Book Reviewed: Pocahontas and the English Boys: Caught Between Cultures in Early Virginia by Karen Ordahl Kupperman

Pocahontas and the life in early Virginia

When President Donald Trump called Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren as Pocahontas, the native American leaders expressed concern as it was offensive and hurtful to their population. Pocahontas was the daughter of Powhatan, the chief of a kingdom that consisted of 28 tribes of Tidewater region of Virginia. She first became acquainted with the colonists who settled in the Chesapeake Bay area in 1607 and fostered accord between her people and English colonists. In 1995, Disney released an animated film, a collection of fictional tales as love story between Pocahontas and colonist John Smith; this is a romanticized version and a clear departure from the actual events.

In this book, NYU Professor Karen Kupperman focuses on the early history of Virginia illuminating on young Pocahontas' life that was spawned by colonial settlers. The author’s style of writing combined with various Native American names of early Virginia is somewhat challenging to a casual reader, but it is rewarding to know that this piece of American history is retold with passion for the fascinating life of Pocahontas and three English kids; Thomas Savage, Robert Poole, and Henry Spelman. In the early days of colonization, they live in both tribal and colonial communities, learning native American languages, translating trade negotiations, learning farming from native communities and teaching them to English colonists. Learning communication skills, acting as emissaries and surviving the harsh winters: They were essential in the process of colonization of Virginia.

The English in charge in Jamestown, Virginia believed that Pocahontas was not the same person when she grew up. They were also suspicious of three English kids being radically changed by the native population. They were bartered for food by the colonists, and the natives accepted them since they were still young, and malleable like unbaked dough. As for as the kids and Pocahontas, they experienced initial terror since they had to cross between two different cultures, but they also saw natives as a well-adapted community to the environment. The colonists raged and starved because they could not cope with challenges of the new world. The English kids saw competence and a culture in which status was earned rather than acquired. They saw the reality behind the curtain of English claim of superiority. As the colonists began to thrive after they learnt the farming techniques. The speed of economic growth based on the realities of capitalism that was also essential to economics of Virginia. The kids understand the operating style and expanding nature of the new immigrants.

This book looks at the early American and the sacrifice the kids make in the new world. Pocahontas travels to England and becomes acquainted with their culture. The English also converts her to Christianity and use her as missionary to spread the New Testament among natives in Virginia. The life of Pocahontas is fascinating to read; we get a relatively unbiassed view of the events in the early American history.