The History of the Jamestown Colony

America’s First Permanent English Settlement

By: Doug West

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Three small ships set out from London for the New World along a similar route as Christopher Columbus had done a little more than a century before. These brave or maybe foolish men were in search of gold and a sea passage to the riches of the Orient – they found neither. What they did find was a land filled with hardships, drought, famine, numerous deadly diseases, and a powerful Indian confederacy that controlled the region. The colony of Jamestown brought to North America, good or ill, the beginnings of slavery, a foothold in the New World for colonization, and the roots of a representative democracy. Out of this savage period emerged the legendary individuals: the rugged explorer and leader Captain John Smith, the Wiley Powhatan Indian chief Wahunsonacock, John Rolfe who introduced the cultivation of tobacco to North America, and the enchanting Indian princess Pocahontas. The story of the Jamestown Colony and the founding of Virginia is a story of arrogance, greed, suffering, violence, death, and ultimately the birth of a new nation, America. The book “The History of the Jamestown Colony” gives a concise look at the formation and early years of the Jamestown Colony and the early years of the state of Virginia. To illustrate the story there are numerous pictures of the people, places, and events that were part of this adventure. In addition, a list of reference books for further reading is included. A timeline of the colony puts the events in sequence and there is a section that contains short biographical sketches of the key individuals in the book. 30-Minute Book Series This is the 43nd book in the 30-Minute Book Series. Books in this series are fast-paced, accurate, and cover the story in as much detail as a short book possibly can. Most people complete each book in less than an hour, which makes the books in the series a perfect companion for your lunch hour, a school project, or a little down time. About the Author Doug West is a retired engineer and an experienced non-fiction writer with several books to his credit. His writing interests are general, with special expertise in history, science, and biographies. Doug has a Ph.D. in General Engineering from Oklahoma State University.