The Wordy Shipmates (Hardcover) ~ Sarah Vowell (Author) Cover Art

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The Wordy Shipmates (Hardcover)

By: Sarah Vowell (Author)

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First line

"The only thing more dangerous than an idea is a belief. And by dangerous I don't mean thought-provoking. I mean: might get people killed."

Publisher's note

A cultural profile of Puritan life covers a wide range of topics, from their covenant communities and deep-rooted ideologies to their beliefs about church and state and their perspectives on other faiths, in an account that also evaluates their legacy in today's world. 125,000 first printing.

Annotation

The noted author and NPR commentator Sarah Vowell applies her special brand of history and social commentary to the age of the Puritans as well as to today. Vowell delves below the surface of the Puritan experience to find a fascinating social structure and psychological makeup. She knocks away tired old stereotypes and reexamines the standard, somewhat canned biographies of famous people such as Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson. Vowell traces key aspects of the Puritan character up through our times, pointing out just what and what is not Puritan-like in the American character. Her warts-and-all approach brings history to life, as THE WORDY SHIPMATES makes these early settlers seem almost modern.

From the "New York Times"abestselling author of "Assassination Vacation" and "The Partly Cloudy Patriot," an examination of the Puritans, their covenant communities, their deep-rooted idealism, their political and cultural relevance in todayas world, and their myriad oddities.
In "The Wordy Shipmates," Sarah Vowell travels once again through Americaas past, this time to seventeenth-century New England. From the British Library to the Mohegan Sun casino, from the nationas first synagogue to a "Mayflower" waterslide, Vowell studies the Puritan effect and finds their beliefs about church and state more interesting than their buckles-and-corn reputation would suggest.
She asks:
Was Massachusetts Bay Colony governor John Winthrop a communitarian, Christlike Christian, or conformityas tyrannical enforcer? Yes Was Rhode Islandas architect Roger Williams Americaas founding freak or the father of the First Amendment? Same difference. How come Henry Vane the Younger, who argued against beheading the English king, was himself beheaded for helping behead said king? Good question. What does it take to get that jezebel Anne Hutchinson to shut up? A hatchet. What was the Puritansa pet name for the Pope? The Great Whore of Babylon. What is the lesson of the Pequot War? Why, donat fire one of your militaryas embarrassingly few Arabic translators just because heas gay, of course.
As in all Vowellas bestselling books, this exploration of Americaas past is both poignant and entertaining. "The Wordy Shipmates" is rich with historical fact, humorous insight, and social commentary by one of Americaas celebrated voices.

Customer Reviews for "The Wordy Shipmates (Hardcover)" by Sarah Vowell (Author)

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5 out of 5 stars The Wordy Shipmates, October 9, 2008
By Ira
Sarah Vowell is an essayist, regular public radio contributor, and has been featured in Mcsweeneys and The New York Times. Her writings are funny, and sharp. "The Wordy Shipmates" chronicles the pilgrims who first came to America, and does so in a new light fueled with humor and straight talk. A great read. Highly recommended.

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