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One Small Candle: The Pilgrims' First Year in America
This vivid, deeply moving book begins in London in 1620 as Pilgrim representatives sign a contract to purchase the freighter Mayflower. We accompany them on their harrowing voyage across the Atlantic, through the rigors of the first New England winter and the threat of Indian attack as they desperately search for the home they eventually find at Plymouth. Once there, they must continue the struggle against brutal weather and disease.
With masterly skill, New York Times bestselling historian and novelist Thomas Fleming gives us life-size portraits of the Pilgrim leaders. The Pilgrims' unique achievements – the Mayflower Compact, their tolerance of other faiths, the strict separation of church and state – are discussed in the context of the first year's anxieties and crises. Fleming writes admiringly of the younger men who emerged in the first year as the real leaders of the colony – William Bradford and Miles Standish. And he provides new insights into the deep humanity and tolerance of the Pilgrims' spiritual shepherd, Elder William Brewster.
On the first Thanksgiving, already in the Pilgrim mind is a dawning consciousness that they are the forerunners of a great nation. It is implicit in William Bradford's words, "As one small candle may light a thousand, so the light kindled here has shone until many. . . ."
With masterly skill, New York Times bestselling historian and novelist Thomas Fleming gives us life-size portraits of the Pilgrim leaders. The Pilgrims' unique achievements – the Mayflower Compact, their tolerance of other faiths, the strict separation of church and state – are discussed in the context of the first year's anxieties and crises. Fleming writes admiringly of the younger men who emerged in the first year as the real leaders of the colony – William Bradford and Miles Standish. And he provides new insights into the deep humanity and tolerance of the Pilgrims' spiritual shepherd, Elder William Brewster.
On the first Thanksgiving, already in the Pilgrim mind is a dawning consciousness that they are the forerunners of a great nation. It is implicit in William Bradford's words, "As one small candle may light a thousand, so the light kindled here has shone until many. . . ."
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1964
230 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Fleming
127 books148 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Thomas James Fleming was an historian and historical novelist, with a special interest in the American Revolution. He was born in 1927 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of a World War I hero who was a leader in Jersey City politics for three decades. Before her marriage, his mother, Katherine Dolan Fleming, was a teacher in the Jersey City Public School System.
After graduating from St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City, Fleming spent a year in the United States Navy. He received a Bachelor's degree, with honors, from Fordham University in 1950. After brief stints as a newspaperman and magazine editor, he became a full-time writer in 1960. His first history book, Now We Are Enemies, an account of the Battle of Bunker Hill, was published that same year. It was a best-seller, reviewed in more than 75 newspapers and featured as a main selection of the Literary Guild.
Fleming published books about various events and figures of the Revolutionary era. He also wrote about other periods of American history and wrote over a dozen well-received novels set against various historical backgrounds. He said, "I never wanted to be an Irish American writer, my whole idea was to get across that bridge and be an American writer".
Fleming died at his home in New York City on July 23, 2017, at the age of 90.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Thomas James Fleming was an historian and historical novelist, with a special interest in the American Revolution. He was born in 1927 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of a World War I hero who was a leader in Jersey City politics for three decades. Before her marriage, his mother, Katherine Dolan Fleming, was a teacher in the Jersey City Public School System.
After graduating from St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City, Fleming spent a year in the United States Navy. He received a Bachelor's degree, with honors, from Fordham University in 1950. After brief stints as a newspaperman and magazine editor, he became a full-time writer in 1960. His first history book, Now We Are Enemies, an account of the Battle of Bunker Hill, was published that same year. It was a best-seller, reviewed in more than 75 newspapers and featured as a main selection of the Literary Guild.
Fleming published books about various events and figures of the Revolutionary era. He also wrote about other periods of American history and wrote over a dozen well-received novels set against various historical backgrounds. He said, "I never wanted to be an Irish American writer, my whole idea was to get across that bridge and be an American writer".
Fleming died at his home in New York City on July 23, 2017, at the age of 90.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 24, 2015
This is the story of the Mayflower and the people who came to America for religious freedom. The first part takes place before the trip and covers the reasons they had to leave. They left late in the year and endured many storms and were blown off course. They were headed for Virginia but ended up, of course, at Plymouth Rock in November with no shelter except the Mayflower. They were sick, had very little food and within the first year, half of them died. I learned so much from this book. It is a short book and easy to read in a few hours. The author has written many books about American history. I will definitely read more of his work.
December 16, 2013
I bought this book because I caught it on-sale for only $2.99 in it's e-format on Barnes and Noble. It turned out to be a nice fast read about the historic events surrounding the Mayflower and the founding of Plymouth. While it wasn't excessive with detail, and I'm sure other books I own cover this with even greater depth, it got right to the important aspects and was written in a prose that was easy to read. I highly recommend it for the casual history reader and I'm sure you'll walk away from this book with a better understanding of the events than you got from your basic high school education.
January 8, 2020
Following a series of disheartening setbacks while still in England, the pilgrims received a letter from their pastor who was to remain in Holland for the time being. “He urged them to place their total trust in God and try to practice perfect Christian charity toward each other. He urged them neither to give nor take offense especially toward those who are strangers among them. He devoted another earnest exhortation to the need for everyone to work for the common good.”
This small band of Separatists (not Puritans) would need to mind these wise words. They were indeed joined on the ship by “strangers” – 80 or so volunteers drummed up by the men handling the business arrangements of this endeavor – as well as by the businessmen themselves. These “strangers” were needed to fill out the plantation’s quota. Add to that, the ship’s salty crewmen and captain. They were a mixed bunch with disparate goals and beliefs. That always makes for interesting reading, especially when you put everybody in a small space for a long time.
Their voyage was harrowing, and their landing on the coast of what is now Massachusetts was anything but simple. There were delays, storms, illnesses, dissensions among the travelers and crew, and exploration into unknown territory.
I thoroughly enjoyed this concise history. In a scant 176 pages (kindle edition), author Thomas Fleming gives a clear account of the Mayflower’s trip across the Atlantic, and covers the events of the first year after they landed. I tried to read Nathaniel Philbrick's Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War a couple years ago. I got as far as page 55 (of 360). The book is no-doubt well researched, but it is terribly dense and bogged down. It isn’t even in the same ballpark as his brilliant and exciting In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex. I’m so glad I came across One Small Candle. (This is not the first time a kindle cheapie or freebie has paid big dividends!)
Relying heavily on William Bradford’s diaries, Fleming hits all the high spots of the historic event, while writing an unadorned but thoroughly engaging narrative. It may not be the most in-depth recounting of this particular bit of history, but I learned several things I didn’t know before that I believe will stick with me. Plus, I was so interested in the telling of it, there were times I could barely put it down. And lastly, I was inspired and moved by the story of this small group of brave and upstanding people. They were not infallible, but they were single-minded in their purpose, and belief that God is sovereign. Even through the hard stuff.
This small band of Separatists (not Puritans) would need to mind these wise words. They were indeed joined on the ship by “strangers” – 80 or so volunteers drummed up by the men handling the business arrangements of this endeavor – as well as by the businessmen themselves. These “strangers” were needed to fill out the plantation’s quota. Add to that, the ship’s salty crewmen and captain. They were a mixed bunch with disparate goals and beliefs. That always makes for interesting reading, especially when you put everybody in a small space for a long time.
Their voyage was harrowing, and their landing on the coast of what is now Massachusetts was anything but simple. There were delays, storms, illnesses, dissensions among the travelers and crew, and exploration into unknown territory.
I thoroughly enjoyed this concise history. In a scant 176 pages (kindle edition), author Thomas Fleming gives a clear account of the Mayflower’s trip across the Atlantic, and covers the events of the first year after they landed. I tried to read Nathaniel Philbrick's Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War a couple years ago. I got as far as page 55 (of 360). The book is no-doubt well researched, but it is terribly dense and bogged down. It isn’t even in the same ballpark as his brilliant and exciting In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex. I’m so glad I came across One Small Candle. (This is not the first time a kindle cheapie or freebie has paid big dividends!)
Relying heavily on William Bradford’s diaries, Fleming hits all the high spots of the historic event, while writing an unadorned but thoroughly engaging narrative. It may not be the most in-depth recounting of this particular bit of history, but I learned several things I didn’t know before that I believe will stick with me. Plus, I was so interested in the telling of it, there were times I could barely put it down. And lastly, I was inspired and moved by the story of this small group of brave and upstanding people. They were not infallible, but they were single-minded in their purpose, and belief that God is sovereign. Even through the hard stuff.
November 12, 2016
I always say that you can’t go wrong with a Thomas Fleming book, and “One Small Candle” serves up ample proof. Like many, my memory of what I learned in history class was that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, and they were starving that first year and the American Natives saved the lives of the Pilgrims by bringing food, thus establishing the first Thanksgiving.
However, none of that ever happened. Or, at least not the way I thought.
Fleming has put together a compelling story that begins in Europe with the hiring of the Mayflower. After a harrowing journey across the Atlantic Ocean, our settlers end up in the wrong place and weather-wise, at the wrong time of the year. It was an eye-opener to read the truth about the actual landing at Plymouth Rock, and to find out that their relationship with the American Natives was much more convoluted that I had been told. The author also details the efforts of the Pilgrims as they work to survive the winter, and describes the adventures of the settlers throughout their first year in the new world.
I have purposely not revealed any of the events I hint at above, as I would like prospective readers to experience the same wonder I felt as I flew through the pages of this interesting book. Fleming keeps the action moving non-stop, and once I began reading, I finished it the same day. This is a fine offering, and one that should not be passed by.
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However, none of that ever happened. Or, at least not the way I thought.
Fleming has put together a compelling story that begins in Europe with the hiring of the Mayflower. After a harrowing journey across the Atlantic Ocean, our settlers end up in the wrong place and weather-wise, at the wrong time of the year. It was an eye-opener to read the truth about the actual landing at Plymouth Rock, and to find out that their relationship with the American Natives was much more convoluted that I had been told. The author also details the efforts of the Pilgrims as they work to survive the winter, and describes the adventures of the settlers throughout their first year in the new world.
I have purposely not revealed any of the events I hint at above, as I would like prospective readers to experience the same wonder I felt as I flew through the pages of this interesting book. Fleming keeps the action moving non-stop, and once I began reading, I finished it the same day. This is a fine offering, and one that should not be passed by.
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November 20, 2019
This, in my opinion, was a decent overview of the Pilgrims first year in America. The text is written in a friendly to read manner that reads more like a story and less like a textbook. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was due to the lack of footnotes inside of the text dictating what sorce specific notes were sited from. There is a bibliography in the back of the book but I always prefer specific informational sites within the text itself.
August 23, 2018
If you are looking for a scholarly work with exhaustive notes and a bibliography, this book is not for you. That said, it accomplishes its purpose as I understand it to be. The title “One Small Candle” is a quote from History of Plymouth Plantation, by William Bradford:
“As one small candle may light a thousand, so the light kindled here has shown unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation. . .”
Bradford, who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower and was a leader of the Plymouth colony for much of the rest of his life, helped to turn that small candle of a settlement into a roaring flame that could not and would not be quenched. The present book is an account of how that small candle was kept burning in spite of quenching uncertainty:
• Disagreements between the settlers and their merchant sponsors almost prevented the voyage from even happening.
• The Mayflower was a chartered ship, but the settlers had also acquired a smaller vessel, the Speedwell, to cross over with the Mayflower and stay in the New World to permit them to support themselves by fishing. The Speedwell required costly and time-consuming repairs that proved to be ineffective. Attempts to take it out to sea only produced more leaks, and they finally had to leave it behind after delaying their departure until late summer.
• Storm damage to a key structural beam in the Mayflower in the middle of the Atlantic could have crippled the ship if not for the availability of a screw jack among the settlers’ provisions. Even with the beam shored up by the screw jack, the ship could not use its full complement of sails without overly stressing it. As a result, the ship had to continue its voyage at a reduced speed, delaying their arrival until early November.
• The delays in starting the voyage and the subsequent delay due to the damage to the Mayflower caused the settlers to have to eat much of the food intended to sustain them after their arrival in the New World.
• Exploration efforts were required prior to deciding where to settle, and the decision to settle at Plymouth didn’t take place until December. At that time, the settlers began building dwellings but were further delayed when many of them were weakened by illness.
• At least half of the settlers died over the course of the voyage and the subsequent winter, mostly during the winter.
In spite of all these difficulties and more, the settlement at Plymouth was a success, attributed to the providence of God by a people dependent upon and completely dedicated to God. If anything, that is the theme of the book, and, in my opinion, Mr. Fleming succeeded in driving that point home.
“As one small candle may light a thousand, so the light kindled here has shown unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation. . .”
Bradford, who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower and was a leader of the Plymouth colony for much of the rest of his life, helped to turn that small candle of a settlement into a roaring flame that could not and would not be quenched. The present book is an account of how that small candle was kept burning in spite of quenching uncertainty:
• Disagreements between the settlers and their merchant sponsors almost prevented the voyage from even happening.
• The Mayflower was a chartered ship, but the settlers had also acquired a smaller vessel, the Speedwell, to cross over with the Mayflower and stay in the New World to permit them to support themselves by fishing. The Speedwell required costly and time-consuming repairs that proved to be ineffective. Attempts to take it out to sea only produced more leaks, and they finally had to leave it behind after delaying their departure until late summer.
• Storm damage to a key structural beam in the Mayflower in the middle of the Atlantic could have crippled the ship if not for the availability of a screw jack among the settlers’ provisions. Even with the beam shored up by the screw jack, the ship could not use its full complement of sails without overly stressing it. As a result, the ship had to continue its voyage at a reduced speed, delaying their arrival until early November.
• The delays in starting the voyage and the subsequent delay due to the damage to the Mayflower caused the settlers to have to eat much of the food intended to sustain them after their arrival in the New World.
• Exploration efforts were required prior to deciding where to settle, and the decision to settle at Plymouth didn’t take place until December. At that time, the settlers began building dwellings but were further delayed when many of them were weakened by illness.
• At least half of the settlers died over the course of the voyage and the subsequent winter, mostly during the winter.
In spite of all these difficulties and more, the settlement at Plymouth was a success, attributed to the providence of God by a people dependent upon and completely dedicated to God. If anything, that is the theme of the book, and, in my opinion, Mr. Fleming succeeded in driving that point home.
October 14, 2018
I read the kindle edition (a bargain). I wonder about the intended purpose and audience for this book. It is a fairly short account of the Pilgrims' first year in America, as the title indicates. Actually, a good portion of the book deals with the difficulties in leaving Leyden, acquiring the Mayflower, problems with and final abandonment of the Speedwell, which was to have accompanied them, readying the ship to sail, getting all the legal permissions and such. But it's a good, readable account. At one point, I printed out a list of my ancestors who were among the Pilgrims, and I enjoyed reading about their lives and contributions. This is an overview and wouldn't give much satisfaction to a scholar. It includes no notes or detailed sources. Still, it's a good beginning and may lead to a more in-depth study for those interested.
September 4, 2021
Very Informative
So enjoyed the retelling of the actual story from letters and writings of the Plymouth settlers to know who they really were and what they would have been like.
So enjoyed the retelling of the actual story from letters and writings of the Plymouth settlers to know who they really were and what they would have been like.
October 24, 2017
Hardship and survival
The Pilgrims, who have mistakenly been called Puritans, did not have an easy time in creating a new colony. Simply getting the Mayflower away from England required months to resolve conflicts between groups of travelers and backers, obtaining massive amounts of provisions, and relying on faith for guidance. Relations between travelers was not all sweetness and light nor was the hired ship’s crew supportive.
The difficulties of the preparation and of the voyage seemed to be glossed over in most stories about the Pilgrims. The land itself was challenging. What was unknown to me was that the arrival at Plymouth happened weeks after dropping anchor near Provincetown! What with all the delays, it was November by the time the site for the settlement was selected and the process of building wooden houses began amidst falling snow. The 50% mortality rate that first winter due to scurvy and other illnesses further challenged the little community.
The early days were very difficult. The obstacles were substantial, yet new settlers arrived every year. My own ancestor arrived in 1628 and was in the group starting a new colony that eventually was named New Haven. This book provided a renewed appreciation of the intrepid tenacity to create a new beginning in a wilderness environment.
The Pilgrims, who have mistakenly been called Puritans, did not have an easy time in creating a new colony. Simply getting the Mayflower away from England required months to resolve conflicts between groups of travelers and backers, obtaining massive amounts of provisions, and relying on faith for guidance. Relations between travelers was not all sweetness and light nor was the hired ship’s crew supportive.
The difficulties of the preparation and of the voyage seemed to be glossed over in most stories about the Pilgrims. The land itself was challenging. What was unknown to me was that the arrival at Plymouth happened weeks after dropping anchor near Provincetown! What with all the delays, it was November by the time the site for the settlement was selected and the process of building wooden houses began amidst falling snow. The 50% mortality rate that first winter due to scurvy and other illnesses further challenged the little community.
The early days were very difficult. The obstacles were substantial, yet new settlers arrived every year. My own ancestor arrived in 1628 and was in the group starting a new colony that eventually was named New Haven. This book provided a renewed appreciation of the intrepid tenacity to create a new beginning in a wilderness environment.
November 16, 2017
3.5 stars. This was a good narrative of the story of the pilgrims and their first year in America. There are no footnotes or references, which is disappointing, but the overall reading experience was enjoyable. This is a fairly short book and is quite accessible. I think it would make a good supplement to a history curriculum starting at about 6th grade or so. This story doesn’t get into King Phillip’s War, like Mayflower (by Philbrick) does. This mainly encompasses the background of the pilgrims in England and Holland, their trip across the Atlantic, their search for a landing site, and their relations with Massasoit, Squanto, and the other Native Americans in the vicinity. Fleming shows everyone in a pretty good light and does not demonize anyone. It seems like he mainly used the writings of William Bradford, but who knows because there are no notes. Oh well.
I liked Fleming’s writing style, and have heard good things about some of his other books. I will definitely look into them.
Update: I see that this was originally published in 1964. That explains the lack of notes. A lot of history for public consumption was published without references in that era.
I liked Fleming’s writing style, and have heard good things about some of his other books. I will definitely look into them.
Update: I see that this was originally published in 1964. That explains the lack of notes. A lot of history for public consumption was published without references in that era.
December 9, 2018
Astonishing Revelation
I had no idea what the Pilgrim founders of Plymouth had to endure on their LONG voyage from the Old World to the New....nor what their first winter through to the next harvest entailed. How fascinating to follow their relations with the Indians, and the positive relations established that first year. Truly the good hand of God carried them through by His gracious Providence! I heartily recommend the reading of One Small Candle to anyone of good will.
Author Thomas Fleming has a captivating writing style that kept this book a page-turner for me.
I had no idea what the Pilgrim founders of Plymouth had to endure on their LONG voyage from the Old World to the New....nor what their first winter through to the next harvest entailed. How fascinating to follow their relations with the Indians, and the positive relations established that first year. Truly the good hand of God carried them through by His gracious Providence! I heartily recommend the reading of One Small Candle to anyone of good will.
Author Thomas Fleming has a captivating writing style that kept this book a page-turner for me.
June 17, 2022
Excellent book about how the voyage to Plymouth began, the hardships they endured, and how they made it through the first year and thanksgiving. Also it explains how they negotiated with the Indians. It explains rust communism was not working and how William Bradford had each family grow food of their own and this helped motivate all in the colony. It explains that these pilgrims were not puritans and didn’t wear black and white. They liked color and not all wore the hats we typically see in literature and children’s books.
February 15, 2018
Very good book about the first colonists
One Small Candle gives the reader a good idea of what it would have been like for some of the first colonists in America. It re-lives the struggles faced by the beginning homesteaders of Massachusetts. Shows what the initial encounters with American Indians were like. The story is a bit slow. Great read for anyone interested in the infancy of America.
One Small Candle gives the reader a good idea of what it would have been like for some of the first colonists in America. It re-lives the struggles faced by the beginning homesteaders of Massachusetts. Shows what the initial encounters with American Indians were like. The story is a bit slow. Great read for anyone interested in the infancy of America.
May 1, 2019
This is a fascinating recount of the Mayflower ocean trip and the year after the Pilgrims' landing. I found lots of fresh insights into the characters of the leaders and travelers. The author said that the Pilgrims were not as drab and colorless as history books expound. The pages flew by because the history was told in such an interesting manner.
I particularly enjoyed the Pilgrims' interactions with the Indian tribes. Fleming's research agrees with Charles C Mann's book, 1491: NEW REVELATIONS OF THE AMERICAS BEFORE COLUMBUS. Earliest European explorers had devastated Indian tribes with their illnesses and so the Pilgrims met only a fraction of the Indians who had lived there for hundreds of years.
I particularly enjoyed the Pilgrims' interactions with the Indian tribes. Fleming's research agrees with Charles C Mann's book, 1491: NEW REVELATIONS OF THE AMERICAS BEFORE COLUMBUS. Earliest European explorers had devastated Indian tribes with their illnesses and so the Pilgrims met only a fraction of the Indians who had lived there for hundreds of years.
December 4, 2017
Great Read
I am a decent to John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. I read this book with great interest. I was impressed with the description of the voyage and hardships these pioneers endured to bring our country into being. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand our fore fathers better.
I am a decent to John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. I read this book with great interest. I was impressed with the description of the voyage and hardships these pioneers endured to bring our country into being. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand our fore fathers better.
February 1, 2018
One Small Candle
Fleming gives an excellent accounting of the Pilgrims and gives us insight into their faith, hardships and determination. Differences can be bridged with understanding, but strength came not only from their faith but also in a personal resolve to help each other.
Fleming gives an excellent accounting of the Pilgrims and gives us insight into their faith, hardships and determination. Differences can be bridged with understanding, but strength came not only from their faith but also in a personal resolve to help each other.
October 24, 2018
Father's of our fathers!!
Very interesting book of history, have always been amazed of how our forefathers shoulder the hardships and prevailed! Have visited Plymouth two different times, my own history goes back many generations to 1630 when my relatives came to Plymouth on the Handmaiden. Well written book, telling it as it was!
Very interesting book of history, have always been amazed of how our forefathers shoulder the hardships and prevailed! Have visited Plymouth two different times, my own history goes back many generations to 1630 when my relatives came to Plymouth on the Handmaiden. Well written book, telling it as it was!
November 28, 2017
This was a great book to read this time of the year. The author referenced journals written by the original Plymouth settlers like William Bradford. These pilgrims truly wanted a place where they could worship according to their own beliefs.
I highly recommend this book.
I highly recommend this book.
November 26, 2018
One Small Candle sheds light on America’s Past
Thomas Fleming is both a great story teller and a fine historian. One Small Candle kindles our respect and appreciation for the passengers and crew of the Mayflower, their hardships and courage.
Thomas Fleming is both a great story teller and a fine historian. One Small Candle kindles our respect and appreciation for the passengers and crew of the Mayflower, their hardships and courage.
October 20, 2020
Thoughtful retelling of the Plymouth colony`s first year
A straightforward and well researched account. Masterly storytelling. It lit the way for a nation. Recommended for all readers and fans of history.
A straightforward and well researched account. Masterly storytelling. It lit the way for a nation. Recommended for all readers and fans of history.
November 26, 2025
This historical account of the Pilgrim's first year in America was well researched. I had to listen to it as it was a little dry to read a hard copy. I learned a lot. Both my husband and I have ancestors who were there, and I was curious about life at that time.
October 30, 2017
I loved this book.
November 7, 2018
A great read in November. Great details and well-written book. Learned about how the First Thanksgiving really was. Great reference book. Enjoy!
December 30, 2018
A very quick read, but surprisingly informative. The author can really cover topics succinctly and with clarity. Very well done.
April 28, 2020
Interesting forgotten history of USA.
April 30, 2020
Candle
It waS ok. I pierced boo.'s with a dialog, 'verses a ? History. It sure was tough time back in those times. Glad to hear that the Indian s Nd them got a along.
It waS ok. I pierced boo.'s with a dialog, 'verses a ? History. It sure was tough time back in those times. Glad to hear that the Indian s Nd them got a along.
Read
May 14, 2020A reminder of the American spirit and How much we need to see a revival of it now!
June 2, 2017
A quick read that I almost did not persist with because of the Olde English in the beginning that was bogging down the flow. But it got better. Interesting to learn about sailing ships and oceanic travel in the 1600s. When the pilgrims did got to the new world in November, they still lived on the ship for six months until a spot could be found to build houses and then the actual building could begin. Only one person died on the sailing journey, but half died while getting the colony set-up.
March 13, 2017
This was an interesting read. A lot of things your typical school textbook wouldn't cover, primarily about the launch, Bradford's wife's suicide, etc. The Native American-Pilgrim relations were interesting, and not as straight forward as the textbooks have you believe. Especially with the break down with the different tribes. And obviously, as we all know, Thanksgiving was not the way they would have you believe from your Pre-K and Kindergarten class parties.
The book definitely suffers from 'dated' writing. The way the Natives, and other groups, are written by the author is very dated, in the language used and the way they are discussed. The writing itself isn't the most expressive, but its good enough to keep going without being bored.
The book definitely suffers from 'dated' writing. The way the Natives, and other groups, are written by the author is very dated, in the language used and the way they are discussed. The writing itself isn't the most expressive, but its good enough to keep going without being bored.
November 2, 2020
Interesting enough, but leaves me with ambivalent feelings.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews