Ghost Colonies

by Ed Wright

A litany of historical madness and disasters from the Vikings in Greenland and America to Friedrich Nietzsche’s Aryan supremacist sister in South America and finishing with the tragedy of Jim Jones and the Peoples’ Temple. The London Sunday Times wrote: “successful colonies are the stuff of schoolroom history: everyone knows about the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth Rock and Captain Cook at Botany Bay. In this collection of 25 tales of colonies lost, burnt, abandoned or otherwise destroyed, Ed Wright proves that the murky history of colonial disaster is just as fascinating, and just as important.”

The Brisbane Courier Mail wrote: “Ghost Colonies, written by established Pier 9 author Ed Wright, is the latest in a Lost and Found in History series to use the format, and is arguably the most interesting. From murderous Icelandic outcast Erik the Red’s Viking settlements in Greenland and his sons’ adventures in Arctic North America in 1000AD to the tragedy of Jonestown, Guyana, in 1978, this 320-page volume tells the story of 25 would-be utopias that failed to live up to the dream. They include a few of history’s better known colonial outpost failures, including the Scottish colony at Darien, Panama (1698-1700) and the failed utopian colonies of New Australia and Cosme in Paraguay at the end of the 19th century.

For the most part, though, these are stories of more obscure colonial failures brought about by disease, ignorance, attacks by native people, political misfortune or other reasons. And Wright, who has researched his material thoroughly, tells them with a touch light enough to appeal to a wide readership. Australian readers will be interested in his detailed account of the rise and fall of the British colony at Victoria, Port Essington, on the north coast in what is now Arnhem Land. It fell prey to malaria and cyclones but not before explorer Ludwig Leichhardt stumbled into the settlement in late 1845 at the end of a 15-month overland journey from Moreton Bay that would make him famous. There’s mystery and tragedy in spades in this attractively designed book.

Genres: History

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Sportyrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book several years ago. It was fascinating to learn about all these failed colonies. One Greenland settlement was cut off from continental Europe as icebergs were destroying their supply ships. Over a century later no-one remained. Many more interesting ghost colonies described.

[Peter Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

History engaging brought to life. Spanning many centuries from the 1100’s to almost current day, it takes the reader through a series of why’s, who’s and “what the’s !”, as, in summary, They Sail, They Fail, They Die or Run.

[Daniel Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read. Learned some interesting history.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somtimes amusing, light hearted view of failed colonial exploits from the first Norse colony on Greenland to the post American Civil War Confederate colonies of Mexico.

[Brynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great summary of human folly as pertains to conquering new worlds and creating utopias. Amazing characters abound. I only wish it had taken a broader view.