Winner of the the 1998 Ralph Waldo Emerson Award of the Phi Beta Kappa Society
King Philip's War, the excruciating racial war--colon... read full description
King Philip's War, the excruciating racial war--colon... read full description
reviews
Jul 25, 2011
Malcolm
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This is quite simply outstanding. King Philip's War – or whatever it should best be called – is not only one of the forgotten conflicts of American colonial history but of colonial history in all – but then so much indigenous resistance is written out of memory and our experiences of the past. Jill Lepore's concern is not with reconstructing what happened, but with exploring how the war was understood at the time, remembered after the event, and deployed in 19th and 20th century US history and p
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Mar 03, 2011
Kerry
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Jill Lepore’s book The Name of War provides a unique perspective on how we have come to understand the events and significance of King Philip’s War. Lepore clearly illustrates how sensational writing has affected the lasting interpretations of these events, incensing not only the people of the seventeenth century but continuing to outline the framework for how this violence is studied today.
In her introduction, Lepore states that “truth in war is relative.” Her analysis of the publi More...
In her introduction, Lepore states that “truth in war is relative.” Her analysis of the publi More...
Jul 08, 2009
Yveva
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so far I am really diggin' the introduction.
Prologue: English situated themselves as not Savages (like Indians) and not Cruel (like Spanish). They were worried about assimilating with Indians and becoming more savage, fighting this war would distance themselves from Indians, but to win they would have to commit savage acts. They had learned from other wars that by winning they would also be able to record the story of the war, a written record would be a way of winning the war all o More...
Prologue: English situated themselves as not Savages (like Indians) and not Cruel (like Spanish). They were worried about assimilating with Indians and becoming more savage, fighting this war would distance themselves from Indians, but to win they would have to commit savage acts. They had learned from other wars that by winning they would also be able to record the story of the war, a written record would be a way of winning the war all o More...
Jan 07, 2012
Tim
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Lepore's work here disappointed. She has obviously done substantial research, I just do not find her theoretical framework all that satisfying. Maybe I do not fancy books about "the worst fatal war in American history" that analyze language and memory and lack much human sympathy. A work that takes the "English" to task for not understanding the Wampanoag but seems fairly nonchalant in its lack of understanding (and frankly stereotypical portrayal) of the Puritan.
Oct 14, 2010
Kristin
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Interesting concepts about the creation of the American, rather than colonial, identity.
The book really isn't so much about the war, as it is about the literature that defines war. Specifically the literature used by the colonists and later Americans during the Jacksonian era.
I'd say it's more a historiography book rather than a history book.
The book really isn't so much about the war, as it is about the literature that defines war. Specifically the literature used by the colonists and later Americans during the Jacksonian era.
I'd say it's more a historiography book rather than a history book.
Jul 10, 2010
Corinne
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This book focuses on King Philip's War, of which I knew little about, and the literary and physical aspects of War. While the argument for the literary victory of the war got dry, it was interesting none the less. Also, every American should learn about King Philip's War as it really shows a lot about the founding of the country with the relation to Native Americans.
May 19, 2008
Ram
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"The colonists MUST have FELT, as the Indians' flaming arrows PENETRATED the SKINS of the white MAN'S houses, that they THEMSELVES WERE BEING PENETRATED by the DARK OTHERS whose own violence was now being WRITTEN ON the BODY as well as the LANDSCAPE in bold strokes."
If you like speculation and taking flimsy evidence and using it to put words in the mouths of historical actors, then you'll dig this book. Postmodern, literary techniques work sometimes to tell the stories of More...
If you like speculation and taking flimsy evidence and using it to put words in the mouths of historical actors, then you'll dig this book. Postmodern, literary techniques work sometimes to tell the stories of More...
Mar 01, 2011
Dan
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It's important to note that "The Name of War" is not a traditional history of King Philip's war. It is, rather an interpretive cultural history of the causes, contemporary effects and legacy of the 1675 conflict.
Lepore spends much of the book focusing on the written records left by the New England colonists and the lack of same by their Algonquian enemies. This leads her to somewhat stretched speculation as to the thoughts and motives of the Indians, but that much is forg More...
Lepore spends much of the book focusing on the written records left by the New England colonists and the lack of same by their Algonquian enemies. This leads her to somewhat stretched speculation as to the thoughts and motives of the Indians, but that much is forg More...
Jul 03, 2010
Laura
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Phenomenal analysis of the significance of identity politics in American history, mid-17th through mid-19th centuries. Book ambitiously ties a lot of chronology and seemingly disparate events together, and largely succeeds. The first section on the words used to win a war has some strikingly modern relevance.
Oct 18, 2010
Scs
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This was a great treatment not just of the historical happenings but of the significance of the way they were talked about. I particularly liked the fact that Lepore traced the significance of King Philip's War not just for those who experienced it but for generations after--and noted the uses of the war.
Aug 08, 2011
Jagad5
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I started reading this book after I found out that one of my ancestors was killed in King Philip's War at the Battle of the Great Swamp, December 1675. The first two thirds of the book was OK - how did the war start? what was each side's greivance? But the last third was awful.
Jun 17, 2010
Crossett
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An extensive history of King Phillip (Metacom) Sachem of the Wampanoag Indians of Mount Hope, RI, and the pivotal war that shaped the history of New England. -- Vanessa
Jan 31, 2010
Scott
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This was an unexpected find. Interesting on both historical and socialogical fronts. The emergence of literacy as a major theme was a surprise, and a revelation.
May 24, 2010
Gail
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Fills in lots of the "missing" history of New England- and the legacy of a war I never learned about in US history.
Mar 08, 2010
Lam
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This was a hard read for me, both because of the graphic descriptions of violence on the part of the English settlers and the Algonquians and because of the numerous quotations from original sources that retained the archaic spelling. It's an academic book, filled with information and interesting theories.
Sep 19, 2011
lola
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the one history book you read in college that you actually keep when you move out
Feb 26, 2008
Kristen
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Fascinating look at how this war helped the colonists define themselves. Some people say this is a revisionist interpretation, since it's somewhat sympathetic to King Phillip's cause. If you're interested in this war or this time period in American colonial history, it's not a bad idea to read this, then immediately read Nathaniel Philbrick's "Mayflower", which may be a bit more measured in its depiction of how the war played out (and whether King Phillip's motivations were noble).
Mar 31, 2008
keri
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In America in 1675 there was a war called King Philip's War. It was bloody, fueled by misunderstandings, and it established a legacy of White intolerance toward Native Americans. If you want to understand early colonial America, particularly how language shaped puritan identity and constructed the grounds for war against the "other" read this book. It's a heady book, but not as high-falutin' as you might think. Leopre is one of the most readable nonfiction writers I know.
Nov 14, 2011
Greg
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This took a while to get into but I think it is one of the best history books I have read ever. Period. The author takes certain themes of language, cultural identity, place, religion, and reactions to foreign cultures and weaves it together to try to explain how southern New England was changed by the war. She even takes the impact farther on past the immediate generation of the war and into generations beyond. Good stuff. Do yourself a favor and stick with it.
Mar 20, 2008
Robert
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A fascinating description of this early american war. She presents various perspectives and effects on different peoples, including participants on both sides, harmed Indian "bystanders" and subsequent american viewpoints whose recall of the noble native did not preclude their continued abuse. Her description of savagery on both sides was fair and sympathetic to the victims without her becoming an apologist or rationalizing those heinous acts.
Jul 25, 2007
Don
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Lepore takes us on the original American journey of war. As members of the Massachusetts Bay Colony moved further westward, the once welcoming Algonquin Indians waged war. The war, at first decried for its tactics, became the mode for the invaders and brutality led to brutality. Lepore argues that this war created the American identity, this war waged 100 years before the American revolution.
A wonderful read.
A wonderful read.
Nov 28, 2011
Jordan
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I found myself wanting more of the historical background of this event than just the philosophical waxings of the author on how war is written by the victors etc. etc. The author's thoughts on the American Indenity however were quite fascinating but overall this book frequently loses my attention in what I found to be several side tangents more suitable to a Hobbes or Voltaire book than a historical non-fiction.
May 31, 2011
Scott
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This is a very good book about a topic I knew nothing about, King Philip's War in New England in 1675-6. It's not just about the facts, it's about the making of the American character through a first experience with all out war with Native Americans, and how the nature of a war is shaped by what people write about it.
Dec 02, 2007
Vanessa
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though the title suggests it, this book is not about King Philip's War--the battle between Wampanoags and white settlers in Mass--it is rather about how the narrative of history--through texts and plays--and collective memory of the conflict have been used to shape identity in the centuries since.
Sep 11, 2008
Eleanor
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I read this about 4 years ago and am still thinking about it. Not an easy read but contains lots of insight and lessons.
Apr 08, 2008
Matthew
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I knew I was going to love this book when the author quoted Jeanette Winterson on the first page.
Jun 03, 2010
Seth
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very interesting historiography of an incredibly bloody period in american history.
