A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson
by Mary Rowlandson
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Captured by hostile natives, a Puritan woman in colonial New England must rely on her faith to survive When Mary Rowlandson awoke on February 10, 1675, the village of Lancaster, Massachusetts, was already on fire. For two hours, Rowlandson's family fought to protect their home from marauding Narragansett Indians. Finally, their little house was set ablaze, and the Rowlandsons fled into the open, where Mary and her three children were taken captive. So begins one of the most harrowing and show more unforgettable captivity narratives in the history of American literature. For eleven weeks, Mary and her surviving children traveled the wilderness with their captors, an arduous ordeal that tested the limits of her faith, and taught her the true meaning of empathy. A thrilling story packed with fascinating details about Native American customs and culture, Mary Rowlandson's account was an immediate bestseller when first published in 1682 and is a must-read for students of American history. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Look, I appreciate no-one likes the puritans, and Mary would've been better off leaving these out if she was working to create an enduring work of literature. But she wasn't aiming to be Cervantes. This book is as much interesting for its historical context as for its narrative style. What Mrs. Rowlandson's narrative tells us is aided by her point of view, even if it is at times disagreeable, because we gain valuable insight into the views of the Puritans as well as telling insights into life amongst the natives. It makes the work more complex, as we view history through a certain tint, don't it?
Mary Rowlandson's account of her captivity among American Indians in New England in 1675 is both brutal and sympathetic. The Indians are portrayed as wild killers and slave owners, yet display moments of affection and kindness. One can see they are fighting for their lives, identity and way of life as they set out to kill the English in such numbers to drive them back into the sea. But it becomes clear the English are too many and despite victories in battle, there is an underlying desperation as the Indians stay on the run. Mary's memoir was among the first of the "captivity narrative" genre; and is an important historical document for her portraits of early American Indian life.
Listened to via LibriVox as read by Matthew Scott show more Surprenant. Clearly an amateur recording and difficult to follow at times as Matthew speeds too quickly through the words in places (pauses are good), but overall a strangely captivating reading style for the subject. show less
Listened to via LibriVox as read by Matthew Scott show more Surprenant. Clearly an amateur recording and difficult to follow at times as Matthew speeds too quickly through the words in places (pauses are good), but overall a strangely captivating reading style for the subject. show less
In 1675 Mary Rowlandson, wife of a minister, was taken by Indians during King Philip's War. This is written by Mary and reads like a witness to the glory of God. (which is ok but not what I expected) Although I liked it because of its historical value, I would rather have had more detail of what her life was like while she was held. There is some but she survived I think by prayer and her beliefs and she wanted to emphasize this.
Yeah......this was not an exciting read. It is very detailed, and relatively dispassionate. She discusses food a LOT (I'm sure it was a very salient concern in her captivity). Lots of scripture, though I'm intrigued by Jason's idea of her carrying her culture with her through these various removes, and using the bible and Christianity as a light in the darkness she was experiencing at the time having been captured and held in a strange culture as a slave against her will.
And it is perfectly within the purview of my approach to "literature" to study this, which might more often be labeled as a "captivity narrative," or a primary historical source. But decisions get made when composing these kinds of texts that we tend to think about as show more non-fiction, or history. There are many choices in here about how to represent and present her experience and the people she discusses. Doesn't make it thrilling, though it might improve if I actually do work on it. show less
And it is perfectly within the purview of my approach to "literature" to study this, which might more often be labeled as a "captivity narrative," or a primary historical source. But decisions get made when composing these kinds of texts that we tend to think about as show more non-fiction, or history. There are many choices in here about how to represent and present her experience and the people she discusses. Doesn't make it thrilling, though it might improve if I actually do work on it. show less
Yeah......this was not an exciting read. It is very detailed, and relatively dispassionate. She discusses food a LOT (I'm sure it was a very salient concern in her captivity). Lots of scripture, though I'm intrigued by Jason's idea of her carrying her culture with her through these various removes, and using the bible and Christianity as a light in the darkness she was experiencing at the time having been captured and held in a strange culture as a slave against her will.
And it is perfectly within the purview of my approach to "literature" to study this, which might more often be labeled as a "captivity narrative," or a primary historical source. But decisions get made when composing these kinds of texts that we tend to think about as show more non-fiction, or history. There are many choices in here about how to represent and present her experience and the people she discusses. Doesn't make it thrilling, though it might improve if I actually do work on it. show less
And it is perfectly within the purview of my approach to "literature" to study this, which might more often be labeled as a "captivity narrative," or a primary historical source. But decisions get made when composing these kinds of texts that we tend to think about as show more non-fiction, or history. There are many choices in here about how to represent and present her experience and the people she discusses. Doesn't make it thrilling, though it might improve if I actually do work on it. show less
This book contains various primary sources from events that occurred during Metacom's War of 1675-1676. The featured source is an account by Mary Rowlandson, a Puritan woman from New England who was captured and held prisoner for nearly three months by local Indians. Mary tells not only of the actual capture, but also of her life among the Indians. She had to suffer through the death of one child and being separated from two other children. She was often close to starving and describes some of the food that both she and the Indians ate in order to survive. It definitely makes one thankful for the abundance that most of us enjoy today.
One of the main purposes for which Mary wrote her account was to point out that because she kept faith show more in God, he did not abandon her. She also relates her strong disapproval of those Indians who she describes as 'praying Indians.' These were the Indians who had studied the English language and Christianity in the colonists schools. She seem to feel that they were almost worse that the 'savages,' because seemed to do nothing to help her. However, this may have been a little harsh because these Indians were torn between their loyalty to both the Indians and the colonists.
In addition to Mary's account of her capture, other primary sources included in the book gave an insight into the causes of the war between the Indians and colonists. Two of the documents included information as to what happened to the Indians who were captured by the colonists. It seems that most of the children were forced into indentured servitude and many of the adults were sold into slavery as far away as the West Indies.
I found most of the information in this book intriguing. However, I found some of documents difficult to understand because they were printed in the original language that they were written in and much of the spelling at the time was not formalized as it is now. However, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the relations between the colonists and Indians in New England. show less
One of the main purposes for which Mary wrote her account was to point out that because she kept faith show more in God, he did not abandon her. She also relates her strong disapproval of those Indians who she describes as 'praying Indians.' These were the Indians who had studied the English language and Christianity in the colonists schools. She seem to feel that they were almost worse that the 'savages,' because seemed to do nothing to help her. However, this may have been a little harsh because these Indians were torn between their loyalty to both the Indians and the colonists.
In addition to Mary's account of her capture, other primary sources included in the book gave an insight into the causes of the war between the Indians and colonists. Two of the documents included information as to what happened to the Indians who were captured by the colonists. It seems that most of the children were forced into indentured servitude and many of the adults were sold into slavery as far away as the West Indies.
I found most of the information in this book intriguing. However, I found some of documents difficult to understand because they were printed in the original language that they were written in and much of the spelling at the time was not formalized as it is now. However, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the relations between the colonists and Indians in New England. show less
Mary’s story is one misery yet hope. Mary was captured by Native Americans in an attack on a small Massachusetts town during want we call King Philip’s War.” The more I read about this “unremembered” war the more interesting it becomes. I recommend first reading one of the many books on the history of this time period and then read Mary’s account. It will help you to better understand what some of her references refer to.
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson
- Original title
- The Sovereignty and Goodness of God: Being A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson; A narrative of the captivity, sufferings and removes of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson
- Original publication date
- 1682; 1682 (Joseph Poole, Londres) (Joseph Poole, Londres); 1995-10 (1e traduction et édition française, Ethnologie, Les éditions de Paris, Max Chaleil) (1e traduction et é | dition franç | aise, Ethnologie, Les é | ditions de Paris, Max Chaleil)
- People/Characters
- Mary Rowlandson
- Epigraph
- I am confident that no Friend of divine Providence will ever repent his time and pains, spent in reading over these sheets, but will judge them worth perusing again and again.--Preface to the Second Edition, 1682
- First words
- It was on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 1675, in the afternoon, when the Narrhagansets quarters (in or toward the Nipmug Country, whither they are now retyred for fear of the English Army lying in their own Country) were the second time b... (show all)eaten up by the Forces of the united Colonies, who thereupon soon betook themselves to flight, and were all the next day pursued by the English, some overtaken and destroyed.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I have learned to look beyond present and smaller troubles, and to be quieted under them, as Moses said, Exod. 14. 13. Stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord.
- Original language*
- Anglais (Royaume-Uni) (Royaume-Uni)
- Disambiguation notice
- This work is the early American documentation of Mary Rowlandson's capture by Native Americans. It has various titles, including The Captive, The Sovreignty and Goodness of God, A Narrative etc. Please do not combine it with ... (show all)books containing collections of narratives and seperate any you find in this work.
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality
- DDC/MDS
- 973.24 — History & geography History of North America United States Colonial period (1607-1775) Conquest of New Netherland (1664-89)
- LCC
- E87 .R895 .R69 — History of the United States America Indians of North America
- BISAC
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- Reviews
- 13
- Rating
- (3.10)
- Languages
- English, French, Italian
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 65
- ASINs
- 14
