Lone Journey: The Life of Roger Williams

by Jeanette Eaton, Woodi Ishmael (Illustrator)

Biography of Roger Williams. Three hundred years ago Roger Williams was fighting for many of the principles of democracy threatened today. He was the first American to demand that a government should be the instrument of the people, working for the greatest good of the greatest number. He was the first champion in the western hemisphere for freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the separation of church and state. Time and again he risked his own life in his crusade against religious and racial intolerance, as he battled successfully for fairness and lack of prejudice in dealings with the Indians and with early settlers of all religious faiths.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Childrens, History, Middle Grade, Juvenile

266 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1944

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so hard to read because it was terribly boring. Poor Roger Williams, I wanted to like him but the author was busy rushing through his history to give him a character. And then, she told me what to think in the last chapter which I REALLY didn't like.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island and one of the fathers of modern Democracy.

I thought that the guy was great but that the book was boring. The same things kept happening again and again, and it was very difficult to keep track of the different roles of the many historical figures mentioned. It felt like the author tried to put too much information into this book, and there wasn't enough room for it all, so it felt crammed. Yet boring as well. Fortunately, the actual events depicted were interesting enough to keep me awake while reading and to keep the book from falling into the dreaded 2-star realm of books I dislike.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Roger Williams was a great Christian example. This book however is extremely boring. There are a few interesting chapters and paragraphs here and there. Skim reading is best for most of it as it is so boring you won’t want to read it.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

My theory about older Newbery books... if a children's version of a biography or history of a people had not been written before, when it was, it automatically got the Newbery.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think all I knew about Roger Williams before reading this book was that he founded Rhode Island. And religious freedom was involved. His founding of Rhode Island, though, and the principles he fought for, really were foundational to our entire nation: true religious freedom and democracy in ways that really hadn't been seen before. There was a lot in this book that was really interesting, but it was also longer than necessary, and I can't imagine it holding the interest of a child. The final chapter was the author's summation of his importance with a great deal of commentary on the social structure of her day. It included a long section on the importance of racial equality. Williams spent significant time with the Narragansett people and learned the language and culture; in this book, though, there is still a brief of superiority of culture conveyed in Williams and in the author's description of racial equality. Exited to add: this is a fictionalized biography, so I wouldn't classify it as nonfiction today.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 stars. Not a horrible book, just not an exciting book. What I liked: Roger-the-child outfoxing the larger kids and his developing convictions, young Roger working with Coke, and Roger-the-colonist actually truthfully negotiating with the First Peoples. I had known about his convictions regarding religion and how that led to the founding of Providence/Rhode Island, but I was unaware of his extending his convictions to the treatment First Peoples. I was also unaware of how hostile the Massachusetts Colony was to those of non-Puritan faith. I read this for my 2019 Reading Challenge and my Newbery Challenge (Honor Books, 1945).

[Lynette Caulkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this biography to be more interesting than I expected. You'll learn about the very atypical Puritan who founded the colony of Rhode Island against the incessant persecution of the Massachusetts rulers and forged respectful peace with the Naragansett tribe that he lived alongside. You also get interesting snippets of English history regarding the time and impact of Oliver Cromwell. The last four pages do seem scatterbrained and lecturish in comparison to the body of the book, and Eaton does not tell us anything of the time or manner of Roger Williams's death, but I still found it edifying in a non-dry manner. As a youth, I'd rate it far lower.

[Matthew Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute gem that I never expected. I am so glad to have read it. I think that every American should be required to read this at an age where they have awareness of the social and governmental issues that arise from the rule of men. At the least, every statesperson should be required to read and be tested on it.

[Desiree']

1945 Newbery honor book

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really, really dry book. I understood the religious doctrinal issues, but that was only because I have taken a number of church doctrine classes throughout my schooling and continue to go to Bible study as an adult. I could see people who don't have a background in this being extremely disinterested in the beginning of the book. I liked Williams enough, especially his point that you share your faith with others by outwardly living it, by being a true friend to everyone.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, though not exciting in the main. A good history lesson, if indeed it is written with historical accuracy. (I need to study to be sure.) I don't know if it would entirely keep the interest of children, but it is more interestingly written than most history books. (How many words can I use the word "interesting"?) :)

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at an amazing man. It might be a bit long, but good.

[Scott Williams]

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