Civilized Men A James Towne Tragedy

by Ivor Noël Hume

Civilized Men is a fact-based novel that needed to be written. In contrast to the familiar and almost entirely fictional story of Pocahontas and John Smith, the hitherto untold truth of what happened in Virginia in 1610 between the English and the Native Americans they called savages led all the way to the tragedy at Wounded Knee in 1890. By seeing the events through the eyes of two young English brothers, the reader can take sides, following one brother true to his English heritage and the other forsaking it in defense on the Indians' way of life. This is the story of the clash between one civilization and another, and one religion and another. The brutalities common in England in the 17th century contrast with ritual-related penalities acceptable to the Indians. Neither side understood the other, but both put their trust in a god. The fictional brothers, Will and John Jefferys, thread their way through the often horrifying and traumatic events of the year, each finding solace in the arms of women-Will with Jamestown widow, Maggie Beale, and John with Tarapoto, sister of the Paspahegh queen whom the English murdered. All the other principal players were real people doing what comtemporary records say they did. Of necessity, however, their dialogue has been recreated, but motives and attitudes have followed the truth as closely as the sources permit.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2005

Reviews

[Nauset Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fact-based story sheds light on the atrocities inflicted on Native Americans by English settlers during 1910 in James Towne Island, Virginia. The settlers suffer from brutal winter, starvation and unknown diseases when Governor Delaware arrives and starts attacks on Indians under the disguise of spreading Christianity for the patriotic love of England. The use of religion and patriotism are clear rhetorical devices used by the officials and the governor to motivate settlers to attack and kill innocent natives called “savages”

Two fictional brothers Will and John are the main characters. John, in my opinion the most civilized of the settlers, question the horrific attacks on innocent natives as well as the justification of these under the disguise of Christianity, and makes a very radical decision to join Natives at the end of an attack. I think Will also questions the rationale for all the horrific things done by the army, but does not have the free mind and courage of his brother to act on these thoughts. Also, John spends a week among Natives as a guest during a messenger duty, and gets exposure to their culture and daily lives.

Overall, this was a very sad story and had many disheartening scenes, but sheds light on the early struggles and horrible acts done to survive and expand in the New World by the English settlers.