The Lost Colony of Roanoke: New Perspectives

When Governor John White sailed for England from Roanoke Island in August 1587, he left behind more than 100 men, women and children. They were never seen again by Europeans. For more than four centuries the fate of the Roanoke colony has remained a mystery, despite the many attempts to construct a satisfactory, convincing explanation. New research suggests that all past and present theories are based upon a series of erroneous assumptions that have persisted for centuries. Through a close examination of the early accounts, previously unknown or unexamined documents and native Algonquian oral tradition, this book deconstructs the traditional theories. What emerges is a fresh narrative of the activities, challenges, disappointments and ultimate fate of the Lost Colony.