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.

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.