The Wordy Shipmates Hardcover - 2008
by Sarah Vowell
The Wordy Shipmates is New York Timesbestselling author Sarah Vowell's exploration of the Puritans and their journey to America to become the people of John Winthrop's 'city upon a hill' a shining example, a 'city that cannot be hid.'
To this day, America views itself as a Puritan nation, but Vowell investigates what that means and what it should mean. What was this great political enterprise all about? Who were these people who are considered the philosophical, spiritual, and moral ancestors of our nation? What Vowell discovers is something far different from what their uptight shoe-buckles-and-corn reputation might suggest. The people she finds are highly literate, deeply principled, and surprisingly feisty. Their story is filled with pamphlet feuds, witty courtroom dramas, and bloody vengeance. Along the way she asks:
* Was Massachusetts Bay Colony governor John Winthrop a communitarian, a Christlike Christian, or conformity's tyrannical enforcer? Answer: Yes!
* Was Rhode Island's architect, Roger Williams, America's founding freak or the father of the First Amendment? Same difference.
* What does it take to get that jezebel Anne Hutchinson to shut up? A hatchet.
* What was the Puritans' pet name for the Pope? The Great Whore of Babylon.
Sarah Vowell's special brand of armchair history makes the bizarre and esoteric fascinatingly relevant and fun. She takes us from the modern-day reenactment of an Indian massacre to the Mohegan Sun casino, from old-timey Puritan poetry, where 'righteousness' is rhymed with 'wilderness,' to a Mayflower-themed waterslide. Throughout, The Wordy Shipmates is rich in historical fact, humorous insight, and social commentary by one of America's most celebrated voices. Thou shalt enjoy it.
Summary
To this day, America views itself as a Puritan nation, but Vowell investigates what that means? and what it should mean. What was this great political enterprise all about? Who were these people who are considered the philosophical, spiritual, and moral ancestors of our nation? What Vowell discovers is something far different from what their uptight shoe-buckles-and- corn reputation might suggest. The people she finds are highly literate, deeply principled, and surprisingly feisty. Their story is filled with pamphlet feuds, witty courtroom dramas, and bloody vengeance. Along the way she asks:
* Was Massachusetts Bay Colony governor John Winthrop a communitarian, a Christlike Christian, or conformity?s tyrannical enforcer? Answer: Yes!
* Was Rhode Island?s architect, Roger Williams, America?s founding freak or the father of the First Amendment? Same difference.
* What does it take to get that jezebel Anne Hutchinson to shut up? A hatchet.
* What was the Puritans? pet name for the Pope? The Great Whore of Babylon.
Sarah Vowell?s special brand of armchair history makes the bizarre and esoteric fascinatingly relevant and fun. She takes us from the modern-day reenactment of an Indian massacre to the Mohegan Sun casino, from old-timey Puritan poetry, where ?righteousness? is rhymed with ?wilderness,? to a Mayflower-themed waterslide. Throughout, The Wordy Shipmates is rich in historical fact, humorous insight, and social commentary by one of America?s most celebrated voices. Thou shalt enjoy it.
First line
The only thing more dangerous than an idea is a belief.
Details
- Title The Wordy Shipmates
- Author Sarah Vowell
- Binding Hardcover
- Edition First Edition
- Pages 254
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Riverhead Books, New York
- Date 2008-10-07
- Illustrated Yes
- ISBN 9781594489990 / 1594489998
- Weight 0.85 lbs (0.39 kg)
- Dimensions 8.69 x 5.57 x 0.94 in (22.07 x 14.15 x 2.39 cm)
- Ages 18 to UP years
- Grade levels 13 - UP
- Library of Congress subjects Puritans - New England - History - 17th, New England - Politics and government - To
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 2008030491
- Dewey Decimal Code 974.088
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