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Captive of Friendly Cove: Based on the Secret Journals of John Jewitt
2016 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, Best Adaptation from Another Medium
2016 Harvey Award, Best Graphic Novel Album
Based on John Jewitt’s journals, this artful book of historical fiction recounts an amazing slice of history
After his ship is burned and his shipmates killed, John Jewitt lived as a captive of the Mowachaht Indians for three years on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Readers can follow Jewitt’s adventures in this graphic novel as he plies his skills as a blacksmith, saves the life of his only remaining crew member, and comes up with a strategy to free them both.
168 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 2015
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 11, 2022
Based on a British sailor's account after being held captive by Natives on the West Coast, this book still conveys all the prejudices and limitations of that sailor's worldview. I don't know how accurate this book is, in terms of depiction of cultural practices that Jewitt did not understand or appreciate.
The volume is entertaining, and perhaps historically accurate in terms of Jewitt's story — but there was another side to this story (which, to be fair, the abuse and arrogance of traders was to some degree shown). Goldfield claims to have done research, yet is still writing from an outsider's perspective. The whole project is from an outsider's perspective, and that made me wonder — what would life here be like from the inside?
The volume is entertaining, and perhaps historically accurate in terms of Jewitt's story — but there was another side to this story (which, to be fair, the abuse and arrogance of traders was to some degree shown). Goldfield claims to have done research, yet is still writing from an outsider's perspective. The whole project is from an outsider's perspective, and that made me wonder — what would life here be like from the inside?
February 10, 2024
Reminds me of Journey into Mohawk Country in its use of a primary document to tell a captive narrative. I love this way of interpreting a primary document, in a graphic novel style, but because it is only a single perspective told during a time of great friction, I deeply wish that more context and sources would be included.
In this narrative, John Jewitt seems like a pretty frank and clear-eyed observer. Obviously disgruntled about being captured, he appreciates his survival and adapts to his new situation pretty well. But when the opportunity presents itself for him to escape Jewitt does not hesitate. His sympathies for his captors grow when he hears of their previous experiences with white ships and traders, but his own survival remains top of mind for him. In general, this is about as balanced an account as I would expect from someone who was held captive against their will and who saw their entire cohort of coworkers slaughtered before their eyes.
That being said, I still would have appreciated additional context from the perspective of the modern-day author. A map is included, but in terms of context, having additional sources, especially from the Mowachaht perspective, would be of greatest value.
Note: the Library of Congress holds copies of his original journals.
In this narrative, John Jewitt seems like a pretty frank and clear-eyed observer. Obviously disgruntled about being captured, he appreciates his survival and adapts to his new situation pretty well. But when the opportunity presents itself for him to escape Jewitt does not hesitate. His sympathies for his captors grow when he hears of their previous experiences with white ships and traders, but his own survival remains top of mind for him. In general, this is about as balanced an account as I would expect from someone who was held captive against their will and who saw their entire cohort of coworkers slaughtered before their eyes.
That being said, I still would have appreciated additional context from the perspective of the modern-day author. A map is included, but in terms of context, having additional sources, especially from the Mowachaht perspective, would be of greatest value.
Note: the Library of Congress holds copies of his original journals.
March 11, 2023
Having lived and explored the area depicted in this novel (I completed grade 12 in Tahsis and returned to hike the Nootka Island Trail in 2018) - the names of those depicted were very familiar to me.
However, their story was less so.
This book was an interesting and impactful way to gain some familiarity with the history.
More than a few times, I imagined my more recent time spent there and imagined it as it must have been during the time depicted in the novel.
However, their story was less so.
This book was an interesting and impactful way to gain some familiarity with the history.
More than a few times, I imagined my more recent time spent there and imagined it as it must have been during the time depicted in the novel.
October 9, 2020
fascinating story of the encounter between traders and first peoples....not at all predictable. authentic, and a graphic novel!!!
November 19, 2015
I attended a discussion of this graphic novel at Politics & Prose, a bookstore in Washington, D.C., and even though I was convinced that I was "above" graphic novels (except for Persepholis), I was intrigued by the interweaving of a diary from hundreds of years ago with modern graphics.
The writer, Rebecca Goldfield, explained how she'd discovered the diary and why she thought it would make a wonderful graphic novel: the beauty of the scenery in and around Friendly Cove; the appeal of the genre to boys who might relate to the young man who was taken captive; and the excitement of the story, which lent itself to an action format rather than a novel, even a historical novel.
Well, she was right. The book is gripping, and the writing is beautiful. The "marriage" of word and illustration is perfect. It helps that the narrator--the young sailor who is taken captive while almost every member of his crew is massacred--writes and observes nature, people and his situation very astutely. I was impressed with his strength and how he saved the ship's logs and records. He was friendly with the natives of that area, and learned a bit of their language (reproduced in the book) all while planning his escape. Yes, young boys will enjoy this book--but this middle-aged woman did, too! It took me out of my ordinary world, and helped me live more intensely, as good books do.
The writer, Rebecca Goldfield, explained how she'd discovered the diary and why she thought it would make a wonderful graphic novel: the beauty of the scenery in and around Friendly Cove; the appeal of the genre to boys who might relate to the young man who was taken captive; and the excitement of the story, which lent itself to an action format rather than a novel, even a historical novel.
Well, she was right. The book is gripping, and the writing is beautiful. The "marriage" of word and illustration is perfect. It helps that the narrator--the young sailor who is taken captive while almost every member of his crew is massacred--writes and observes nature, people and his situation very astutely. I was impressed with his strength and how he saved the ship's logs and records. He was friendly with the natives of that area, and learned a bit of their language (reproduced in the book) all while planning his escape. Yes, young boys will enjoy this book--but this middle-aged woman did, too! It took me out of my ordinary world, and helped me live more intensely, as good books do.
April 28, 2016
Good graphic historical fiction based upon the real-life adventures of John Jewitt, a sailor and blacksmith who lived as a captive of the Mowachaht Indians for three years on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
August 18, 2015
Beautifully illustrated true story of of a captured sailor off the PNW coast and his time with the tribe who held him.
July 21, 2016
I'd have to hand sell this, but I'm glad we added to the collection.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews