The Legend of Prince Madoc and the White Indians--Book Review

We hope you will find at least a book or two to read from these selections.

Guest Reviewers

The Northern Lights: The True Story of the Man Who Unlocked the Secrets of the Aurora Borealis. Lucy Jago. Book Review by Janet.

Seventy Times Seven and Beyond: Mystery of the Second Chance. Monty Christensen and Roberta L. Kehle. Book review by Uriah.

Dune. Frank Herbert. Book review by Rourke.

The Children of First Man. James Alexander Thom. Book review by Jan.

The Legend of Prince Madoc and the White Indians. Dana Olson. Book review by Jan.

Blue Jacket: Warrior of the Shawnees. John Sugden. Book review by Jan.

Below are selections from the home site, Book Reader's Traverse. See what Tracey, Joel, and Jane have to say about the books they read.

Hello - my name is Jan - and I am a recovering non-reader. I wasn't born a non-reader - I used to be a very respectable reader once upon a time - I would simply devour books, reading something significant each and every day. But somewhere along the line my time and attention gradually but eventually just faded away, and before I knew it I was no longer a respectable reader. Books I sincerely meant to read just laid around unopened, and gathered dust, or became lost entirely. I wasn't even giving my junk mail a cursory glance. But, some very good friends have finally brought this problem to my full attention, and I promise you all here and now that I will fight to become a respectable reader once again! I will dig deep and I will rediscover my time and attention! I will set things aright once again with all of the pages and volumes that can and will be mine once more! I promise that I will reach out and pick up that unopened book and I will experience all of the joys and thrills and magic inherent within those pages. And I promise that I will faithfully share my rediscovery efforts with each of you through this wonderful web site. Thank you. Thank you all so very much.

Respectfully yours, Jan Bodine

The Legend of Prince Madoc and the White Indians. Dana Olson. (An Indiana author.) Olson Enterprises. 1987.

Book review by Jan Bodine
When we studied American History as school children, there was a huge section of history that was quite simply omitted. The history of the indigenous American Indian tribes; the stories of their lives, alliances and battles is a rich treasure trove of information. (Walum Olum is a unique written history of the Delaware people.) Of course, this historic information was omitted from our history books simply because it did not involve our “European” forefathers. Or did it….? The adventures of one Prince Madoc may very well be the best kept secret in our ‘European’ American History.

In the year 1170, Prince Madoc of Wales sailed out across the Atlantic Ocean with several hearty ships and a few hundred brave souls to find and colonize a land of peace and calm. (Wales was anything but peaceful or calm at that time.) He sailed not once, but twice and possibly even a third time, and this was over 300 years prior to the famous voyage of Christopher Columbus. There is evidence of a number of stone fortifications (American Indians of this era were mound builders, not stone masons) ranging from the Mobile, Alabama area all the way up to Fourteen Mile Creek near Jeffersonville, Indiana, just upstream from the Falls of the Ohio. Many of these stone forts bear remarkable similarities to the stone castles where Prince Madoc lived in Wales. The final fort was an immense and impressive fortification, located near the Falls of the Ohio; it is now commonly referred to as The Gibraltar of Indiana. This book (I found my copy at the new State Park/Interpretive Center on the Ohio River in Clarksville, Indiana) details a great deal of research and data including some photos and sketches of maps. It also brings forth many legends from many sources for your consideration. And what a great story this is--full of the very best fodder for our imaginations including: Civil War, political intrigue, seeking religious freedom, courage, high adventure and even a great lost treasure. And who among us does not enjoy a great story.

Jan.