The complete story of what happened after the Mayflower landed in Plymouth Harbor in 1620 most assuredly won't be told in U.S. classrooms as we approach Thanksgiving Day. Philbrick reveals how the tenuous relationship between the Pilgrims and the natives unraveled over a 50-year-span culminating in the bloody King Philip's War. Although it only lasted 14 months, the losses on both sides were staggering.

I thought the author gave a balanced portrayal of humanity on both sides; however, something was lost in his efforts. This gripping history was told with a surprising mildness and lack of passion. The first part of the book with its story of survival and perseverance was fascinating. The second 2/3 with the endless names of Indian tribes and various skirmishes, not so much. I did learn a great deal about this period of history, but I prefer my history to be more personalized.

"With the outbreak of the Civil War...the public need for a restorative myth of national origins became even more ardent, and in 1863 Abraham Lincoln established the holiday of Thanksgiving -- a cathartic celebration of nationhood that would have baffled and probably appalled the godly Pilgrims." (Pg. 354) ( )

This book was awesome. If you have any curiosity about the Pilgrims and what went on after the first Thanksgiving, this is the book for you. I wasn't at all familiar with King Philip's War until I read this book. ( )

This is not just the story of the founding of Plymouth Colony, but the tale of how fifty-five years of peace between the English and the Indians of New England deteriorated into a bloodbath when the descendants of the first generation came to see the members of the other culture as unnecessary. They were no longer neighbors but competitors, no longer partners working to survive together, but obstacles to survival. The result was King Philip’s War. “In terms of population killed, King Philip’s War was more than twice as bloody as the American Civil War and at least seven times more lethal than the American Revolution.” -- page xv. ( )

The Mayflower and the Pilgrims’ New World is a very well written book that I enjoyed immensely. Much of the information contained in this book I did not know and I found it exciting as well as informative. Being a born New Englander with immigrant as well as Native American blood, I am a little ashamed that I did not already know the true story of the Pilgrims and their adventures. This book is not a book that paints a flowery picture of colonial life but a harsh and sometime tragic tale. I am now bitten by the bug to know even more of the rich history of both the New World settlers and the original native peoples. Thank you Nathaniel for opening my eyes to the history in my own back yard… ( )

This is an really interesting book that tells the story of the Mayflower. I consider myself a good student of history, but I learned a lot of information from this book. ( )