A Brave vessel : The true tale of the castaways who rescued Jamestown and inspired Shakespeare's The Tempest (pbk)

From Publishers Weekly In this well-written and expertly paced work of popular scholarship, Woodward, an associate editor of the Adams papers, tells the story of William Strachey, an aspiring poet whose chronicle of a disastrous sea voyage and its aftermath had a profound influence on Shakespeare's The Tempest . Strachey is a fine figure for historical resurrection—he was good friends with John Donne and a passenger on pioneering journeys to the New World, which eventually brought him, aboard the Sea Venture , to Bermuda and the infant Jamestown colony in Virginia. Woodward draws heavily on Strachey's written narrative, often to marvelous effect. This is particularly true of the dramatic storm scenes, in which the entire crew of the Sea Venture nearly perished. Through Strachey, Woodward tells of the conflicts that divided the crew after making landfall in Bermuda and the hardships of replenishing a starving Jamestown's supplies. The heart of the book is Woodward's recreation of Strachey's viewing of The Tempest , which affords the author the opportunity to catalogue the narrative and linguistic parallels between the Sea Venture' s travails and the play—fascinating fodder for the committed Shakespearean source hunter. Maps. (July 13) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review '' At once a penetrating work of literary analysis and a riveting historical narrative.'' -Nathaniel Philbrick ''At once a penetrating work of literary analysis and a riveting historical narrative, Hobson Woodward's A Brave Vessel reveals the salty survival tale at the heart of Shakespeare's New World masterpiece, The Tempest.'' -Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the Sea and Mayflower ''On the 400th anniversary of the Sea Venture 's wreck on Bermuda, Hobson Woodward recounts the events and personalities of the voyage, the island refuge, and the early Jamestown Colony. He tells the story with accuracy and verve, and makes a compelling case for Shakespeare's indebtedness to William Strachey when writing The Tempest . Woodward's Brave Vessel is learned, lucid, and engrossing.'' -Alden Vaughan, Professor emeritus of History at Columbia University and coeditor of the Arden edition of The Tempest A Brave Vessel is a real-life story of heroism and human ambition as thrilling as any Hollywood fiction. Injecting popular history with a wealth of little-known detail, it traces a fascinating story of unlikely survival-and the impact a single, freak event in the mid-Atlantic had on the fortunes of America's birthplace and the world's greatest playwright. Woodward immerses us in the mindset of 17-century colonists and the immense challenges and tragedies of their endeavor. He entwines true events with their literary spin-offs, and in doing so, brings both to life. -Rosemary Jones, author,_ Bermuda: Five Centuries_ This Book Is A Gripping Tale Of Shipwreck And Survival That Changed The Fate Of The Colonies And Enriched Our Literary Legacy. In 1609 William Strachey, An English Gentleman With Literary Aspirations But Failing Means, Set Sail Aboard The Sea Venture, The Flagship Of The Fleet Of Nine Vessels Bound For The Fledgling Colony Of Jamestown, Virginia. The Voyage Was Intended To Inspire The Writing And Establish The Social Connections That Would Finally Bring Strachey Literary Acclaim. Stocked With Provisions To Revive The Struggling Jamestown, The Fleet Carried Men And Women Of All Classes -- From Aristocratic Governors To Craftsmen And Servants -- Charged With Strengthening The Settlement And Securing England's Foothold In The New World. More Than Halfway Across The Atlantic Disaster Struck: A Punishing Hurricane Separated The Sea Venture From Its Fleet And Ran It Aground On Uninhabited Bermuda. Miraculously, All 153 People On Board Survived And Were Able To Settle On This Unexpectedly Bountiful Island For Nearly A Year, And During The Wilderness, The Uncertainty Of Their Future, The Threat Of Mutiny, And Even Murder. Drawing From The Meticulous Records Strachey Kept Of The Castaways' Life On Bermuda, And Of Their Eventual Arrival In Jamestown, Hobson Woodward Brings To Life A Pivotal Episode In Colonial History As Seen Through The Eyes Of An Ordinary Man. - Jacket Flap. A Gripping Tale Of Shipwreck And Survival, A Brave Vessel Is The Fascinating Account Of A Near-miss In The Settling Of Virginia, The True Story Behind Shakespeare's The Tempest, And The Tragedy Of The Man Who Failed As An Author But Who Contributed To The Creation Of A Masterpiece. Poet Of London -- Aboard For Jamestown -- Ocean Bound -- Hurricane -- Rogue Wave -- Devil's Land -- Angel's Garden -- New Life -- Rebellion -- Away To Virginia -- Relief From Home -- Forest People -- Blood In The Snow -- Poison -- Bound For England -- Blackfriars Surprise -- Bermuda Ghosts -- After The Storm. Hobson Woodward. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A gripping tale of shipwreck and survival that changed the fate of the colonies and enriched our literary legacyIn 1609, aspiring writer William Strachey set sail aboard the Sea Venture, bound for the New World. Caught in a hurricane, the ship separated from its fleet and wrecked on uninhabited Bermuda, a bountiful island paradise its passengers would inhabit for nearly a year before reaching their intended destination, the famine-stricken colony of Jamestown. Strachey’s meticulous account of the wreck, the castaways’ time on Bermuda, and their arrival in a devastated Jamestown was read by his contemporaries and remains among the most vivid writings of the early colonial period. Following the life of this ordinary man, Hobson Woodward tells one of the neglected but defining stories of America’s founding.Strachey had literary aspirations and sought to capitalize on his epic experience, but his writings did not bring him the acclaim he sought. Only in the hands of another William would his tale of the wreck and its aftermath make history as The Tempest. A Brave Vessel is the fascinating account of a near-miss in the settling of Virginia, the true story behind one of Shakespeare’s great plays, and the tragedy of the man who failed as an author but who contributed to the creation of a masterpiece. 'At once a penetrating work of literary analysis and a riveting historical narrative.'-Nathaniel Philbrick Merging maritime adventure and early colonial history, A Brave Vessel charts a little-known chapter of the past that offers a window on the inspiration for one of Shakespeare's greatest works. In 1609, aspiring writer William Strachey set sail for the New World aboard the Sea Venture, only to wreck on the shores of Bermuda. Strachey's meticulous account of the tragedy, the castaways'time in Bermuda, and their arrival in a devastated Jamestown, remains among the most vivid writings of the early colonial period. Though Strachey had literary aspirations, only in the hands of another William would his tale make history as The Tempest-a fascinating connection across time and literature that Hobson Woodward brings vividly to life. Poet of London Aboard for Jamestown Ocean bound Hurricane Rogue wave Devil's land Angel's garden New life Rebellion Away to Virginia Relief from home Forest people Blood in the snow Poison Bound for England Blackfriars surprise Bermuda ghosts After the storm Epilogue Aspiring writer William Strachey shipwrecks on Bermuda en route to the Jamestown settlement in 1609, and details his experience hoping for future acclaim in this true story that provided the inspiration for one of Shakespeare's great plays. Recounts the story of aspiring writer William Strachey, who was shipwrecked on Bermuda en route to the Jamestown settlement in 1609 and wrote of his experiences, which provided the inspiration for one of Shakespeare's great plays