tragic History of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Paperback – October 4, 2011

Colonizing a new land, whether on another planet or even just across an ocean, can be perilous work--obstacles are often insurmountable and constant danger close. We also dream of colonizing other planets in our fiction, but we actually just have to look to our past to witness how difficult this task truly was. Indeed, lest we get too complacent about the luxuries and comfort we all take for granted today, it is sometimes useful to remind ourselves of the sacrifices made by those in the past who struggled to establish footholds in foreign lands, and of the inhabitants of those lands who tried to defend themselves against exploitation.One such reminder is A Kingdom Strange: A Brief and Tragic History of the Lost Colony of Roanoke by James Horn, a history of the effort in 1587 to establish the first English colony in America. Horn, Vice President of Research and Historical Interpretation at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and author of, among other U.S. history books, A Land as God Made It: Jamestown and the Birth of America, delivers a solid narrative in A Kingdom Strange of the main social, political, military, and economic issues surrounding England's effort to colonize America. It is a history most likely only vaguely familiar to most Americans. To fulfill Sir Walter Raleigh's plan for establishing the first English colony in America, in April 1587 118 men, women, children set sail from England on a long, risky voyage to the New World. Their target was the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia, but the captain of the ship dropped them on Roanoke Island, part of the barrier islands just off the coast of modern day North Carolina, and refused to take them further. Back then that island was part of Virginia, named after England's Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen.These were heady times, full of dreams of discovering in the New World gold and silver deposits, bountiful resources, and routes to the Pacific ocean. And these were also times of sharp conflict and danger: religous wars, fighting within and between American Indian tribes and European countries, unforgiving epidemics, starvation, and pirates, and even nature itself. The plucky volunteers who made up the Roanoke Colony risked everything for a chance to start a new life in a land of mystery and promise. But with supplies running low and attacks by Indians increasing, governor John White sailed back to England for supplies and reinforcements. Due to difficulties in raising sufficient funds and the diversion caused by a war between England and Spain, White was delayed three years in returning to the colony. By the time he returned, the colony was deserted, the fate of the colonists unknown.Horn's narrative blends historical fact with historical fiction, since there are many details of the events surrounding the Roanoke Colony that are simply unknown. He makes his best guesses about what might have happened though based on his immersion with the historical sources. Horn also crafts his history by focusing on specific people in the saga, mostly on the activities of John White, explorer, writer, and soldier Sir Walter Raleigh, and, briefly, the founder and leader of Jamestown, Captain John Smith. This character-based narration helps keep the reader invested in the reconstructed storyline.While there are many interesting facts and details that Horn presents in the book, there are a few key takeaways that really make this book a worthwhile read. First, Horn does a good job painting the tempestuous socio-ethno-political soup that was late 16th century Europe and America, a time rippling with uncertainties and dangers. Second, contrary to some modern pastoral depictions of American Indians, Horn shows how early Virginia contained many Indian tribes who, like early Europe, were often in viscious conflict with each other as much as they were with European explorers. Third, by detailing the "unfortunate luck" of White in returning to the Roanoke Colony with help, the utter difficulty of the effort needed to successfully fund and outfit a ship, sail it across hostile waters to unknown lands, rampant with many opportunities for death by disease, starvation, and murder, is vividly captured here.Surely John White, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Captain John Smith could not have envisioned the growth and progress made in America since their time, but in A Kingdom Strange we are well reminded about their tragic experiences and herculean struggles in trying to establish a foothold in America. There are still mysteries surrounding those events, but Horn paints a vivid and compelling picture of what did and what might have happened to those early colonists.

Well researched book with a lot of details about the time period. We probably won’t ever know what really happened to this colony and the settlers but this book explains a lot. It’s worth reading if you’re interested in the topic.

they loved it

I grew up in Eastern North Carolina and as it turned out may have lived a short distance from where survivors of the lost colony may have lived along the Tar river, yet I knew very little of the full account of how the colony came to be, why it was on Roanoke Island and how it fit into the context of history. The Spanish Armada affected the colonists and contributed to their ultimate demise - who knew? GREAT read. Should be required reading. I highly recommend this to understand just what was going on in the late 1500's and why the colony was abandoned.

Historical and interesting!

This short but informative history of not only a lost, but mostly forgotten, early American colony is certainly a worthwhile read. In 1587 John White lead 118 men, women, and some children to the America's with the goal of establishing a colony on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay (on the Virginia side). Under the sponsorship of Sir Walter Ralegh, who at the time hoped to find riches in the interior of the Americas and a water passage to the Pacific Ocean, they set sail for what was then mostly an unknown.They landed on Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina. A previous exploratory voyage had already set up a beachhead there and made contact with the local Indians. Unfortunately for the colonist, the Captain of the ship who brought them never moved them to their intended destination, setting sail as a privateer to attack Spanish ships full of goods from the South Americas and Caribbean. With hostile Indians and dwindling supplies John White set sail back to England with the intent to return as soon as possible.When he arrived in London the political situation was much different and there was less interest in the Americas. It took him three years to return and when he arrived the colony was gone. No direct contact was ever made with any member of the colony again.Years later with the arrival of more British colonies on the shores of America, Captain John Smith made some forays to find out what happened to the colonists. The rumor was the colony was attacked by hostile Indians but that many may have survived and lived with friendly Native Americans, building a life and fathering children. Some even ran into to local Indians in the area decades later who claimed to be the ancestors of these lost colonists.This is certainly an informative read and I learned a bit about Sir Walter Ralegh and the earliest of American exploration. The book does a good job of giving the context of the political situation in England at the time, as well as the robust Spanish empire in the Caribbean and South America. There is some information about local Indians as well, but not in quite as much detail. While there is good context to the situation of the colonists, it would have been interesting to learn a bit more about the local Indians and their history, to the extent known, to provide even better context to situation.

This is a very good book about the Lost Colony. It does get bogged down in the details and the end is a lot of speculation, but it is a good read.

Great Synopsis of the latest research on Roanaoke, along with some feebly supported best guesses on what played out in the years after 1587. "feebly supported" is the best we can hope for, given the timespan, dearth of sources, and lack of evidence pointing to one inescapable conclusion. I really wish I knew what happened to them, and Horn gives you more than anyone has dared, as far as I'm aware. Buy now. You'll read it in two days. I dare you to put it down!

This was a fascinating read. Like all the best books, I didn’t want it to finish. I knew nothing about the early settlement of America by the English. I’d love to know what actually happened to those settlers!

Well researched and plausible account of what happened to the lost colonists of Roanoke. Highly recommend.

While the book is well written, more recent books reject many of the author's conclusions

Well researched and very readable account that skillfully pulls together all the treads of the mystifying episode in American history. Highly recommended.

James Horn writes a gripping, easily accessible history of the Roanoke colony, and I for one enjoyed it very much!