Mayflower - The Story of Courage, Community, and War

Author: Nathaniel Philbrick
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: One of The New York Times' Top Ten Books of 2006, authentically recreating the origins of American history. "What we like is sanitized, theme-park-style, smug history, with no blood, anger, or unpleasantness. But if Mayflower has rightly won over a broad readership, perhaps some Americans, moved by it, will be willing to reconsider everything." – Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post "PHILBRICK's success with Mayflower lies in his bringing his own sympathy and understanding to bear, challenging two myths of American beginnings with his own insights. The original Puritans were neither religious patriots nor bloodthirsty conquerors; the Native Americans who befriended them and later betrayed them were more worldly and less peaceful than people generally believe." – Jim Ross, The Los Angeles Times
Authenticity – This book portrays the brave Puritans with lofty religious convictions, praises the grace and generosity of the Native Americans, and depicts the brutal warfare and survival wisdom of both sides. The details are vivid and realistic, immersing readers in the true historical context. Objectivity – This book neither presents this history as the "glorious story" of European immigrants nor as the "blood and tears" story of Native Americans. It maintains an objective stance, revealing the survival wisdom and the arduous efforts of both sides to coexist through the various crises, wars, and responses they encountered. This holds a realistic significance for the world today, which faces increasing crises. The book has been praised by many domestic historians and writers, with a preface written by Mr. Liu Suli.
The Mayflower carried a batch of European immigrants to the New World of North America. After more than a century of exploration and war, it ultimately gave rise to a nation and a people. However, the 150 years between the first Thanksgiving and the Revolutionary War are not only unfamiliar to Chinese readers but also a "collectively forgotten history" and a "jumped-over history" in the United States. Mayflower vividly recreates this voyage, uncovering the true history behind the Plymouth Colony and a series of American legends. This book attempts to reveal that the birth of the United States and the formation of the American spirit were the result of "a series of events," involving both inevitable and factors, and can be considered a magnificent epic that combines microcosm with macrocosm.