The Brief and True Report of Temperance Flowerdew

A Novel

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Pub Date 29 Sep 2020 | Archive Date 14 Jan 2021

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Description

The remarkable story of America’s original colony, Jamestown, through the lens of two pioneering women who ensured its survival during those early treacherous years.

Determined to set the historical record straight, and clear her conscience, Temperance Flowerdew—the wife of Virginia’s first two governors—puts quill to paper, recounting the hardships that nearly brought the Jamestown colony to its knees, and the extraordinary sacrifice of her servant girl, Lily.

When she stepped aboard the Falcon in 1609, Temperance Flowerdew was not only setting sail from England to the distant shores of America, she was embarking upon a future of opportunity. She didn’t yet know how she would make her mark, but in this new place she could do or be whatever she wanted.

Willing as she is to brave this new world, Temperance is utterly ill-equipped to survive the wilderness; all she knows is how to live inside the pages of adventure and philosophy books. Loyally at her side, Lily helps Temperance weather pioneer life. A young woman running from lifelong accusations of witchcraft, Lily finds friendship with Temperance and an acceptance of her psychic gifts. Together, they forge paths within the community: Temperance attempts to advise the makeshift government, while Lily experiences the blossoming of first love.

But as the harsh winter approaches, Lily intuitively senses a darkness creep over the colony and the veneer of civilized life threatens to fall away—negotiations with the Indians grow increasingly hostile and provisions become scarce. Lily struggles to keep food on the table by foraging in the woods and being resourceful. Famine could mean the end of days. It’s up to Lily to save them both, but what sacrifice will be enough to survive?

A transporting and evocative story, The Brief and True Report of Temperance Flowerdew is a fiercely hopeful novel—a portrait of two intrepid women who choose to live out their dreams of a future more free than the past.

The remarkable story of America’s original colony, Jamestown, through the lens of two pioneering women who ensured its survival during those early treacherous years.

Determined to set the historical...


Advance Praise

“Denise Heinze has written a stirring novel about America’s first pioneers, with particular attention to the women whose pluck and forbearance made it all possible. Temperance Flowerdew’s ‘Brief and True Report’ retells the story of America’s first colony, established by English settlers in 1609, all but destroyed by Powhatan Indians twenty years later, then rescued from oblivion by remnants of Britain’s exploratory fleet. In that saga, Heinze manages to preserve the stilted language of the period with a storytelling appetite for narrative, complete with native savagery, thwarted romance, the harsh realities of seventeenth-century ocean travel, and the unpredictable currents that made such explorations so daunting and so frequently fatal.”

-C. Michael Curtis, Fiction Editor Emeritus, The Atlantic

“Denise Heinze has written a stirring novel about America’s first pioneers, with particular attention to the women whose pluck and forbearance made it all possible. Temperance Flowerdew’s ‘Brief and...


Available Editions

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ISBN 9781982598648
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Featured Reviews

The Brief and True Report of Temperance Flowerdew by Denise Heinze is an interesting historical fiction novel that depicts the harsh environment and realities that the settlers of Jamestown faced during the harsh circumstances they faced trying to forge a new life in uncharted lands.
This book is written in third person as well as first person/journals written by Temperance. There is no easy way to describe how difficult this situation was for everyone then. This was especially true for women. Here the reader gets a first hand glimpse into the struggles and difficulties faced by women in Jamestown colony.

The characters were overall interesting, however I had more interest and sympathy for Lily (Temperances’s maid) vs Temperature herself. I felt she had more redeeming characteristics. I would have enjoyed finding out more in-depth information about these women then what was depicted, however it was still an enjoyable and informational read.

4/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

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Temperance Flowerdew (1590-1628) was an early settler of the Jamestown Colony and its significant member. She was wife of two Governors of Virginia. However, this story is mostly concentrated on two years 1609-1610. She was one of the few survivors of the brutal winter of those two years, known as the Starving Time, which killed almost ninety percent of Jamestown’s inhabitants. This book is a dedication to such historical figures forgotten by history. “For all the women gone missing from history.”

1609, Lily, Temperance’s maid, has premonition of storm coming their ship’s way, which sails for Jamestown. Temperance is well-read and she prepared for the voyage by “consuming all the maps, books, and pamphlets about the New World…” With her knowledge and Lily’s help, she charts the path of the storm. Only to be dismissed by a narrow-minded and opinionated Master of the ship. Two of the nine ships survived the storm.

“The utopia they had nursed in their imaginations for months, even years, was little more than a stick-built village on the edge of nowhere.” Jamestown is not what they imagined. Nevertheless, Temperance sees “the elixir of opportunity. (…) With the feelings came a torrent of thoughts, ideas, plans for the future – both mine and Jamestown’s. Where others saw deprivation, I envisioned abundance.”

She meets the legendary John Smith, de facto governor of Jamestown. He favors “exploration over husbandry.” What strikes her about him right away is him being a force of nature. She hopes “to emulate this remarkable man, not antagonize him.” She knows he is the person she needs to ally herself with if she hopes “to gain leverage in the settlement.”

This engrossing story weaves strong characters with historical events of clashing with the natives, drought, and siege by Powhatan Indian over winter time, bringing the starving time.

Temperance is a remarkable character. She seems to be a force of nature herself. Someone to reckon with. She is strong woman. She is smart. She knows how to use her knowledge to her advantage. But she also recognizes her weaknesses. She is not that quick with her hands and home chores. That’s why she needs Lily. Together, they form an incredible bond, bond of friendship and reliance on each other in order to survive the uncharted territories.

This is a quick read. However, the story is so interesting and the heroine is so intriguing that I wished it took more pages to tell the rest of her story.

From the first lines of the story, you can tell that it has been crafted by a very talented writer.

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Very interesting story of Jamestown and Temperance Flowerdew. A young woman from England who travels to new world and finds herself in a struggling settlement that will try her in ways she never thought possible. Amazing story of perserverance against unimaginable odds.

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I have searched for Historical Fiction based on Jamestown but haven't found very much that looked interesting. This came along through Net Galley so I was very happy to receive an ARC. I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this book and the details it gave about the "Starving Time' endured by those early inhabitants. So much of history is viewed thru the male perspective it was nice to see this from a woman's point of view. The suffering of every day life, babies, cooking, cleaning, husbands etc. was magnified by the desperate need to survive. Much was written about Temperance's education and knowledge but of course none was every really put to much use. I really didn't expect the outcome to be what it was, and wished that something good could have happened in the end - can't say much without adding spoilers. Interesting story and historical content.

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The focus on the reading about Temperance Flowerdew felt like a time-travel. We learn through the story of an individual the whole story of early settlers of Jamestown. Everything is coherent and lightly tinted by a writing style echoing the period. this is easy to read, yet the writing makes you feel observing like an invisible spy.
The bravery and adventures of early settlers are always fascinating, but this book makes them real. A myriad of details helps you to be there, and the unfolding of tragic events contributes to help to describe how life was so difficult. I will buy and use extracts to teach. students in their 20s. They are interested by the fate and destiny of early settlers, not just the cliché. This book will be very useful and something they will remember.
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. all opinions are mine.

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Temperance Flowerdew and her maid Lily are on board a ship headed for a new life. A new country, Jamestown.
On the way the ships are separated due to a storm. The ship carrying her intended is lost.
At Jamestown life is precarious. There are Indians all around the settlement.
During her time there her and Lily sure all the indignities that first settlers go through. Raids from the Indians, drought, lack of water, starvation, death, illness and many more trials.
Through all of these trials Temperance remains strong.
When Writing her story she is saddened by the fact that stories of histories are only half told. The men are honored and given acclaim. The women are seldom mentioned.
This is an amazing story. Interesting and keeps you wanting to proceed through the whole book.
Excellent read!

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Thank you to, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

As an early settler of Jamestown, Temperance Flowerdew endured the harshest of times in 1609-1610 as the settlement struggled to survive. She tells of her fond relationship with her maid Lily, who without she would not have survived. The aristocratic life style left behind in England ill-prepared the settlers for what they faced in the new world.

This is a historical version of Jamestown that is more intimate than most. It picks up on some of the smallest ironies that perhaps only a woman would notice. Certainly the supreme stubbornness of its leaders comes across, and are considerably to blame for how events unfolded. This is a story of the mistakes and dire hardships that almost destroyed Jamestown, but also of her determination and strength to survive against the odds.

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This story - written primarily from the perspective of Temperance Flowerdew, best known as the wife of the first two governors of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia - is haunting. It starkly illustrates the violent reality of the colonial experience, taking readers across the unforgiving ocean and through the brutal starving time in the winter of 1609-1610. Those who survived endless tragedies were left to battle dreadful memories for the rest of their days. I was enthralled by the recent PBS presentation of Jamestown, and this book served as both a prequel, through flashback sequences, as well as a sequel to that fictional program. For as tragic as this tale was, there was also such hope in the loving and loyal relationship that formed between mistress and servant as they fought together to survive the harshness of their new home. This story is informative about the time and place - revealing shocking historical details I was unaware of - and also tremendously sad. Ultimately, Temperance explains her purpose for writing her report: "I wonder what goes missing when the women are nowhere to be found as actors in history. It is but half of the story."

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This was a really interesting story from a fresh perspective of the incredible struggles faced during the settlement and emergence of Jamestown. The best and worst of humanity can be seen during the most trying of times. I had more interest and empathy for Lily than I did for Temperence though both of their characters had strength and personality that kept me turning the page. I would read more from this author and find myself more interested in the setting of this book and might look to read more in the future.

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Heinze delivers an interesting perspective of early Jamestown settlement. Two women survive the passage to the New world and endure the harrowing Starving Time, the winter of 1609-1610. John Smith and Pocahontas make appearances and it's intriguing to read the author's interpretation of both. The dialogue was appropriate for 17th century Virginia. It's a good historical novel.

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Great book! Absolutely fun and easy read. Would highly recommend to anyone that is a historical fiction fan!

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Well written novel about the Jamestown settlement and a woman Temperance Flowerdew .So interesting to go back in a time in our history.We are introduced to the people who struggled for survival there’.Really interesting read the characters come alive.# netgalley#blackstone publishing

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I received this from Netgalley.com.

"A fiercely hopeful novel-a portrait of two intrepid women who choose to live out their dreams of a future more free than the past." A story of hope and terrible tragedy, it's incredible what these people endured - and died for - so that a colony would be established in America.

The characters were dynamic and well versed. Reading about their daily life and their moment-by-moment struggle just to survive was inspiring. I found this an interesting and very readable story.

4☆

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As an Australian with little knowledge of America's early history, I found this fictional account of Temperance Flowerdew and her early days in Jamestown quite fascinating.

The eventual wife of two Governors of Virgina, Temperance arrived in Jamestown in May 1609 as part of the third supply mission to the new colony. The winter of 1609-10 was a particularly brutal one and the influx of new settlers put strains on the stores of food put by for the winter. Explorer and colony leader John Smith was sent back to England with a severely wounded leg just before winter and the local Indians, the Powhatan had become alarmed at the increase in the colony's population and tired of the colonists stealing the corn the tribe would need to get them through the winter. A combination of Indian raids and siege and poor management and planning would result in starvation and death of over eighty percent of the Jamestown population of five hundred.

This is the fictional account of how Temperance arrived in Jamestown and survived that winter to go on to become the wife of two Governors, give birth to three children and eventually become a very wealthy woman. It's written the form of a report by Temperance for her children, not long before she died at the age of 38. It's always interesting to see history written from a woman's perspective where the small things that make up day to day life and survival are just as important as the bigger picture. Temperance is a strong clever woman but her upbringing as a lady made her ill-prepared for the hard physical environment of the new colony. In the novel, she has fortunately made a good choice in Lily, the maid she brought out with her from England. Despite her youth, Lily is both intrepid and resourceful and together they form a strong bond that sustains them through some tough times. It's an intriguing and moving read and one I recommend if you're interested in this era of history.

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First of all, I want to say I would be a horrible pioneer. I would have been on the first shop back to England. That hardship holds no appeal to me. My hat is off to these early pioneers. Jamestown has always been particularly interesting to me as there is so little knowledge about what happened there. This settlement didn't make it.

Temperance Flowerdew's version of what happened certainly could have happened. It actually makes perfect sense and those actions have taken place in other times. The important thing about Temperance's message is the story of women gets lost. No one writes them down, no one remembers, no one acknowledges how important their stories are, they are just lost in time.

That's the most important thing to get out of this book is that the roles women played in our history are valuable and should be remembered. The U.S. never would have colonized without the help and support of women. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

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The Brief and True Report of Temperance Flowerdew has won my affection in so many ways. I am having trouble describing why I am so intrigued by this account of the original Jamestown colony. Yes, it is based on historical fact - I learned so much and was compelled to look up even more about some of the events. Yes, the point of view is unique because it is a female main character and so much of our nations early history has been recorded by men. But I really must fall back on the realistic and accurate descriptions in the rich writing that made me feel all the sights and fears surrounding the new world for Miss Flowerdew and her maid Lily. I was compelled to discuss some of the instances described with my friends and family. This book will leave you thinking, I highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

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Reviewed for blog tour at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

I couldn’t wait to dive into this, I was loved the eye-catching, yet simplistic cover and was intrigued by the title – I love the name Temperance Flowerdew, isn’t it marvellous? I loved the bond and close friendship between Temperance and Lily, they are both women far from home and having to survive some of the harshest of environments, with so much hanging over their heads.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to Temperance, and learning about what life was like then in such a difficult time and place, how harsh and hostile just day to day living was, is very striking and eye-opening. This actually reminds me of one of my recently discovered new favourite boxsets; Jamestown, a lot of what Temperance must live through and what she and Lily experience is very alike to what occurs in the show, so if you love that series then I can guarantee you will love this book.
I loved that this book is all about the women, this is Temperance and Lily’s story, this is their experiences, their harsh realities. They are both incredible women, Lily has a black mark against her having been tainted with the rumour of Witchcraft – as we all know women labelled a Witch were brutalised and treated horrifically – Lily is a smart and loyal friend, she helps the more lady-like and gentle Temperance and soon they are warily treading the path in a new life. Temperance is a calming figure in a frosty community, she has determination and great dignity she soon entangles her self in with the local government.
This is a wonderful and inspirational story of survival, love, honour, friendship, loyalty and the fight for freedom. The characters are marvellously crafted, they show the true cost of trying to find a new life, the two women battle darkness to find the light with bravery and courage.
The Brief and True Report of Temperance Flowerdew is a blinding, evocative and beautifully written tale of freedom, truth and hardship, it’s a book which gives a fresh new voice to a period in history that isn’t as well voiced as other times.

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The Brief and True Report of Temperance Flowerdew REVIEW
As a quick reminder, here is my rating structure:

1 star: Did not finish
2 Stars: Finished but I do not recommend
3 Stars: Liked but could use some improvements
4 Stars: Loved this book!
5 Stars: Rare. The unput-down-able, binge read obsession.
he Brief and True Report of Temperance Flowerdew instagram pic
My Thoughts About The Brief and True Report of Temperance Flowerdew
The Brief and True Report of Temperance Flowerdew is a historical fiction novel about the Jamestown settlement and a real life historical figure we’ve never heard of named, Temperance Flowerdew.

This book serves as a stark reminder of the forgotten sacrifices of so many women throughout history. They seem to only cling to the edges of our history lessons, when in reality, they were the life giving, backbone of most stories.

With its slightly paranormal elements, TBATROTF is a phenomenally well written account from many different angles of the “starving time,” a winter in which the English inhabitants of Jamestown were reduced from 500 to about 60, temperance being one of the survivors.

The best part about this book was the writing style. While focusing mostly on Temperance and her maid Lily, intermittently the POV would shift to a different character, if only briefly to tell that person’s story or to give vital information.

The result of that chapter would give glimpses of how others actions, lives, and deaths affected Temperance and Lily. While at times disorienting to begin a new chapter in the thoughts of a stranger, I would almost always be in wonder as their particular story reached its end.

It’s an original way to approach a story and allowed the reader to see what was happening from all different perspectives.

This is a quick read, at less than 200 pages. Perfect for this fall weather, as darkness seems to loom throughout the book like an impending storm. October reading at its best.

not a fan of…
I really wish the book had been longer. I wanted to understand more of what happened, but I understand that there just isn’t a lot of source material to reference because women’s lives and accomplishments simply weren’t recorded. The book could have been expanded if we talked about Temperance’s husbands and brothers, since their records were left behind, but that ignores the premise of the book.

This is Temperance writing to give Lily a voice because she recognizes that even though she, herself, will be given a very minute amount of historical consideration, Lily will be given none.

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This is the first book I read that surrounds the Jamestown settlement, and it fascinated me.

The author writes the story in a nice manner where few passages are in the form of journal entries of Temperance. She also switches the focus from Temperance to other members of the settlement. At times, we also get the perspective from the natives. There are many moments that stand out in the story. Some of the scenes are packed with action, like the siege where the settlers get attacked. I was at the edge of my seat when Lily traps Bruce with the mushrooms after the way he treats her. I also enjoyed some storylines, like the one between Henry and Priscilla.

Temperance is nice in the lead, where we see her adjusting to the new life. I loved her friendship with Lily. In fact, to me Lily was the highlight of the story. She received strange premonitions and few consider her a witch in the tale. We also get appearances from the famous people during this time, like John Smith and Pocahontas. Cord, Percy, and Nancy were also memorable characters in the supporting role.

At times, the story is so raw and heart-wrenching that it is difficult to digest. What starts as a dream, turns into a nightmare for many as they starve for food. The author does not shy away from some of the horrors that the inhabitants had to resort to for food and shelter. I feel like I learnt a lot about the timeline after reading the book.

Overall, this was a gripping tale about survival, endurance and faith and I liked it.

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One of the best re-telling of living in Jamestown during the early years. The excitement and anticipation of venturing to the “New World” crashes on the shores of a settlement facing deprivations and eventual starvation. How the settlers survived a harsh winter in spite of ongoing loss and grief is told in such vivid language. Having visited Jamestown quite a few times this part of its history is rarely recounted as more than a “starving winter”.
The social expectations of class/sex that followed the settlers from England, the greed and cruelty of fellow Englishmen leaving them without the supplies they brought, and conflicts that have occurred with the Nations already living there are not shied away from in this story. It’s still filled with love, hope and great sacrifices. The historical facts and persons represented are both well researched and recounted very well. I will definitely be re-reading this book and looking for it on Audible books. The main story of two women’s love and loyalty and ultimate sacrifice broke my heart—but the hope held within it shows that Hope can triumph in the midst of horrendous tragedy. I highly recommend this book. I asked for a review from #NetGalley and am writing an honest review. #TheBriefandTrueReportofTemperanceFlowerdew

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This was a quite read, but was packed with powerful characters and a story that I couldn't stop reading about. I'm always a fan of historical fiction, and I love this time period, so I was easily intrigued by this book. I liked the message that women's stories are important and shouldn't just be lost to time.

This story has truly made it clear to me that I am not made of tough enough stuff to have survived what these early settlers survived. I am thankful for what they did so that I did not have to!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

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True to its name, The Brief and True Report of Temperance Flowerdew, is a short account of Temperance Flowerdew after she left her life of luxury to travel across the ocean to the remote town of Jamestown in the New World.

The story is told in hindsight as Temperance is writing down her memories of the time as she knows she is dying and won't be around to tell her tale to her children. It focuses on Temperance and her young servant girl, Lily, during the winter of 1609-1610, also known as the "Starvng Time" when most of the population in Jamestown died from starvation. Conflicts with the local Indian population, greedy fellow settlers, and harsh weather are just some of the dangers in Jamestown and the two women must work hard and smart to survive.

Denise Heinze's writing is wonderful and it's clear she did her research. I was hooked the entire time! My only issue with the book is that I wish it were longer! Highly recommended!

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