Another great book by Nathaniel Philbrick. I read his In The Heart of the Sea...5 stars...see my review.
Mayflower reads very well with lots of action. Its 462 pages plus some B/W pictures of some of the people,maps, equipment and places told about in this book. There is a huge amount of notes and a great bibliography where readers can get more information. The actual reading of the book is 361 pages. It reads fast. I read it in a little over 2 days. This is a great book..just look at the almost 200 five star ratings on Amazon!
In high school history I had a one day lesson, a little about the Mayflower, the Pilgrims and Puritans and some of the New England Indian tribes of the early to mid 1600s. Just a speck of history.
Nathaniel Philbrick goes much, much deeper into the Mayflower and the different Pilgrims and Puritans and many more Indian tribes and the Mayflower Compact. We see the Pilgrims trying to get religious freedom in the new world, yet not being open to other religions. We see the differences in the Puritan, Pilgrims and Quakers and how they really did not get along very well due to differences in religion and how each were governed. We see the different crops planted by the native Americans. lobstering, catching of game, and fishing to survive. Also the role of using Herring fish as fertilizer is shown. The Governors of Plymouth and the military commanders are shown.Also the King Philip war is shown and the eventual killing of the menacing "Indian King" King Philip. Also the great deeds of Benjamin Church in the Indian wars who was a believer of allowing the use of friendly Indians to help fight against the warrior attacking Indian tribes rather than Captain Samuel Mosley who believed the only good Indian was a dead Indian. We see the many massacres of both whites and Indians.
Also how the Indians actually did save the starving original Pilgrims with their corn, game, fish and lobster as the crops the pilgrims had planted did not do well in the new world, as it was very late in the year and cold. The Pilgrims would of starved to death. We see the huge death toll from disease and little food of the original Pilgrims and the massive percentage of New England colony people killed and Indians killed in the Indian Wars.( over 8% and up to 80% respectfully) A much greater percent of the population killed than the Civil War or any of the wars the US later had.
I won't ruin the book with more description. Just say there is much, much more. There is probably tid bits of information you never heard about or information with a differnt slant than taught in school.
A fantastically well researched book, rich in description and action. Mayflower 5 stars and recommended. I liked Nathaniel Philbrick's In The Heart of the Sea and Mayflower so much I bought his books... Sea of Glory and the Last Stand and will review.
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The Pilgrims had stumbled on the power of capitalism. Although the fortunes of the colony still teetered precariously in the years ahead, the inhabitants never again starved.Highlighted by 783 Kindle readers- By the spring, 52 of the 102 who had originally arrived at Provincetown were dead.Highlighted by 689 Kindle readers
- And then, at daybreak on Thursday, November 9, 1620, after sixty-five days at sea, they saw land.Highlighted by 585 Kindle readers
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