Nathaniel Philbrick is an award-winning historian and writer. Just a generation after the arrival of the First Fathers, the tentative mutual respect that existed between the Native Americans and Pilgrim immigrants disintegrated into outright warfare that wreaked unimaginable destruction on the native population. As the colony flourished, more pilgrims arrived memories of hardships faded and religious zeal gave way to territorial greed. Unshakable resolve, religious fervour and bloody-mindedness played important roles in the colony’s survival but without the agricultural expertise and geographical nous of the Native Americans, history would have taken a very different course. The first winter over-delivered on their wish for a pious and simple existence the wattle-and-daub huts and rationed food tested their mettle while the catalogue of illnesses slowly picked them off until just half the original number remained by the spring of 1621.
Having set sail from their ‘un-Godly’ homeland to establish a new colony where they could freely practise their religious beliefs, the Pilgrim Fathers selected New Plymouth as the site of their maiden colony. In 1620 the Mayflower and its cargo of 102 passengers, plus their meagre collection of possessions, made painfully slow progress from England to America on a perilous journey thwarted by unmerciful weather and a leaking ship.
This is the ultimate edition of the story that founded America. Seven maps throughout the book plot expeditions and key geographical locations, while the endpapers include exquisite detailing from a map of New England drawn by celebrated 17th-century cartographer John Seller. Oil paintings such as Washing the fur and sorting the wool depict daily life, Native American culture is portrayed in engravings such as Philip, King of Mount Hope and artefacts of cultural significance – The Elio Indian Bible and a brass peace medal – further enrich the narrative. To complement Philbrick’s work, Folio picture researchers have widely searched and sourced an incredible collection of colour illustrations from, and related to, the historical period. Like the most thorough and observant investigative journalist, Philbrick carefully sorts the facts gleaned from his exhaustive research, unpicks the story and pieces it back together to create a page-turning social history that made the final selection of the Pulitzer Prize. Philbrick’s retelling is an utterly compelling interpretation that is mindful of contemporary thought and respectful of his responsibility to accurately represent both parties.
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