Very interesting. Written as a story of people who were supposedly a part of the party that went to America on ships put together by Walter Raleigh. There was the Governor John White, his daughter Eleanor and husband Annanias Dare. It told of the hardships they bore from lack of food, troubles with the Powhatan indians, the help they received from the Croatoans and the decline of the soldiers sent to along to protect them.

I read [Roanoke] by Angela Elwell Hunt and [White Seed: The Untold Story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke] by Paul Clayton back to back.

I enjoyed both of these books about the lost colony of Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina. The Hunt book was written from a Christian perspective, which I thought resulted in a story that was more accurate for that event at that time in history. The Clayton book did not paint the picture quite as well, but provided different viewpoints as to the possibilities of what happened.

Both of these books were faithful to the dates, people and events which had been recorded. From the list of passengers, each author fashioned stories for their major characters. Hunt’s Thomas was a minister of the gospel. I thought this character was the weakest part of her story, with the workings of his mind too repetitious, and I thought, unlikely. Clayton’s Thomas was an indentured servant, turned soldier, and seemed more believable. Clayton’s minister did not.

Both faithfully rendered the setting of Roanoke Island and the beginning of the settlement there, as Governor White has described it well upon his return to England to procure more supplies. The story of his trials in trying to get ships to return, of Raleigh’s unhelpfulness, of the queen’s denial of ships due to the increase in aggression of Spanish ships in the waters, and English ships needed for protection and combat. Of the false starts when the captains of the ships he finally received continually broke off their course to chase Spanish ships for treasure. Of his frustration in not being able to get back to the settlers - one his daughter, one his new granddaughter born on Roanoke just before he had to leave. Both of the author’s tellings of these events rang true.

Their imaginings differed greatly about what might have occurred on the island between White’s leaving and finally being able to return years later. Although he was able to debark to the island, his search there yielded no colonists. Because of the weather, White was not able to be taken to the mainland, and was returned to England never knowing what may have become of his people.

Though I had some quibbles with both, the possibilities made for fascinating reads, both of them. ( )

It isn't that it is a bad book.....its just so long! At times it bogs down with too much information. I can't read this book without hearing my high school Composition teacher yelling, "Filler!" ( )

pretty good, a little disjointed, jumping from one segment to another in little pieces, good detail in scenes but not always connected to storyline
Tells a story of what might have happened to the missing colony at Roanoke Va 1589 ( )

Very predictable, nothing new nor plausible added to already exisiting theories. Very "romancy." ( )