John Winthrop, Oliver Cromwell, and the Land of Promise [Hardcover]

Marc Aronson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

This carefully researched and insightful account by Sibert medalist Marc Aronson focuses on the intertwined lives of John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Puritan Commonwealth in England. Set against a broad canvas of the turmoil that engulfed Britain in the 17th century, the book examines the clashes of the monarchy and the church with Parliament, which led these two powerful men to take opposite courses. Here is a panoramic view of the period, from elaborate masques to the trial of a heretic, from wars fought against Indians to dramatic battles led by cavalry, from the toppling of a king to the search for the ideal society.
Packed with literary allusions, vivid descriptions of significant events, and a cast of memorable figures, this sweeping account picks up where the highly acclaimed Sir Walter Ralegh leaves off, providing another riveting look at British and early American history. Cast of characters, maps, endnotes and bibliography, Internet resources, timeline, index.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up–Continuing the trilogy he began in Sir Walter Ralegh and the Quest for El Dorado (Clarion, 2000), Aronson points out startling similarities between 21st-century fanatical religious extremists and the zealous religious leaders who sought to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth nearly 400 years earlier. Focusing on the lives of two prominent Puritans, Cromwell in England and Winthrop in New England, the author takes the viewpoint that "we are the heirs of the radicals, not of the established government." He is fair and nonjudgmental in his clear, thorough explanations of the beliefs of the parties involved in the English Civil War and in the establishment of England's American colonies. Because this book is filled with a wealth of detailed historical information and unique analyses of philosophical issues, it will be challenging for readers without prior exposure to U.S. and British history. Sophisticated readers who come to it with a basic grounding in history and current events should find it fascinating and provocative. The author's extensive research is reflected in his multipaged endnotes and bibliography. The numerous illustrations include captioned reproductions of period maps, engravings, political cartoons, and drawings.–Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA
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From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. Aronson has many gifts: an ability to take historical events and render them as if they were unfolding before us; a cold eye for the prejudices of partisan contemporary accounts; the wit to untangle the knot of conflicting interpretations. His subject is seventeenth-century Britain and America, and he centers his narrative on John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the Puritan Oliver Cromwell, who deposed a king and became Lord Protector in England. Aronson is masterly at illuminating the reality of religious faith and the cataclysmic clash of beliefs that created fertile ground for ideas about democracy and equality. He doesn't downplay the demonization of Catholics in Britain or Pequots and other First Peoples in what would become America. The topic may not be a first choice for young people, but Aronson closes this interest gap by drawing parallels between the past and the present with the contemporary religious right, terrorism, and theocracy. The notes are a model of lucidity for any student wanting to find out more. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (June 22, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618181776
• ISBN-13: 978-0618181773
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,414,870 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

All of my books start with questions, and I hope they prompt readers to ask questions of their own.

I find history history endlessly fascinating. It is the detective story that yields us as the answer.

I try to write each book with the same care I would put into a novel, but with the same respect for truth as a judge in a court of law.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Politics and principles, March 25, 2010

By 

Linda Pagliuco "katknit" (CT, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: John Winthrop, Oliver Cromwell, and the Land of Promise (Hardcover)

Like many Americans, I've long known that England's King Charles I was executed in the 1600's. After reading Marc Aronson's account, recommended to me by my history-teacher son, I now understand why. As the title suggests, author Aronson has penned two parallel stories about two societies, one ancient and the other brand new, and their struggles to define the rights of man. John Winthrop and Oliver Cromwell were a pair of strong-principled, like-minded puritans who chose to act upon their convictions in two different ways. Aronson clearly delineates their successes and failures, and brilliantly demonstrates how these two pivotal political movements resulted, 150 years later, in the founding of the United States. While I personally disagree with the premise that the death of King Charles was necessary, I can see why those who thought it was acted the way they did.

This book is listed in the young adult genre, but it is anything but simplistic and suitable for adults as well, perhaps more so.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not Appropriate for Children!, October 14, 2011

By 

Paige McFall (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Winthrop, Oliver Cromwell, and the Land of Promise (Hardcover)

This book is not a good children's book! The first chapter has the subtitle "Notorious Whores" and he even states that "the early roots of American Democracy are identical to the Taliban." Is this really what we want our children to read??