The World of Captain John Smith [Paperback]

Genevieve Foster (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

Spanning the years from 1580-1631 the life of the adventurous John Smith gives a picture of the world just before and during the colonization of America. When Smith was a boy, Shakespeare was on his way to London to become an actor, the Spanish Armada had failed to conquer England, Mary Queen of Scots had lost her head, and Akbar the young prince of India sought to rule his people wisely. Galileo was perfecting his telescope and seeing things never before seen by the human eye, while Pocahontas romped the forests of Virginia and saved a young Englishman's life. A little band of Pilgrims seeking to escape religious persecution in England fled to Holland and a little Dutch boy named Rembrandt began to paint. These are just a few of the intriguing personalities, events, discoveries, and advances that made up the world of Captain John Smith and are now made alive to the reader in Foster's masterful way. 406pg

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a story of the world. It is a slice of history measured by the lifetime of Captain John Smith, a small, courageous Englishman who was born in the days of Queen Elizabeth I and whose heart, he said, had been forever 'set on brave adventure.' This is a very successful and welcome addition to Mrs. Fosters other horizontal treatments of history in which she presents, along with historical events, a total picture of the world - religious, cultural, social, and economic - during the span of one man's life. As in the others, many drawings add much to the attractiveness of the volume and are in keeping with the lively, authentic text. - Horn Book. --The Horn Book

About the Author

"Nothing is more critical, I believe, than that children growing up in these critical explosive days should be given an understanding of American history as a part of the history of the world. Every year this grows more urgent, as increasingly rapid communication integrates world events more closely and the impact of foreign affairs on our own lives becomes more serious and immediate." Genevieve Foster wrote this nearly fifty years ago. It resonates with perhaps more truth today. As a result of this clarion call we have sold many of her enduring "World" titles because of the timeless nature of her books. Her writing style is clear, concise and fluid with her greatest strength as a storyteller being her ability to bring her readers right into the minds and times of her characters.

Product Details

• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Beautiful Feet Bks (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893103005
• ISBN-13: 978-1893103009
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #280,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for history lovers, February 23, 2008

By 

T. Robson "homeschooling mom" (South Carolina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The World of Captain John Smith (Paperback)

This book is a tremendous piece of living literature. What a shame that the subject matter of history isn't taught in this manner from the earliest ages. I'm homeschooling my children and am delighted to be in a position to share these treasures with them.

For me, reading a book by Genevieve Foster is as enjoyable as reading well written fiction. What a superb way to read about actual people and events with life breathed into them. Historical figures weren't one dimensional when they were living. It's a tragedy to reduce them to nothing but a dry retelling of their lives (done in the traditional "textbook" fashion).

We can gain such a rich view of life though historical people and events. The study of history should enable a person to have more than a narrow view of life and the world they live in. Books like those written by Genevieve Foster accomplish this purpose in a remarkable way.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting history 1451-1522, August 29, 2008

By 

R. Williams (Utah) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The World of Captain John Smith (Paperback)

This is a fascinating review of history from 1451 to 1522. The horizontal history concept that the book is based upon lets the reader see the interweaving of the histories of the various nations of Europe (and their colonies in the New World). I read it for my own enjoyment, but it would also be very useful in a homeschool setting.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A journey into History 1580-1631, March 15, 2009

By 

DarrenGJohnson "DarrenGJohnson" (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The World of Captain John Smith (Paperback)

Genevieve Foster presents history in a horizontal fashion that is just simply great story telling. I recommend all of her "World of" series. You get to follow the life of John Smith, while at the same time going learning about many of the other important events and people who shaped history. Included are Queen Elizabeth, Bloody Mary, Galileo, Pochahontes, Shakespear, King James, Ben Johnson, The Pilgrims, John Winthrop and the Puritans and many more. It is interesting to learn about the settlement of America.