This book provides an overview of the history of Jamestown which was only in existence as a town during the 17th century. The book gives both the political and social history (i.e. discovery and way of life) of Jamestown, and shows how its history was both similar to and different from 17th century England. The final chapter covers various celebrations every 50 years up through 1957. The book's weakness in its final chapter is that it talks about celebrations and research which have occurred until the present without clearly stating the date the book was written which was around 1990. The 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown was celebrated in 2007. Moreover, considerable research has been done since then, described in Jamestown, the Buried Truth by William M. Kelso, head archaeologist of the Jamestown Rediscovery Project, published in 2006.

Mr. Billings' book contains a useful chronology and lists of chief executives (1607-1699) and Speakers of the House of Burgesses (1643-1699).

The quality of the illustrations is poor. ( )