Welcome to Page 30 of I Read That Book! On each Page, I’ll tell you a little about a book I read, often in a fun and informal manner, with the hope that you also may become interested enough to read it – or perhaps read it again if you’ve already enjoyed it once. The books I’ll be featuring come from a variety of genres at differing stages of my life, so whether you prefer history, literature, science fiction, or horror, there’s a good chance you’ll get some interesting ideas for your personal “To Be Read” list. Thank you for joining me on this journey as we flip through the pages of some of my favorite books. But before you start reading below, I invite you to grab a cup of your favorite beverage (coffee for me!) and find a comfortable place to sit, then turn to Page 30.
A KINGDOM STRANGE by James Horn
Publication Date: March 30, 2010
Are you fascinated by mysteries in our history? If the answer is a resounding yes, then you’re probably already familiar with the story of the lost colony of Roanoke.
A KINGDOM STRANGE: The Brief and Tragic History of the Lost Colony of Roanoke by James Horn takes readers back to the late Sixteenth Century and sets the scene by delving into why these men and women traveled across the sea to an unknown world, leaving behind family, friends, and the familiar.
When I think of the story of Roanoke and the missing colony, the first two things that come to mind are Virginia Dare (first English child born in a New World English colony) and Croatoan, a word found carved in the fort’s gatepost. Additionally, my thoughts also go to a scene from Stephen King’s made-for-television mini-series, Storm of the Century, which gives us a fictional answer as to why John White couldn’t find anyone when he returned to the colony after sailing back to England for supplies.
The next two weeks were the happiest that White spent on Roanoke Island. On August 18 his daughter, Eleanor, gave birth to a girl, “the first Christian born in Virginia,” who was given the name Virginia and christened the Sunday following (August 24). The happy event and accompanying celebrations brought a measure of cheer to the settlers after the difficult three weeks following George Howe’s death. The healthy birth of baby Virginia restored the settlers’ numbers and was perhaps a sign that the English would succeed after all in establishing themselves in America.
But there is much more to the story. A KINGDOM STRANGE gives us the necessary background we need to understand why this venture took place, how it was financed, and what it represented for England. The land of the New World was coveted by the European powers, regardless of the fact that the territory was already occupied by indigenous people.
Today, Roanoke Island and the Outer Banks is a much-loved vacation spot, a place where people flock to beautiful beaches, fish off piers, eat at great restaurants, and, like me, explore lots of history.
Those who ventured to Roanoke in 1587 wouldn’t recognize it today. But the question we must put forward is: What DID happen to the people? Horn gives us some possible scenarios, but there is no conclusive answer. Maybe it will be solved in my lifetime, but I’m not counting on it. If you have an interest in The Lost Colony, A KINGDOM STRANGE is a great place to start.
And don’t forget to join us here again when I flip to the next Page!
Note: The first 32 pages of I Read This Book! originally appeared on Substack.
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