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The People Called Shakers
For 35 years, the author of this book has been a devoted student of the history, beliefs, and ways of The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, better known as the Shakers. Out of his extensive research into manuscripts and primary sources and his conversations with friends in present-day Shaker communities has come a warm, illuminating history, the most thorough ever written on these pious, humble people and the distinct impression they made on American life.
The book opens with an introductory assessment of the Shaker contribution to the history of American social experimentation, as seen from the modern point of view. There follows the often amazing story of Ann Lee and the origins of the movement in eighteenth-century England, its emigration to New England, the early Shaker experiments in communism, and the expansion to the American West. The author then pauses to examine in detail the ideology behind the Shaker dedication to physical labor; Shaker industry and design, including a discussion of the spare, utilitarian folk art so popular today; the highly formalized mode of worship, with its lively songs and dances and its often violent emotionalism; strange manifestations during the revival periods of the 1830s and 40s; the rigid internal organization of the Shaker community and its original economic and sociological theories; Shaker relations with the outside world; and the decline of the sect after the Civil War.
This edition is the first to include the author’s valuable notes, as well as the original appendixes containing the complete text of the Millennial Laws, a statistical breakdown of all the Shaker communities, and a bibliography. This material is especially useful to students of American social and religious movements, but the author’s reliance upon original manuscript material and contemporary illustrations lend this book an exciting immediacy that makes it a pleasure for all readers interested in fascinating people and unique ways of life.
“An excellent history of one of the most interesting of American religious cults.” — Nation.
“Satisfies the exacting standards of historical scholarship and promises at the same time to enlighten and hold the interest of the general reader.” — Saturday Review.
“A substantial contribution to American history.” — The New York Times.
The book opens with an introductory assessment of the Shaker contribution to the history of American social experimentation, as seen from the modern point of view. There follows the often amazing story of Ann Lee and the origins of the movement in eighteenth-century England, its emigration to New England, the early Shaker experiments in communism, and the expansion to the American West. The author then pauses to examine in detail the ideology behind the Shaker dedication to physical labor; Shaker industry and design, including a discussion of the spare, utilitarian folk art so popular today; the highly formalized mode of worship, with its lively songs and dances and its often violent emotionalism; strange manifestations during the revival periods of the 1830s and 40s; the rigid internal organization of the Shaker community and its original economic and sociological theories; Shaker relations with the outside world; and the decline of the sect after the Civil War.
This edition is the first to include the author’s valuable notes, as well as the original appendixes containing the complete text of the Millennial Laws, a statistical breakdown of all the Shaker communities, and a bibliography. This material is especially useful to students of American social and religious movements, but the author’s reliance upon original manuscript material and contemporary illustrations lend this book an exciting immediacy that makes it a pleasure for all readers interested in fascinating people and unique ways of life.
“An excellent history of one of the most interesting of American religious cults.” — Nation.
“Satisfies the exacting standards of historical scholarship and promises at the same time to enlighten and hold the interest of the general reader.” — Saturday Review.
“A substantial contribution to American history.” — The New York Times.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 31, 2024
As this has been the year of the Shakers for me, I end my reading of 2024 with this (pretty exhaustive) look and deep dive into the religious sect. There's much I could write about this group and about this book in particular, but I'll leave it brief.
This particular book was published in the 1950s, giving me an interesting look at the author's perspective from 70 years ago when the remaining Shakers were not yet practically extinct, though they had greatly declined in influence and number at that point. I found this book in Loganberry Books (a favorite bookstore) in Shaker Heights, Ohio, of all places, and I've found the depth and breadth of what it covers to be very useful, interesting, and helpful in getting a better sense of who these people were and what their existence means for the country and world's history.
Interestingly enough, Yolen's novel that I read earlier this year titled Simple Gifts lists this book in its bibliography, though she does mention explicitly that this book's accuracy on some matters was disputed among the remaining Shakers of the 1970s. In fairness, the only things I found in the book that could have been controversial for members of the order itself would be accounts given from some apostates to the faith, who likely were very biased and, in some cases, had it out for the group. The inclusion of that testimony didn't affect my overall experience in learning about them, however, and I found this book to be very informative.
If I'm being honest, I have the ideas for a novel involving the Shakers rattling around in my head. The big question--of course--is when I will be able to sit down to write it, and if it will be a story worth reading. We shall see!
This particular book was published in the 1950s, giving me an interesting look at the author's perspective from 70 years ago when the remaining Shakers were not yet practically extinct, though they had greatly declined in influence and number at that point. I found this book in Loganberry Books (a favorite bookstore) in Shaker Heights, Ohio, of all places, and I've found the depth and breadth of what it covers to be very useful, interesting, and helpful in getting a better sense of who these people were and what their existence means for the country and world's history.
Interestingly enough, Yolen's novel that I read earlier this year titled Simple Gifts lists this book in its bibliography, though she does mention explicitly that this book's accuracy on some matters was disputed among the remaining Shakers of the 1970s. In fairness, the only things I found in the book that could have been controversial for members of the order itself would be accounts given from some apostates to the faith, who likely were very biased and, in some cases, had it out for the group. The inclusion of that testimony didn't affect my overall experience in learning about them, however, and I found this book to be very informative.
If I'm being honest, I have the ideas for a novel involving the Shakers rattling around in my head. The big question--of course--is when I will be able to sit down to write it, and if it will be a story worth reading. We shall see!
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July 17, 2009unread
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews