A Kingdom Strange
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | James Horn |
| Products | History book |
| Parent | Basic Books |
A Kingdom Strange: The Brief and Tragic History of the Lost Colony of Roanoke is a 2010 publication authored by James Horn and released by Basic Books. The book examines the story of the Roanoke Colony founded under the direction of Walter Raleigh. It investigates the colony’s vanishing after 1587, proposing that some settlers integrated with Indigenous tribes while others fell victim to attacks by the Powhatan people.
Reception
Critical response to the book was largely favorable.
Kirkus Reviews commended Horn for his captivating storytelling and comprehensive portrayal of European diplomatic dynamics alongside Native American interactions. Chuck Leddy from The Christian Science Monitor emphasized Horn’s meticulous scholarship and vivid narration of colonists caught in the imperial contest between Spain and England. Publishers Weekly labeled it "an exceptional historical mystery/adventure," noting a less sorrowful ending than traditionally assumed.
Doug Childers of the Richmond Times-Dispatch described the work as "gripping" and thoroughly researched. In the Sixteenth Century Journal, Nate Probasco acknowledged Horn’s innovative viewpoint on the colony’s destiny, offering a compelling explanation to this early American enigma.
Conversely, Drew DeSilver from The Seattle Times provided a mixed critique, pointing out its dependence on conjecture and absence of novel hypotheses, yet recognizing it as a reliable overview of established information and theories. Barry M. Stentiford, writing in History: Reviews of New Books, also remarked on its reliance on speculation and interpretive assumptions.