The Paradox of Jamestown

1585-1700

By: Christopher Collier, James Lincoln Collier

Narrated by: Jim Manchester

History is dramatic - and the renowned, award-winning authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier demonstrate this in a compelling series aimed at young listeners. Covering American history from the founding of Jamestown through present day, these volumes explore far beyond the dates and events of a historical chronicle to present a moving illumination of the ideas, opinions, attitudes, and tribulations that led to the birth of this great nation.

The Paradox of Jamestown discusses the circumstances surrounding English colonization of Virginia and the evolution of slavery in that colony. Beginning with an examination of 16th- and 17th-century life in England, the authors explain many of the reasons - social, political, religious, and economic - people chose to leave the Old World for a new life in the Americas. They describe the early interactions between the settlers and the Indians, the difficulties those groups had in establishing cooperative relationships, and the many difficulties the settlers had in adjusting to life in the New World. Hear about the effects of the growing market for tobacco back in England, the gradual changes in how the new colony was governed, and the growing dependence on the slave trade.

©1997 Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier (P)2013 AudioGO

great read!

I love all of the Collier history series. so.e parts are difficult to hear, nevertheless, it is our history and what has contributed to the quilt of our nation. great resd!

Outstanding Summary of Jamestown History

The authors provided an unbiased, objective examination of key themes in the history of Jamestown. The books places the events of early Jamestown within its historical context. Given the over abundance of so-called “historians” who use their writings to push their personal political agendas, the Paradox of Jamestown was refreshing. Well done!

Great Historical Series

Easy to follow making learning history read like a novel. I look forward to all the books in the series

A lot of Retread

I know that there is an introduction that explains how that even tho these are in a series, they need to stand alone so there is information repeated or reiterated in certain entries that appears elsewhere...
BUT,
This entry has so much material borrowed from the first in the series "Clash of Cultures" and is so short by itself that they should have just merged the two together and called the whole thing "Clash of Cultures". It probably would have been closer to 3 hours to fit all the material, but it would have felt like a complete single product. After enjoying other entries more I was somewhat disappointed with these earlier entries when judged together.
Judging it as a standalone product it is good on its own terms.

Another quality offering

I've listened to a few of the audiobooks in this series and I've always liked the concept of focusing one one topic and condensing it I to a relatively short production. But I lately realized that the other thing that I found appealing was the quality of the scholarship. The authors seem to be free of any agenda, and they dont appear to me to practice revisionist history. They point out the good and the bad in the issues of the time.