Customer Reviews

New World Burning

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Mr. Watkins has written an historical novel painting a searing and fascinating look at a part of the Jamestown story, which has not been properly explored. The remarkable generation AFTER Pocanontas, John Smith and John Rolfe becomes alive in a well researched and exciting portrait of America, as she teetered in withdraw from England, slavery (both black and white),the rights of the Native tribes, and the internecine struggles of those who later would be called "Americans". Young Philip Corstair, an indentured servant is leaving England in 1650 filled with the vivid hopes for life in a new world. Mr.Watkins' remarkable novel takes us on a journey of power and pain as young Philip fights his way through the horrors of battles and disease, and the enormous loss of love. This wonderful novel is a must read not just for history lovers, but for romantics at heart. It has been a popular addition to the SCC library.

The beauty of historical novels if well written and researched, which this one most certainly is, is the manner in which they transform the dry brute facts of history into compelling stories which inspire and transport the reader's imagination into a time and place not of their own. Daniel Watkins brings to life Virginia circa 1676 with all it's new world strangeness and fascinating characters-both real and imagined-with his first novel New World Burning. The two main characters Philip Corstair (a product of Watkin's imagination) and Nathaniel Bacon (a product of Watkin's obvious extensive research) are compelling, engaging and wonderfully tragic. Interestingly enough, the apocalyptic chaos of an exceptionally violent moment in early American history brought about by the consequences of self-serving political maneuverings and in which Watkin's writing so skillfully brings to life has contemporary parallels with respect to current political machinations. My only disappointment with New World Burning came when I finished the last page and had to put it down. At that point I was rudely thrust back into the 21st century and found myself once again in my apartment with a carpet that badly needs cleaning and away from the beautifully strange and interesting world I found myself engaged with while reading this book. I highly recommend it.

I found "New World Burning" to be intriguing and insightful. It's a fascinating and informative fictional analysis of an under appreciated but extremely powerful event in Early American history. Watkins is a superb story teller, and surprise ending is an unexpected treat!