Everyday Things in American Life, 1607-1776

by William Chauncy Langdon

American history

Genres: American History

353 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

1871-1947

Reviews

[Redsteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a quick read and covers a lot of ground. The name is somewhat deceptive, as it seems to imply that this book is specifically about material culture of Colonial America, but it isn't limited to physical objects, but includes pretty much all aspects of culture in pre-Revolutionary New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia - houses and architecture, heating and lighting, furniture, cooking and tableware, clothing and fabric production, handcrafts, trade, banking and currency (and currency substitutes), postal systems, recreation, music, and gaming, education, travel, ferries, inns and taverns, medicine, iron mining and production, pewter and silversmithing, glass, sailing, whaling, navigation laws, and piracy. The author also goes into some detail on Dutch New York, German immigrants to Pennsylvania, the Scotch-Irish colonists in the "western" colonies, and various religious groups. As a result, this book covers the subject in great breadth, but little depth. it was published in 1965, so don't expect sensitive treatment of Native Americans here; with a few exceptions, the author seems to view them as just one of the dangers facing the colonists. He barely touches on the issue of slavery. Low 3 stars.

[Matthew Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you believe that the significant parts of history occur more in the daily recreation, transportation, and occupation of people than wars and political movements, then this might be a book for you. Langdon does not hold himself to the guise of objectivity as in modern histories, but if you can tolerate (even appreciate) the occasional early 20th century opinion, then you will find in this book a simple, rich, and entertaining portrait of Colonial history, architecture, joinery, smith craft, ship building, and more!