Original Narratives of Early Virginia Originally published 1908 (Just after the 1907 JamestownTricentennial) Virginia History & Genealogy ************************************************************************** Digital Book CD Requires Adobe Reader 5 or higher to view Autoboot menu for easy access ************************************************************************** $10.99 + $1.99 shipping and handling http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130216441745&ssPageName=ADME:L:EOISSA:US:1123 New York Times Book Review Sunday, Feb. 15, 1908 Mr. Jameson, general editor of the “Original Narratives.” could not have done better than to select President Tyler of William and Mary College to edit and digest for the general reader the original narratives of early Virginia. There is no student of American history who has delved more deeply into the sources of early Virginia history than he, and none who approaches his theme with more reverence for the heroes of that epic age than the President of the ancient college.of William and Mary, with its roots running back into the heroic age of English history. The ”Narratives of Early Virginia” cover the period of 1606-1625, and include the writings of George Percy, Lord De La Ware, Don diego de Molina, Father Blard, John Rolfe, John Pory, the redoubtable John Smith, and the proceedings of the Virginia Assemblies of 1619 and 1624, with the discourse of the Old Company. John Smith’s facile pen is accorded 295 of the 460 pages, and with right, for not-withstanding the many attacks that have been made upon his reputation for veracity he knew more of the plans, successes and failures of the planters of the Jamestown colonies than any other. These documents have all been properly collated with the originals, or the best known copies where originals have disappeared; they are explained in short “introductions,” elucidated in valuable footnotes with suitable references to the lives of the men who wrote them or played important roles in the colonizing project. It need scarcely be mentioned that they are printed in good bold type on excellent paper, and in a handy-sized volume. Thus are the interesting and important accounts of the first English settlement in North America put before us. Every one ought to be grateful both to Dr. Jameson and President Tyler. Contrary to the layman’s view, these narratives are exceedlingly interesting; they prove that documents are not always so dry and distasteful as we are prone to think. What could be more picturesque or entertaining than Smith’s “True Relation” or descriptions of Virginia?