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A Brave Vessel: The True Tale of the Castaways Who Rescued Jamestown and Inspired Shakespeare's The Tempest
Aspiring writer William Strachey shipwrecks on Bermuda en route to the Jamestown settlement in 1609, and details his experience hoping for future acclaim in this true story that provided the inspiration for one of Shakespeare's great plays.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
April 23, 2017
First Reading: Entertaining. Swift-moving. Interesting resting view of history. Quite possible. Makes -Tempest- more accessible. Thanks.
Second Reading: I re-read because I doing a buddy read of The Tempest . Not really worth a complete 2nd read past the point where the English sailors and settlers arrive in Jamestown. The details/words and phrases that match up in memior and and in the play are unmistakable.
Second Reading: I re-read because I doing a buddy read of The Tempest . Not really worth a complete 2nd read past the point where the English sailors and settlers arrive in Jamestown. The details/words and phrases that match up in memior and and in the play are unmistakable.
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August 5, 2009Full disclosure: The author is an esteemed former student of mine so I feel like there is some conflict of interest in my "rating" this book. But Brave Vessel is a rare combination of meticulously researched and gripping, dramatic tale that I can enthusiastically recommend to all sorts of readers. Whether you love sailing or 17th-century history or just an amazing yarn, look for this vividly written book.
August 10, 2019
Good history-adventure. I didn’t like the last 20% about The Tempest, so skipped that. Otherwise, learned a lot about the early 1600’s, the plague, Bermuda and Jamestown.
September 19, 2021
This book popped up in my library search for picture book versions of Shakespeare's Tempest, and it was fascinating!
The first section detailed the hurricane that forced a ship originally headed for Jamestown, to land in Bermuda. In the second section, the author showed reasons why he believes Shakespeare had gleaned most of his Tempest material from accounts of the Sea Venture wreck.
I love it when my reading and what I'm teaching our boys about, intersect!
The first section detailed the hurricane that forced a ship originally headed for Jamestown, to land in Bermuda. In the second section, the author showed reasons why he believes Shakespeare had gleaned most of his Tempest material from accounts of the Sea Venture wreck.
I love it when my reading and what I'm teaching our boys about, intersect!
notes-on-unfinished-books
June 14, 2021I cherry-picked the sections on Stephen Hopkins, from whom I am directly descended. Here's what I got:
*Hopkins was a shopkeeper and a persuasive talker.
*After they crashed on Bermuda, Hopkins fomented mutiny against Governor Gates by saying a) Bermuda is awesome and they are better off there and b) The shipwreck voided their deal with the Virginia Co. and they were no longer obligated to go to Jamestown.
*The other settlers ratted him out to Gates. Gates put him on trial to be hanged.
*Hopkins begged his way out of a hanging by repenting of the mutiny and talking about how his death would affect his wife and kids.
*After getting to Jamestown, Hopkins took the next boat back to England.
*A contemporary description of Hopkins from William Strachey, "a fellow who had much knowledge in the scriptures and could reason well therein; whom our minister therefore chose to be his clerk to read the psalms and chapters upon Sundays at the assembly of the congregation under him."
*Hopkins was a shopkeeper and a persuasive talker.
*After they crashed on Bermuda, Hopkins fomented mutiny against Governor Gates by saying a) Bermuda is awesome and they are better off there and b) The shipwreck voided their deal with the Virginia Co. and they were no longer obligated to go to Jamestown.
*The other settlers ratted him out to Gates. Gates put him on trial to be hanged.
*Hopkins begged his way out of a hanging by repenting of the mutiny and talking about how his death would affect his wife and kids.
*After getting to Jamestown, Hopkins took the next boat back to England.
*A contemporary description of Hopkins from William Strachey, "a fellow who had much knowledge in the scriptures and could reason well therein; whom our minister therefore chose to be his clerk to read the psalms and chapters upon Sundays at the assembly of the congregation under him."
September 3, 2009
The first part of this--the history of the Sea Venture shipwreck on Bermuda and how they helped save Jamestown colony--was very interesting and well written. I feel the second part, on the connections between the account of the Sea Venture and The Tempest, was denser, harder to enjoy, and sometimes "reaching" a little too much.
September 10, 2009
A nice bit of pop-history, but unfortunately, the Shakespearean analysis lags a bit. When Woodward is just talking about Jamestown, the book is at its best.
October 16, 2009
The fourth star is for dedicated research!
This was a fascinating and well-researched book that chronicles the adventures of a British ship heading for the new colony of Jamestown that got separated from its sister ships in a terrible hurricane. After days of thinking they were going to perish in the storm, they ran aground on a deserted island of Bermuda with no casualties from the storm. Over the next year, as told in the detailed journaling of one of its passengers, William Strachey, the castaways used the lumber from the damaged ship to build their escape vessels and made a life for themselves on the island. Eventually they made it to Jamestown and Strachey's written account made its way back to his family and to England. It apparently was read by William Shakespeare, and there is compelling evidence that it inspired much of the content for his last solo-written play "The Tempest." I wonder if "Swiss Family Robinson" wasn't also inspired by it.
I learned a lot, too, about the issues surrounding early Jamestown, the woes that beset it, and the conflicting interests of the owners of the Virginia Company that financed it, the pioneers who were willing to go first to settle there, and the unfortunate interaction with native American tribes whose lands and culture were so clearly disrupted and invaded.
This was a fascinating and well-researched book that chronicles the adventures of a British ship heading for the new colony of Jamestown that got separated from its sister ships in a terrible hurricane. After days of thinking they were going to perish in the storm, they ran aground on a deserted island of Bermuda with no casualties from the storm. Over the next year, as told in the detailed journaling of one of its passengers, William Strachey, the castaways used the lumber from the damaged ship to build their escape vessels and made a life for themselves on the island. Eventually they made it to Jamestown and Strachey's written account made its way back to his family and to England. It apparently was read by William Shakespeare, and there is compelling evidence that it inspired much of the content for his last solo-written play "The Tempest." I wonder if "Swiss Family Robinson" wasn't also inspired by it.
I learned a lot, too, about the issues surrounding early Jamestown, the woes that beset it, and the conflicting interests of the owners of the Virginia Company that financed it, the pioneers who were willing to go first to settle there, and the unfortunate interaction with native American tribes whose lands and culture were so clearly disrupted and invaded.
June 14, 2019
I recently learned that an ancestor of mine was on the ship Sea Venture in 1609. The ship was wrecked off the coast of Bermuda, and all on board spent the next nine months on an island before setting out for Virginia again. An exciting story. When I also learned that this was likely an inspiration for Shakespeare's The Tempest, I was amazed and wanted to learn more. This book was just what I was looking for. A fascinating history, told in lively, detailed, readable fashion. The story of the shipwreck and the subsequent stay on the island is wild and awe-inspiring. Some details are speculative, of course, but the author has gathered enough to make a great story. Later chapters tying the tale to Shakespeare are pure conjecture. These chapters rely on "would have encountered," "surely knew," "likely read." Woodward has again assembled the facts, but a definitive connection is elusive. Still, this is a great read for fans of history and Shakespeare. Recommended.
February 26, 2018
I bought this book during a visit to Bermuda, and I was intrigued by the description on the back cover - a British supply ship wrecks on Bermuda, two homemade vessels are built there that saved Jamestown, and the tale of it all becomes a source of Shakespeare's The Tempest. In the end, the book was an awesome look at several deep subjects, including colonization and the awful relationship with the Natives, sailing in the 17th Century, survival on an undiscovered island, and the art of William Shakespeare. If any of these things interest you, this book is a great read!
December 4, 2009
Very interesting history but too much detail. It's about the wreck of a ship on the way to Jamestown in 1610 which gave Shakespeare the idea for the Tempest. The survivors managed to get to Jamestown and the food they brought saved the colony.
Interesting fact: In 1607 Shakespeare's company built the Blackfriars theater, which was the first enclosed theater. They then had to break plays up into acts so they could change the candles.
Interesting fact: In 1607 Shakespeare's company built the Blackfriars theater, which was the first enclosed theater. They then had to break plays up into acts so they could change the candles.
November 7, 2011
The portion of this book that tells the story about Jamestown, the voyage of the Sea Venture and the shipwreck on Bermuda are the best parts of the story. Once the narative goes back to England and the connections between the Bermuda trip and Shakespeare's Tempest are shown... the author's narative style drops off in quality. Instead of weaving together a narative, he simply cherry picks quotes from the play and compares them to other works. That part of the book is rather dull.
October 18, 2018
The first half of this book was very interesting. There was a lot I didn't know about the voyage from England to Jamestown and the Virgina Company. Although this book is clearly well researched and detailed, I did struggle toward the end where Woodward goes through each act of The Tempest - I was glad to see that the last 63 pages of the book we're just notes and that I was finished!
December 27, 2017
This was a really well done book on a totally interesting topic. It's especially worth the read if you've ever been to Bermuda or have plans to go. The section of the book dealing with the island's accidental finding is really fascinating.
June 22, 2025
Fascinating book that narrates the 1609 voyage of the Sea Venture ship headed to the two-year-old Jamestown colony. But they ran into a hurricane and shipwrecked on Bermuda. The castaways stayed on the island for nearly a year before building two smaller ships and finally making it to Virginia.
There was a poet on the ship named William Strachey. Several years later and back in London, Shakespeare read Strachey’s journals, which inspired *The Tempest*. So much here: courage, murder, sacrifice, depravity, cannibalism, great literature, ecological damage, bridging of the Old World and New World. Definitely worth reading, especially because last week we found the site of the shipwreck!
Money quote: “When the castaways came ashore at Jamestown on May 23, 1610, they had their first look at the settlement they had been told was a miniature England in the Virginia woodland. What they found instead was a band of skeletal people who had faced starvation while the castaways lived in ease and plenty on the Devil’s Isle.”
“Since the situation on the Sea Venture was dire, the sailors used the most readily available time-tested method—stuffing strips of dried beef into the seams. Once moistened with seawater, the beef expanded and formed an adequate temporary caulking. Each time a leak was discovered, the sailors wedged their candlesticks between higher boards of the ship and pounded a strip of beef into place.”
There was a poet on the ship named William Strachey. Several years later and back in London, Shakespeare read Strachey’s journals, which inspired *The Tempest*. So much here: courage, murder, sacrifice, depravity, cannibalism, great literature, ecological damage, bridging of the Old World and New World. Definitely worth reading, especially because last week we found the site of the shipwreck!
Money quote: “When the castaways came ashore at Jamestown on May 23, 1610, they had their first look at the settlement they had been told was a miniature England in the Virginia woodland. What they found instead was a band of skeletal people who had faced starvation while the castaways lived in ease and plenty on the Devil’s Isle.”
“Since the situation on the Sea Venture was dire, the sailors used the most readily available time-tested method—stuffing strips of dried beef into the seams. Once moistened with seawater, the beef expanded and formed an adequate temporary caulking. Each time a leak was discovered, the sailors wedged their candlesticks between higher boards of the ship and pounded a strip of beef into place.”
August 25, 2020
A fascinating tale of a ship bound for early Jamestown full of supplies and colonists which was blown off course by a hurricane. The doughty leaders and the crew managed to bring all 150 people to safety on the then deserted isle of Bermuda. Personally, I enjoyed the seafaring detail and how able the ship wrecked survivors were in gathering food, building shelter, making fermented drinks, and then crafting two boats from the wreckage to continue on to Jamestown where they literally saved the colony from starvation.
The second half of the book is more tedious, like reading someone's master's thesis on proving word by word that Shakespeare borrowed heavily from a long letter written about the ordeal by an unsuccessful poet and writer in order to created The Tempest. He does prove the point, but it is very dull reading.
I hoped for a summary as to what happened to some of these people and did get it at they very end. Copious end notes testify to all the research that went into this book. If you aren't into Shakespeare, you always read the first part alone.
The second half of the book is more tedious, like reading someone's master's thesis on proving word by word that Shakespeare borrowed heavily from a long letter written about the ordeal by an unsuccessful poet and writer in order to created The Tempest. He does prove the point, but it is very dull reading.
I hoped for a summary as to what happened to some of these people and did get it at they very end. Copious end notes testify to all the research that went into this book. If you aren't into Shakespeare, you always read the first part alone.
January 31, 2023
Four stars with a few caveats. One, I watched some of my best friends perform The Tempest in college, so I am very familiar with the play. I also just a few weeks ago re-read a student version while supporting a student in English class. I also love Bermuda and the first time we stayed there was at Ariel Sands, one of many Tempest-themed sites. We have since gone back and explored the history museums and historical sites throughout. Finally, I enjoy shipwreck stories, having recently read and enjoyed Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea, which inspired Melville. I've also visited the Jamestown historic site as well as the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke. So all things considered, I was bound to connect with this seafaring history. Am a huge reader of Shakespeare, no, and I have long-recognized that gap in my literary upbringing. But you don't need to love Shakespeare to enjoy this very readable and extremely well-researched book.
June 19, 2018
"A Brave Vessel" follows the true story of writer William Strachey as he sails to the New World, is shipwrecked on Bermuda and finally finds his way to the early settlement of Jamestown following "The Starving Time".
Coincidentally, his journals help inspire playwright William Shakespeare, leading him to write his famous play, "The Tempest".
Two men whose initials are W.S., both writers, one recognized by history and the other largely unrecognized but also important, "A Brave Vessel" tells the tale of survival, not only on the island then known as "The Devil's Island", but also in the New World and in Old England.
I was fascinated to read of the Virginia Company's many deceptions that they used to lure settlers to the New World. I had an idea that they were largely lying when they painted America as a place of gold and prosperity, (I mean, who wouldn't suspect them?), but I had no idea that they actively hid the truth and kept sailors from speaking out against the true nature of the New World.
If you want to get a peek on what was really going on in the early days of the New World, or if you're like me and just love survival stories that include tall ships and tales akin to Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe", you'll not want to miss reading this book.
Happy Reading!
Coincidentally, his journals help inspire playwright William Shakespeare, leading him to write his famous play, "The Tempest".
Two men whose initials are W.S., both writers, one recognized by history and the other largely unrecognized but also important, "A Brave Vessel" tells the tale of survival, not only on the island then known as "The Devil's Island", but also in the New World and in Old England.
I was fascinated to read of the Virginia Company's many deceptions that they used to lure settlers to the New World. I had an idea that they were largely lying when they painted America as a place of gold and prosperity, (I mean, who wouldn't suspect them?), but I had no idea that they actively hid the truth and kept sailors from speaking out against the true nature of the New World.
If you want to get a peek on what was really going on in the early days of the New World, or if you're like me and just love survival stories that include tall ships and tales akin to Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe", you'll not want to miss reading this book.
Happy Reading!
September 10, 2025
In 1609, an unsuccessful writer named William Strachey joined a fleet of colonists headed for Virginia. He hoped to have thrilling adventures he could publish to finally earn himself fame and fortune. Fate oversupplied him with peril. The Sea Venture was blown off course by a hurricane and ended up in Bermuda, then viewed as inhospitable and probably cursed. Woodward covers their trials on Bermuda (all self-inflicted: the archipelago was a verdant paradise) and eventually Jamestown clearly and meticulously. The lengthy digression about all the inspiration Shakespeare may have drawn from Strachey's account when composing The Tempest was rather a slog and not nearly as well-supported.
August 21, 2023
Nathaniel Philbrick described this book as "riveting" and it is--until last couple of chapters. Highly recommended for its account of the travails of the *Sea Venture* and its passengers as they headed to Jamestown colony in 1609. The entire account of the voyage and the early colonists' struggle for survival is a "page-turner" as they say.
April 23, 2025
This book is an easier to read account of the Sea Venture than the book The Shipwreck That Saved Jamestown, but also shows all the real and supposed connections between the writing of William Strachey and Shakespeare's The Tempest. This provides an interesting side story to the narrative of the shipwreck and the time the colonists spent in Virginia.
October 1, 2018
According to the author the wreck of a supply ship called the Sea Venture was the inspiration for Shakespeare's play The Tempest. Be that as it may it was certainly an adventure.
November 26, 2018
A fascinating story, with lots of interesting detail.
February 13, 2019
Great read. Elements of an adventure story with literary analysis of historical tie ins to Shakespeare’s play.
February 17, 2019
Great history of Jamestown, Virginia and Bermuda.
May 30, 2020
I loved this nonfiction historical novel of a ship headed to Jamestown that shipwrecked on Bermuda. It showed up in my Free Little Library- I would not have read it otherwise
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
September 22, 2020
Well written; throughly researched. If you are interested in Shakespeare, the 1608 plague, the colonization of Virginia, hurricanes or Bermuda history; this is the book for you.
Read
April 11, 2022Read with family up to the point the Virginia company crew led by Thomas Gates sets out to return to London but encounters Lord Delaware going the opposite direction.
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February 10, 2023Read for CHP 395
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews