Book Blurb:
In the year 1587, one hundred and seventeen colonists cast ashore on Roanoke Island off the coast of modern-day North Carolina. Their primary aim was to establish a permanent English colony to be exploited as a foothold into the New World. They failed. All souls were presumed lost, perhaps to violent ends, and their colony was relegated to infamy. Before this tragedy was discovered, a second, clandestine expedition of settlers was mounted and sent across the Great Sea to buttress that first colony’s attempt. Rumors that they endured supernatural occurrences, greed, jealousy, desperate passions, and a futile struggle for power linger. To now, their true fate remains unknown.
As recounted from the journals of two young colonists, A Parable Before Heathens reveals the same tale, entwining dissimilar perspectives of their destinies, and documenting this second expedition’s ultimate outcome.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/NX1j
Author Bio:
Dark. Lyrical. Modern. Comedic. Deeply satirical. Apolitical. Sardonic.
Not casual.
Little to no waiting.
Editorial Review:
“The push of darkness enveloped us in billowing sheets of black. It was constant and was possessed of the same presence of a taut mainsail in prevailing wind, ever straining for tart release.
We were fortunate. From our spot nearest the mainmast the bulkhead was swollen to its greatest height. I could see the light of a lantern as it swung and flickered there with the ceaseless rocking of the Emblema. Day or night, below deck, it perpetually burned and scented the air with its greasy pitch. One of my duties became to tend to its wick and fill, as oil is thick and fickle and dangerous whilst on the sea.”
Roanoke Island. One of the early American colony’s greatest mysteries, and tragedies, and this reviewer has all but grabbed this book, Thomas Steele’s “A Parable Before Heathens”, keen to return to the world of windswept isles and new colonies and ships sailing into the unknown. And Steele does not disappoint, with a masterful (if somewhat long!) tale of a second group of colonists that were sent to support the first. “A Parable Before Heathens” is told in dual point of view by teenage/youths Penelope and Alaster. The main narrative is effectively told through diary entries or in personal note form.
Penelope is an observer. Through her eyes the reader is shown the atmosphere, the secondary characters, the everyday concerns, and the personalities. Alaster is more practical, for example with commentary on the proposed settlement and how it is to be laid out. The planning and uncertainty inherent in such a journey is clear from the comments of both narrators. As the novel progresses, the content becomes more complex, with detailed interior thoughts and musings by both Penelope and Alaster. For a story set in the 1580s, the intricate word usage is perhaps appropriate, but given that both narrators are relatively young, the tone of their comments may be seen by some readers as “too adult”. Other readers may consider that even teenagers during those times would have by necessity been involved in adult matters, and they would have been exposed to a far more uncertain and harsh world.
“Our colony is shaped like a large wedge driven sharply into the landscape, angled obtusely from both mountain and water, and spread like a gaping wound. Primary discussion of both this layout and pragmatic design were held on the journey away from the Virginia Claimants, with allotments of flexibility left to appease the suitability of the site upon inspection. This was an oft discussed topic among the whole of the colonists, with particular emphasis given to the masons, farmers, carpenters, and other tradespeople concerned with the raising of our communal shelter and basic ecology for survival.”
As foreshadowed by the title, there are religious references and excerpts within the book. These become more pronounced as the story progresses, with Penelope in particular seeking comfort and guidance from her religious beliefs. It becomes apparent to the reader that Penelope is anxious about matters within the new colony, and this does mean that some of her diary entries delve into and ruminate on everyday matters others may find of limited concern or interest. Alaster’s commentary also becomes more intense. There are also supernatural themes, which add to the sense of mystery and confusion.
“Sleep did not come to me as relief, but as a bucking and biting mule, stubborn, steadfast in fits and starts, with hard pulls to reins, and sharp heels to the sides. I was in an unkempt state by the morning’s light and did not prepare myself nor tend to my dress before I rode down from my chambers, with halted clops, to our kitchen. I found both mother and father there, already awake.”
There are complex themes and language throughout the book. While some readers may welcome this level of detail and immersive approach, other readers may feel this 131 chapter story could have been more concisely told. The length of the novel means that the pacing is relaxed rather than quick. The ending of “A Parable Before Heathens” is true to the twists and turns of the novel, and the growing intensity of the narrators.
“A Parable Before Heathens” by Thomas Steele is an intricately plotted novel that immerses the reader in the mystery of the Roanoke Island colonists and the “what-ifs” as the author creates a detailed narrative set around a second set of colonists who are sent after the first. The highlight is the dual point of view mechanism and the diary entries by both Penelope and Alaster, leading the reader deeper and deeper into the intense minds of the narrators. A memorable read!
*****
"A Parable Before Heathens” by Thomas Steele receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
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