Book Review
Publication Date: 4/2020
Original Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Genre: History (early American colonization)
Rating (1-4): 4
Though Hopkins is generally credited with being a helpful “stranger” to the colonists (ie: not of the religious group known as The Pilgrims), the importance of his role in sustaining, even saving the colony from disaster has been vastly under-rated. Mack brings to light, using extant records of the period, the absolute vital part Hopkins played in the survival of the Pilgrims, particularly during that first perilous year.
Mack begins at the beginning, which includes Hopkins’ first trip to America eleven years prior to the Mayflower voyage. The struggles and challenges that he and his companions faced on that voyage, complete with shipwreck on a deserted Bermuda for ten months, helped to prime Hopkins for what he would soon encounter in Jamestown. There, he became fascinated with the indigenous people, even learned their language, which would prove indispensable in Plymouth, and developed a lifelong admiration and respect for the “Indians”. His years as indentured servant in Jamestown also instructed him in wilderness survival and the elements of success (or failure) that must be considered when founding a new colony.
With this knowledge base and set of skills, Hopkins became a pivotal voice, once the Mayflower arrived at Cape Cod rather than Virginia. Not only was he a Mayflower Compact signatory, he likely had a hand in its creation, for example. Jonathan Mack shows us the many other specific instances and events when, without the influence of Stephen Hopkins, the survival of the nascent colony would almost certainly have gone awry. In doing so, the full character of Hopkins can be gleaned, because the author doesn’t shy away from exploring his less admirable side. Stephen Hopkins was by no means a “saint”, and I appreciated the examination of his foibles, many of which are in the written record of the period, and others which can be deduced based on related records that do exist.
The book is far from a dry history, however. Hopkins’ life was certainly one of drama and suspense, including nearly being hanged for mutiny and a personal acquaintance with none other than Pocahontas! What I wonder is why, after being shipwrecked on Bermuda, followed by several miserable years in Jamestown and then a perilous journey back to England … why on earth would he even consider another trip to America? Nothing would have gotten me on that ship! But I am glad that he did.
Like any one of us, Stephen Hopkins was an imperfect person, and he made mistakes throughout his life. However, I came away from this book with new admiration for his courage, perseverance, foresight and for his unusually amicable stance on the Indians to which he held fast against all detractors to the end of his life. I recommend the book as a great read for this 400th anniversary year and especially for anyone fortunate enough to be a descendant of this remarkable man.
Mack begins at the beginning, which includes Hopkins’ first trip to America eleven years prior to the Mayflower voyage. The struggles and challenges that he and his companions faced on that voyage, complete with shipwreck on a deserted Bermuda for ten months, helped to prime Hopkins for what he would soon encounter in Jamestown. There, he became fascinated with the indigenous people, even learned their language, which would prove indispensable in Plymouth, and developed a lifelong admiration and respect for the “Indians”. His years as indentured servant in Jamestown also instructed him in wilderness survival and the elements of success (or failure) that must be considered when founding a new colony.
The book is far from a dry history, however. Hopkins’ life was certainly one of drama and suspense, including nearly being hanged for mutiny and a personal acquaintance with none other than Pocahontas! What I wonder is why, after being shipwrecked on Bermuda, followed by several miserable years in Jamestown and then a perilous journey back to England … why on earth would he even consider another trip to America? Nothing would have gotten me on that ship! But I am glad that he did.
Like any one of us, Stephen Hopkins was an imperfect person, and he made mistakes throughout his life. However, I came away from this book with new admiration for his courage, perseverance, foresight and for his unusually amicable stance on the Indians to which he held fast against all detractors to the end of his life. I recommend the book as a great read for this 400th anniversary year and especially for anyone fortunate enough to be a descendant of this remarkable man.
