John Smith: Explorer and Colonial Leader (Explorers of New Worlds)
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John Smith: Explorer and Colonial Leader (Explorers of New Worlds)
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From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-Short biographies of men of remarkable talents and accomplishments. While much has been written about Smith, Marcovitz manages to include some information not usually included in books for children. Readers may be surprised to learn that Smith had a somewhat checkered career; he was a mercenary for a Spanish cavalry regiment, then fought for the Dutch and also was employed by a Hungarian nobleman. His title of captain was bestowed on him by the Hungarians in a battle against the Turks (who at one point defeated him and sold him into slavery). Unfortunately, this colorful figure never comes to life here. Average-quality reproductions and paintings illustrate the text. Shackleton begins with an account of the explorer's miraculous journey on a 22-foot lifeboat in rough Antarctic seas to save his crew. Readers also learn about his early sea voyages, his connection to other Antarctic explorers, and his ambitions. The use of the explorer's own words provides a glimpse into his sense of leadership and destiny. The text is strengthened by pictures from his ill-fated expedition and other photographs of the terrain and the man. While this book does not give as complete or compelling a picture as Jennifer Armstrong's Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World (Crown, 1998), it is a solid introduction.
Edith Ching, St. Albans School, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, DC
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
29/11/2005
This is surely the most innaccurate and poorly researched children's "history" book on the market. There are glaring errors on every single page. It will be a shame if any young readers base their knowledge of John Smith upon this flawed account. For accurate scholarship by serious scholars who have studied John Smith in depth, see (among others) The Three Worlds of Captain John Smith by Philip Barbour, The American Dream of Captain John Smith and Did Pocahontas Save Captain John Smith, both by J. A. Leo Lemay, and of course all the writings of John Smith himself.
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