Mayflower II

Destination: New England

Book: Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War by Nathanial Philbrick

We might call it Nathanial Philbrick: Myth Buster

The story of the pilgrims fascinated me because although my ancestors did not arrive  on the Mayflower, they were not far behind.

Myth 1: “Pilgrims” were the first settlers.

Although many other Europeans  landed on North America before the Mayflower, the Puritans and companions who stepped ashore in what is now New England, did  found the first  still-enduring community. That information is not new, but this book’s background on the prior expeditions sheds light on the settlement of Plymouth.

The pilgrims also drew up a remarkable compact of governance which set the stage for participatory democracy on this continent that we now take for granted, and it is interesting to get the background on that.

My own ancestors were on that ill-fated boat that turned around and went back to wait out the winter storms. They re-boarded and arrived on the 2nd boat.  I’ve always been quite proud of that fact, but after reading Philbrick’s Mayflower, my pride mixed with a good deal of pondering.

His subtitle, Courage, Community and War sums up the main themes of this book. These people were indeed courageous.

Myth 2: They were all religious.

Not all 102 passengers were Puritans, driven by a sincere desire to start a church in a new land unhampered by state-imposed religious restrictions. Some were along for the adventure, or because they simply had run out of other options. This was a community that had moved together from Holland to England and intended to move as a body to the New World.  Had they not had this sense of community, they would never have survived to the second winter.

Myth 3: They were surprised by the Indians and both parties were hostile from the beginning.

First (Mythical) Thanksgiving

The War in the subtitle refers to King Philip’s War, rarely touched on in history books. When I was growing up, the Indians were relegated to the role of grateful guests at the Thanksgiving feast. Our awareness of the lives of Indians, and the relations with non-Indian settlers has made its way into our national story. It is politically correct for non-Indians to feel guilty. Philbrick paints a more complex picture than the 1950′s version OR the P.C. version of today.

But, and this was another revelation for me, the original Puritan fathers were quite fair and respectful in negotiating and the natives responded in kind.  It was the second generation of Europeans that took a harsher view and provoked the bloody conflicts referred to in the subtitle as “war.” (This reminds me of what happened with the Hawaiian missionaries. See post about Hawaii here.)

The Crossroads

I hope that you will have an opportunity to travel to the New England shores where the Pilgrims landed–not at the present location of Plymouth Rock, of course, and perhaps not on a rock at all.

Although the area around the alleged Plymouth Rock seemed tacky, I did enjoy a visit to Plimoth Village, a tasteful recreation of life inside the fort constructed by 1627.

Philbrook presents the deep background that helps us viscerally understand the world as seen by the Puritans and their fellow early world travellers as well as the complex and shifting alliances among Indian tribes along the coast.

Instead of one fateful moment–stepping onto a mythical rock–we have fifty years of struggle, painful decision making, letting go of assumptions, and building of new alliances.  This book certainly provides food for thought for the traveler to New England.

(Other posts about New England you might like: A Cape Cod Town; Emily Dickinson; Spencer’s Boston; Martha’s Vinyard and Jaws; The Trancedentalists.) Before you get too busy with the holidays, why not Subscribe to A Travelers’ Library by Email?.

This content is a post from: A Traveler's Library To comment on this post or search for related information, click on the link to A Traveler's Library. We'll leave a light on for you.

©2012 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

Books and Play: The Belle of Amherst by William Luce; The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, edited by Thomas H. Johnson; and a Recipe

Bring me the sunset in a cup

Autumn makes me think of New England, and New England makes me want to get out [amazonify]0316184136::text::::The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson[/amazonify]. In a former life, I played Emily in the play The Belle of Amherst, and ever since I have been making the black cake she is making at the beginning of that play. I make it on Thanksgiving weekend, wrap it in cheesecloth dipped in brandy and serve it on Christmas Eve. (Cut the recipe in half or one-quarter if you must, but DO NOT call it a fruitcake.)

EMILY DICKINSON’S BLACK CAKE

as adapted by Vera Marie Badertscher

• 2 Pounds flour (8 cups)
• 2 pounds sugar (4 cups)
• 2 pounds butter (4 cups)
• 19 eggs
• 5 pounds raisins
• 1 1/2 pounds citron
• 1 1/2 pounds currents
• 1/2 pint brandy* (1 cup)
• 1/2 pint molasses (1 cup)
• 2 nutmegs (4-6 tablespoons, ground)
• 5 tablespoons total: cloves, mace, cinammon
• 2 tablespoons soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt

* Emily says, “Not my father’s BEST brandy.”

Sift flour, soda, spices, salt.  Beat butter and sugar, add eggs a few at a time, beating after each addition.  Add brandy alternately with flour mixture.  Add molasses.  Sprinkle in fruit, slowly as you stir.
Bake at 250 degrees one and a half to three hours depending on the size of the pans you use. Full recipe makes one large “angel food cake” pan; plus 2-3 loaf pans.

Remove from pan to cool.  Wrap in cheesecloth dipped in brandy.  Store in air tight container for several weeks, dribbling on some more brandy from time to time.
Note: I have looked at other recipes on the Internet and immodestly believe this version is best. Slow baking and thorough basting are key.

Click on the image for an Emily poem. Come back every day this week for more New England. Tomorrow a book set in Cape Cod; Thursday a look at the Pilgrims, and France on Friday a surprise connection between France and New England.

This content is a post from: A Traveler's Library To comment on this post or search for related information, click on the link to A Traveler's Library. We'll leave a light on for you.

©2012 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.