Kjellquist Blog

I just finished one of the best history books I’ve ever read. I’ll bet you think you know pilgrim history, at least if you’re from New England. By now most people know that the story of the first Thanksgiving is mostly myth. Nathaniel Philbrick, in his book Mayflower, goes well beyond a simple correction of the common myths. He starts back in England and Holland setting the stage for the exodus of the Pilgrims from Leiden by way of England.

Philbrick then provides a well written account of the Pilgrims and their first years in New England. He focuses mostly on the hardships, community politics and interrelationship with the native Americans. Philbrick doesn’t stop at this point. He continues the story chronicling the remaining decades leading up to the devastating King Philip war. For most people the history of these early years of the settlement of New England will be new information. Even if you grew reading all those historical markers on New England roads, the early history of the native Americans as told by Philbrick will be quite an eye-opener.

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