In case you haven't noticed, I have a particular interest in American History and have read a few books on the subject recently, which I've listed below.
'Mayflower' by Nathaniel Philbrick - This is an excellent history of the Pilgrim's journey to the new world, and the first 50 years of the Plymouth colony. It ends with the nasty 'King Philip's War' between the Native Americans and the European colonists.
'Savage Kingdom' by Benjamin Woolley - The story of the founding of Jamestown, the first successful English colony in America. This is a cracking history book and very detailed too.
'Big Chief Elizabeth' by Giles Milton - Elizabethan attempts to colonise America including the 'lost colony' of Roanoake. A fascinating history, with the final chapters covering the founding of the Jamestown colony (though in much less detail than Savage Kingdom).
'Mayflower Bastard' by David Lindsay - The story of the life of Richard More one of the 'first comers' who aged 5 travelled to the New World on the Mayflower in 1620. He lived a long life, and witnessed the Salem Witch trials in 1690. The book is written by one of his descendants, and while the writing style is flawed it's a fascinating story.
'The Island at the Centre of the World' by Russell Shorto - A history of the founding of New York (New Amsterdam as it was then), taking the history up to the time the English took the colony over from the Dutch in the 1660's. A superbly written history.
'1776' by David MCCullough - A history of 1776, a crucial year in the American Revolution. It switches from the generals leading the war to the ordinary soldiers, using lots of eyewitness accounts, letters, journals etc. It includes lots of extracts from solider's writings which gives a refreshing view of the war, rich in imagery and detail. A great book, but I wish it carried on through 1777, 1778 etc. up until the end of the war!
I've got a few books waiting to be read, and a few more that I'm looking at buying. There's so much to read and so little time! I will do another update on the books I've read soon, when I've read some more.
No comments:
Post a Comment