Tidewater: a realistic retelling of Pocahontas and the Jamestown colony

Tidewater by Libbie Hawker is a fictionalized story of historical events. In 1607, three ships arrived on the coast of Virginia to establish the Jamestown Colony. To the Real People, the Tidewater is their rightful home. To England, it is a fertile land filled with promise. Rumored to be rich with silver and gold, they stake their claim. However, the men of Jamestown struggle in this new and John Smith knows the answer to their survival is with the Real People. While both sides strive to achieve their own ends, a friendship is forged between Pocahontas, the daughter of the great chief, Powhatan, and John Smith. Their friendship brings a fragile peace that can be broken with the tiniest tremor. Pocahontas grows from a small child to a young woman in a time of upheaval and uncertainty. 

In her author’s notes, Ms. Hawker wanted to write a story as close to the historical facts and as away from the myth as possible. Most of what we “know” about the events of Jamestown and the friendship between Smith and Pocahontas is largely from Smith himself. Most historians have discounted his accounts as exaggerations. What was Pocahontas’ real story? Tidewater does a great job giving the reader insight into the life and society of the Real People and the events from their perspective. Ms. Hawker does not shy away from the cruel attitudes of the English toward the natives, who foolishly believed that the Real People had nothing to teach them. Tidewater is an in-depth story with many layers to the life of these historical people and their conflicts. I highly recommend Tidewater. 

Tidewater is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.