New Historical Fiction set on the coast of Connecticut

The new novel Will Poole's Island is based along the coast of Connecticut. Tim Weed brings to life a vivid young protagonist who interacts with the local Native American tribes and eventually finds his adventures on the shoals of Nantucket and beyond. 

Will Poole’s Island captures some of the best elements of historical fiction, but also delves into the world of mysticism and the native culture that existed before the colonial settlers landed in New England.  

Will Poole is an adventure seeking colonial boy who sees the world beyond the strict and often confining world of early Puritan based colonial settlers of New England. He is an orphan that now lives with his guardian, Overlock, who his former servant. While Will tries to steer clear of Overlock and his tedious chores, puritan lessons at the meetings house, and the strict social code of conduct of the New Meadow Plantation, Will has been outside the walls and into the woods. There he meets an indian seer, Squamiset who is a wanted man among the colonists. As Will befriends Squimest - he  realizes how much there is to learn about the spiritual understanding that brings harmony to the woods, the sea, and the natural world. Eventually, Will is accused of fraternising the with this outlaw and is punished. When he is able to escape, Will realizes that he must put his faith and his life in the hands of the wise Squamiset. As they run through the coastline of New England, fleeing the colonist and seeking guidance and help from different tribes, these two unlikely protagonists rush headlong into adventure, brotherhood, and a new found sense of a spiritualism that is being banished by the ever growing colonial population.

Will Poole’s Island is more than a coming of age story, it does a few things remarkably well. Starting this book, you foresee a young Will Poole and his coming of age experience. And simply put, that is what this book might feel like for a bit. The surprise, dare I say revelation in Will’s character development is not only his coming of age, but his spiritual awakening. This is important to this story as Squimeset begins teaching Will how to see the natural world, how to step out of the old world views, slow time down, blend into the world of nature, use the resources that are around him, and even believe wholeheartedly that there is a spiritual essence in all things. He teaches him about Manitoos and communicating with spirits and the heavens. It builds the foundation for Will’s desire to pull away from the colonists, to see beauty in the traditions and the lives of the indian tribes and eventually never turn back. Weed uses these mystical elements to pull us away from the cliches of colonial life and into a natural mysticism that authenticates the spiritual subplot. .

The next element which I think is very important to this book is growing tide of colonization that is coming. As the story unfolds, Will Poole’s Island does turn into a fast moving adventure story. It is fraught with a sense of urgency, desperate decisions, and connections that continually bring suspense and drama to the narrative. While Overlock and Governor Rockingham feel a bit one dimensional, they do serve their purpose as the never-bending vision of puritan corruption, never living outside the bounds of a heaven or hell.  Beneath the plot there is also a growing dread that the incoming colonies are growing, pushing tribes out of their villages, causing plagues, and taking advantage negotiations and trading. Knowing in hindsight what is coming, there comes a dread that a traditional and long standing relationship with nature is about to change forever.

This book is well written and because of that, there is not a lot of wasted description or long passages about history. I admire the economy of language and the craftsmanship that makes this book very digestible by anyone interested in a good story. Nathaniel Hawthorne said that “easy reading is hard writing” and that is evident in this book.

Themes in novels can be important. Some of the most important themes are character, time, and place. In this novel, the natural world and place are the elements that make this novel vivid and emotional. Like Howard’s End and the essence of that house, this book realizes some places (not matter how much time is spent there) can hold a significant cathartic change in the characters. As Will Poole moved across this narrative, as the story concludes, the reader is left with a longing to find that place, that moment when everything is right and the everything is possible. It is a longing we all search for spiritually, geographically, and emotionally. This book proves that oppression, obstacles, fate, and the world we live in should not stop us from seeking that place. If we can’t find it right now, walk in the shoes of Will Poole and rediscover that lost island in your life. It will inspire you. Ron Samul - New London, Connecticut June 6, 2014