Captain John Smith: A Select Edition of His Writings

Rating:
Summary: By His Own Hand
Review: The definitive work on Smith's writing is Barbour's three volume set, which is expensive and difficult to find (special order on Amazon - $250). That said, Kupperman's work is a useful introduction, arranged in themes she perceives in his works: life and legend, leader of Jamestown, relations with the Indians, interpreter of environment, and advocate of a concept of colonialization. As such the reader does not progress through Smith's writings in the chronological order in which he created them, but there is a cohesiveness which might otherwise be lost if she clung to the actual timeline. No volume of this size could encompass all aspects of this complex, albeit difficult, man, but Kupperman puts the limited space to effective use. I found her introductory essay on Smith to be among the best material I have read on him. If someone had time to read only one thing about Smith, I would recommend these 23 pages. There are some things about the book I wish were better. Kupperman helps the reader with some of the more arcane lingustic artifacts of Tudor English, but I wish she had explained more about the context and references than she did. I also wish she had said more about Smith as a cartographer. His map of the Chesapeake was the definitive map of the region for about 60 years and was copied by the most famous names in cartographic history. His map of the coast of New England were instrumental to further English settlement there, inc. that of the Pilgrims and Puritans. She touches on this but I would like to have heard more. These points aside, however, I found this to be a useful and well written volume.

Rating:
Summary: Insight into a misunderstood historical figure
Review: This book provides a good look at Captain John Smith. Smith, a complex man, led an interesting life -- including neing sold as a slave in Turkey. This book illuminates his tough demeanor, which helped the early colonists survive, but also led to quarrels with them. For those of you who want to know the real Smith -- not the Disney version - this is the place to look.