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Liked It3 of 4 members found this review helpful “You’ve heard the story of the Pilgrims and the Native Americans, and how they joined together for a first Thanksgiving. But how much do you really know? I always consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about American history, but I was surprised at how very little I actually knew about the...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “'Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War', by Nathaniel Philbrick. Finished reading 13 March 2008. 2/5 stars |
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“Didn't finish. Thanksgiving passed and I lost interest.”
Curtis H wrote this review 13 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“For most of us the story of the founding of America starts with the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock and jumps to the American Revolution. Mayflower seeks to fill in the gaps in our knowledge of what was a vital time in our history. Philbrick uses his historical research to provide anecdotes and insight into the background of the times and personalities of the Pilgrims and Indians. Three years prior to the Pilgrims’ arrival in 1620 the native people had been devastated by a plague which killed ninety percent of the population. The local chief or sachem was wise enough to see the settlers as potential allies against neighboring tribes who were eyeing the lands of their weakened neighbor. In return his people provided the means that helped the Pilgrims survive their first years. Surprisingly the first Thanksgiving lives up to the image we have of a peaceful gathering of both American Indians and English settlers over a meal that represented the bounty of the new land. So began a time of relative peace, cooperation, and inter-dependence that would explode into one of the deadliest wars ever fought on American soil just fifty years later:
Melanie D wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
a conflict known as “King Phillip’s War.” The sadly ironic fact is that many of those who fought, both settlers and Indians, were the sons of those who sat down peacefully at that first Thanksgiving. As any good read Mayflower has memorable characters, exciting events, and relevance for us today.
”“Captivating! could not put the book down”
Paul M wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Excellent book. Philbrick describes the courage of our Pilgrim ancestors and the shameful behaviour they demonstrated toward native Americans who they stole from and brutally murdered. An interesting footnote, Plymouth rock is not so much a rock, as it is rocks. Get the book and check it out.”
Douglas E wrote this review Thursday, November 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“great book about our first american pioneers. well written, conscious raising, and interesting. one of the interesting points is that our first ancestors - in trying to escape religious persecution, where not very religiously tolerant in turn. ironic. ”
Josh P wrote this review Saturday, November 21 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“If you are looking for a good book to get in the Thanksgiving spirit, this is it. I learned a lot about the pilgrims and their relationship with the local american indians.”
Michael B wrote this review Wednesday, November 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“lots of eye openers to how the pilgrims where treated and how they treated the natives. very informative”
Joe R wrote this review Thursday, November 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Readable history. I didn't remember any of this from school, so it filled a necessary gap. The research was well documented and presentation seemed unbiased. I just ordered the junior version for school.”
Annie O wrote this review Sunday, October 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Covers the history of Plymoth from inseption through the Indian wars. The story of the Mayflower and the transport is actually relatively minor to the overall history. The relations between the indians and the settlers amnd how it changed through the three or so generations covered is facinating as is the assention of Boston as the areas colinizing power. In the end the book doesn’t really explore the mnyth of the Mayflower, the voyage over from England, nor the actual early years of Plymoth in a satisfying manner.”
Jim G wrote this review Friday, October 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
