Customer Reviews

John Rolfe of Virginia

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I have a pretty weird story how I came about reading this book. Growing up as a child, I always watched the Walt Disney Carton "Pocahontas" and the hero on there "John" was so brave, smart, strong and absolutely intriguing! Years later I came across this story in college and I was like "OMG so that was a true story?" Needless to say I did some research, type John Rolfe in Google search and viola this book was the second link to pop up! Although it was not as magical as the cartoon but it provided a real look into the life and times of John Rofle. All I have to say is that he was a great man and kudos to the author for doing such a great job!

John Rolfe of Virginia is a great read. It's history that reads with the ease of a novel. it's a must have book very interesting if you are interested in learning about history of Virginia or just history in general it will be worth it.

This book was truly one of those which opens one's minds and eyes, in this case to the story of John Rolfe, who I at least had no idea about till I read this book. It's fascinating how history works, and how the unlikeliest of heroes come to the fore and make such a difference. Disney has established Pocahantas in popular imagination- this is the real, gritty tale of the man who married her- and how he played such a pivotal role in the establishment of settlements in America. A very good read.

I had two important reasons to read this book- my wife is Native American and the linkage to Pocahantas was fascinating, and I am an avid fan of historical books. On both counts, this is a gripping and satisfying read- combining real historical accounts with the fast paced storytelling of the best of fiction. Highly recommended.

John Rolfe (1585 - 1622) was one of the early English settlers of North America. He is credited with the first successful cultivation of tobacco as an export crop in the Colony of Virginia and is known as the husband of Pocahontas, daughter of the chief of the Powhatan Confederacy.

Rolfe was a pious man who agonized for many weeks over the decision to marry a "heathen." He composed a long, laborious letter to Governor Dale asking for permission to marry Pocahontas. The letter reflected Rolfe's dilemma.

Rolfe later married the Native Princess Pocahontas, who had been kidnapped and converted to Christianity. He returned to England with her, where they met with King James I and Sir Walter Raleigh and were greeted across England as celebrity-curiosities. Tragically, she contracted a disease for which she had no genetic immunity -- smallpox, some say, or pneumonia -- and died within months.

These historical items are interesting but to receive more info in form of a novel ONLY this Ebook "John Rolfe of Virginia "will help you to appreciate this man and his life---buy it highly recommended!

I bought the book because of my recent discovery through [...] that I am directly descended from Pocahontus. While this made the story of John Rolfe particularly interesting to me by the facts of his life, which was harrowing, and marked by survival of shipwreck, starvation, and Indian attack - succumbing to any of which would have eliminated my genes from the pool - I also found it to be an excellent read.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in well researched, well written historical novels.

Mike Land, great great great great great great great great great grandson of John Rolfe

This enjoyable story is told from John Rolfe's view. It captures the speech patterns of the Colonial period while being an enjoyable read for modern ears. The research involved must have been enormous, but this is a work of fiction and the narrative of Rolfe's life flows at a good pace with enough details to be accurate without being academic. It includes a shipwreck, battles, diplomacy, duplicity, and a bit of romance. I enjoyed reading it during a summer vacation; I'd recommend the book to anyone interested in historical fiction who may want to experience a bit of early Colonial Virginia history.