The quality of the book is unsurpassed, beautiful photographs of the pottery items. The book even has two built in ribbon bookmarks, something rarely seen these days. Hume's use of the language has always been amazing to me, he writes very well, and always has. His colorful career is reflected in his writing, and the collection of artifacts from GB. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in Colonial American or British archeology, or pottery from the past centuries. "Bravo" to the Chipstone Foundation and Ivor Noel Hume!

Being quite familiar with much of Noel Hume's previous output, I was bowled over by both the size and scope of his most recent endeavor. In addition, the quality of the illustrations and reproduction make this book one of the great values in publishing today. His stories of discovery with his late wife Audrey are tender and illuminating, both in terms of the way he has lived his life and in the way he teaches.
Much of the subject matter involves areas of ceramics used in America; ceramics that, while popular, have still remained below the scope of most academic study. The photos by Gavin Ashworth add considerably to the beauty as well as the information transmitted in this essential volume.

This as usual, is one of Hume's best works. It really foccuses on common items found in an 18th century tavern. Highly reccomended.

Ivor Hume has delved into the rather murky historical past of the Virginia Colonies. Instead of taking the traditional route of authors on this subject, Hume exposes life as it must have been through extensive historical and archaeological research. The book contains intriguing new data, little known fact, and a full discourse on the importance of preservation for America's historical past. It is strongly recommended to anyone with even a slight interest in early American archaeology.

What an incredible account of these lost people. The book does have an academic sound to it, but the events more than keep you interested. Its almost like real-life science fiction. They have an idea that something's out there. They look for it and find more than they bargained for. Those that like history or lost and found will like this one.

I purchased this book on a visit to Williamsburg and it sat on my shelf for quite a while before I seriously dove in. This book combines a clear explaination of archaeological methods with the building suspense of a good detective novel. As The author and his team uncover the existence of an early Virginia colony and utilize an astounding range of techniques and research to slowly piece together the lives of the inhabitants you will be drawn into the past. More than that you will be excited to read on and discover with these archaeologists what really happened. I.N. Hume writes eloquently on all aspects of organizing and proceeding with a project of this scale and mixes those details regarding administration and method with the fascinating story of the settlement of Martin's Hundred flawlessly. I could not imagine a better introduction to the discipline of archaeology for the layperson.

While you might think that a book about historic archaeology would be dry and boring (and many are!), Ivor Noel Hume's story of the archaeological dig, the background research, and the people of the 17th century who lived at Martin's Hundred is fascinating. This is probably the only archaeology book that you won't be able to put down because you will want to find out what happened next. If only I could write as well!

I have found this book extremely useful in ID'ing artifacts in the field and the lab. It contains historical background on all the major types of artifacts you'd expect to find on an historic site, and many facts on uncommon ones as well. It's organized alphabetically so it's easy to use, too. If you can get your hands on a copy, I'd recommend it!

The Virginia Adventure, Roanoke to James Towne: An Archaeological and Historical Odyssey. By Ivor Noel Hume. Edited by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. (Charlottesville and London: University Press of Virginia, 1994. Xxviii + 491pp.)

The Virginia Adventure, Roanoke to James Towne: An Archaeological and Historical Odyssey is a hungry quest for the answers to the mysteries of America's first permanent settlement, James Towne.

European trade routes were extremely dangerous before, during, and after Columbus's time. Untrustworthy mercenary soldiers, treacherous roads, and overpriced commodities did their best to set Europeans looking seaward for new, promising trade routes. Spain took the opportunity and sent the eager Christopher Columbus out to sea, not expecting much in return for their financial support. Though Columbus discovered a New World, he remained convinced until the day he died that he had set foot on the shores of East China and India. Spain and Portugal were quick to send out more explorers who soon exploited the wealth of South and Central American natives. News of Spain's success was slow to reach English ears, but when it finally did, it caused a flurry of urgency, and thus began the race to colonize America.
England pushed early settlers into the Atlantic, where they quickly took Roanoke Island as their first habitation. Virginia proved to be a foreboding place for the new arrivals with its hot climate and bad Indian relations. The Roanoke fort and settlement were soon abandoned; the inhabitants vanished, never to be seen again. The first permanent settlement, James Town, was established soon after Roanoke's demise. James Town experienced many hardships from the start. The food supplies were almost always low, at one time to the point that the colonists resorted to eating dug-up corpses. Relations with the local natives were not always friendly, not that the colonists helped the situation. England was also preoccupied with internal affairs and could not always send supply ships. Disease ravaged the town and wreaked havoc on the colonists' moral and health, taking hundreds of lives over the course of James Town's existence. Ivor Noel Hume explains that despite all of these hardships, early settlers established a permanent settlement from which America later sprung.
Ivor Noel Hume, a free-lance writer and an archaeologist, was born in London. He studied at Framlingham College and St. Lawrence College in England. He is currently the chairman of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities' Jamestown Rediscovery Advisory Board, though he has held other honored positions in England. He has written other books on colonial America, such as Here Lies Virginia (1963), A Guide to Artifacts of Colonial America (1970), and Martin's Hundred (1982).
Mr. Noel Hume openly states in the preface that he chose to, whenever possible, use the eyewitness accounts of the involved persons instead of 'paraphrasing their evidence'(xxiii). He is careful to provide the reader with many records from different, first-person accounts as opposed to choosing a favored or cherished story. Mr. Noel Hume does not jump to far-fetched conclusions, but instead, he uses the provided information to produce logical explanations. He does not seem to take the side of any race, nationality, or gender. Archaeology is used on a large scale in this book to convey his messages.
Although The Virginia Adventure is packed full of differing eyewitness accounts, useful archaeological information, and scholarly insights, it is by no means written eloquently. Mr. Noel Hume jumps frequently from story to archaeology, which confuses the reader and disrupts the colorful flow of text needed to appropriately convey a message.
The Virginia Adventure differs from other books and writings on colonial America in that it provides the reader with a variety of first person testimonies, points of view, and experiences. Ivor Noel Hume also adds the element of archaeological expeditions and research into the James Town and Roanoke sites, bringing yet more insight to the table. He explains the intricate complications of shaky relations with the Native Americans, the English crown's regrettable apathy towards James Town, and the mysteries that surround the disappearance of hundreds. Other text and reading books on colonial America tend to adopt a single explanation of a certain situation where there are different accounts in order to make the story simpler and more comprehensible. Mr. Noel Hume blends first and second person accounts and archeological elements together, though it is not particularly enjoyable to read.
Ivor Noel Hume accomplished his goal of shedding new light from many different perspectives on colonial America in The Virginia Adventure. This book has contributed numerous insights into early America, and for that, it should be praised.

History 151

October 2, 2001

I purchased this book when on site at Jamestown. The ranger who gave us the tour of the park said that this was the best book on the subject of Jamestown. My guess is that he was probably right. This is a well researched account of the first efforts of the British to colonize Virginia.

Probably the most interesting aspect of the book is the relationship between the colonists and the natives. I would describe the relationship as one of cunning and deceit on both sides. The governing of James Fort was largely inept.

Some characters made famous by Disney meet their demise, and there is a fair treatment of Pocohantas. There are a couple of portraits of Pocohantas, described as "no fayre lady." The book is well illustrated.

The predominant them in this historical treatise on Jamestown, is the search for James Fort. It seems the prevailing opinion was that its foundations now lay under the river. This is proved to be only one-third true.

At times, history books can be dry and boring. Hume makes the characters come alive. Quotation and citation of source documents is frequent. This book is comprehensive and would be a wonderful starting point for any student of James Fort and the settlement. I enjoyed it very much.