Jamestown: The Perilous Adventure

by Olga Hall-Quest

Just in time for the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia comes an updated edition of Olga Hall-Quest’s classic. Hall-Quest provides an absorbing account of life in this first permanent colony of what is now the United States, and the struggles of those who settled there. Experts from the Jamestown National Historical Site have fact-checked every detail, and the curator has written a brand-new foreword—complete with recently discovered information about the colony.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

Reviews

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seemingly written to be imposed on a young reader, it is not very good.

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a good book for teens or adults who want a quick introduction to Jamestown. I found it a quick and easy read after the first chapter. The author obviously derives much of her information from primary sources but has a knack for not burdening the reader with too much detail. She is far more likely to include something fun, like the number of piglets that were born at such-and-such a time, than to weigh the new comer down with too much discussion of the Virginia Charters.

Overall I thought it was intelligently written. First published in the 1950's the material facts have been updated. (It was not clear to me by whom. But since the preface by a gentleman from the National Parks Service, I assume it was one or more of the curators at Jamestown.) There are several useful maps included.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really like this book. It was an assigned read for school, so obviously it took several months to read.
AGhhh those stupid INDIANS, OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE UP TO NO GOOD IF THEY KEPT ATTACKING YOU.

[Jay Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and easy read. Good glimpse at Jamestown.