Ring of Luck: A Novel of the Founding of the American Spirit at Jamestown, Virginia

by Sarah Sue Hardinger

Ring of Luck is the fictionalized history of the first twelve years of the English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia based on recent archaeology and document findings. The story we now know of the first years of Jamestown is much more compelling and amazing than the history textbooks, the movies or the myths. The story reveals the formerly untold story of the average man who braved the unknown to improve his own fortunes and ended up unintentionally becoming part of an entirely new people. Josiah Tucker, one of the “diverse others” whose names do not appear on the list of original passengers, leaves his home in England to join John Smith on the voyage of the Susan Constant. He participates in the building of the first fort and its later expansions, becomes a friend of princess Pocahontas, survives the Starving Time, learns how to grow tobacco from John Rolfe and develops a new spirit that can only be called American. The book does not perpetuate long-standing misconceptions about Jamestown. There is no love story between John Smith and Pocahontas. She is shown at her true age and in her true role. The gentlemen of the group are not dismissed as lazy bowlers but shown as the class-conscious, political beings they were. The initial difficulties with supplies are properly attributed to the philosophy of the men in England who funded the adventure as a business proposition. The relationship of the politics of England to the dysfunctional leadership of early Jamestown is put in clearer perspective. The women and boys who were so essential to the workings of the settlement are prominently featured, not overlooked as has often been done in the past.Over forty artifacts and structures found and identified by the archaeology team are carefully placed in their proper place and time as the story progresses. These artifacts can be seen in the excellent museum at Jamestown. The artifacts and other background information are discuss on the associated website, RingofLuck.com.

416 pages, Paperback

Published December 19, 2015

Reviews

[David Dowdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading about America’s founding always cuts two ways; learning how explorers overcame high odds during their settlement of North America is fascinating yet the manner in which the native people were treated so roughshod by the conquerors of the New World is depressing.

This is the story of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia first by waves of speculators searching for gold then settlers coming from England during the Elizabethan and Jacobian era, contextually about the time of William Shakespeare’s later years. Though significant gold ore wasn’t to be found, golden tobacco plantations soon dotted the new lands and enriched the founders.

Sarah Sue Hardinger weaves a consuming story through excellent narrative and dialog. Here Chief Powhatan, the Chief's daughter Pocahontas, and Capt John Smith, etc., inform us through lore, letters, and diaries how newcomers both upset and intrigued the Native people, initiated friendly and violent encounters, and ultimately destroyed the first nation.

Eventually the English established a toehold on Virginia and bequeathed hundreds of years (and counting) of intoxicating and deadly tobacco smoke. Of course, they gave us the House of Burgesses which helped advance representative government. History isn’t always pretty. Essentially, it can’t change; our understanding of it can.

The story is a bit choppy at times, undoubtedly owning to the lack of connecting information; there is only so much interpretation and interpolation an author can do and maintain the authenticity and validity of the true plot being related. While opportunity exists to fix typos, grammar, etc., this book is well worth the story it tells and should not be overlooked.