Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647

Bradford was among the 102 Separatists that landed in Plymouth in 1620. He was elected governor every year through 1647. I loved reading his first hand accounts of the Native Americans, the sicknesses, and the near-starvation like conditions. Bradford certainly had a Calvinist world view and that does creep in many times. However, I did not read the book to argue or debate theology. I think all Americans should read this truthful account of the "Pilgrims." There are some amusing parts (to me), such as the trial of a 16 year old who had sex with a donkey, horses, a turkey, a cow, etc. Sadly, this young man was found guilty and executed. (this part was not funny) I feel this is a very honest rendering of conditions in Plimouth from 1620-1647.

This is an incredibly important book, and one that I grew to love as a young boy. My parents would read it to us in the month of November, before celebrating Thanksgiving, and I have started carrying on the tradition. It is difficult to read, because of the old style of language, and I would recommend using a guide to help answer questions from young listeners. That said, if you are reading to young people or just for yourself, it is one of the major sources for most of what we know happened when the Pilgrims first made it to the New World. The most surprising thing you may find while you read it is how many things worked in the pilgrim's favour—things which, if they had not happened precisely when they did, would have resulted in show more catastrophe. show less

Yes, it is dry reading at times, but it’s also a fascinating and historically significant first person look at the 12 years leading up to the voyage of the Mayflower and the first 26 years of their settlement in America. It was also slightly surreal to be reading a history that included information about one of my family’s ancestors, Isaac Allerton (related through his daughter Mary, who was the last surviving passenger and who grew up to marry a son of Robert Cushman, who came to Plymouth on a later ship).

Bradford's writing can require a bit of slogging through, but it's worth it for a major classic of early colonial American literature and it's not of tedious length. If you're going to read it, use the Modern Library edition edited by Samuel Eliot Morison because it contains some excellent footnote annotations.

This book is not aneasy read; one, it was written over 370 years ago and language has changed, and two, it is a journal of events with from 1620 to 1650. But I am amazed at the diligence and endurance of our first settlers. Also, there can be no doubt, that many of this country's early settlers were unabashedly Christian and very evangelistically motivated.

B O R I N G

This story is one that should be SO exciting and, man, can he put you to sleep. I was very disappointed. Nonetheless, it packs the history into its pages.

Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
Difficult book to read with broken English but enjoyed the story of how the group formed and headed to the Danes then off to US.
Another really good section was after landing who they came into contact with. Very political and religious back stories.
Lots of letters from those involved with decisions.
Passenger list on the Mayflower is included along with family tree listings.
Footnotes are listed at the very end of the book. What appears to be treaties between the Pilgrims and Indians are also included.
Appendixes and index are also included.
Other works associated with this one are also available.