Customer Reviews

The Journal of John Winthrop, 1630-1649: Abridged Edition (John Harvard Library)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
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Richard Dunn's long-awaited scholarly edition of John Winthrop's journal was well worth the wait. He presents a text as close to the original as it is now possible to come, with clear editorial method, solid supporting notes and a helpful introduction. The only legitimate complaint is that the index could be more comprehensive. This is, and will doubtless long remain, the only entirely recommendable edition of the Winthrop journal, one of the great early American sources.

Please note: THIS REVIEW refers to the full, UNabridged hardcover edition, not the paperback student abridgement: the hardcover is the only version truly useful for scholarly purposes. The abridgement is useful for college classes, and is well-done, but any true student of colonial New England must acquire the full version. (The abridgment does, oddly, have an index that is sometimes superior, however.)

A classic American text, long out of print; if it weren't for the curse word "abridged," deserving of a perfect 5. The Puritans' first twenty-plus years are nowhere better served than in this rational, calm man who spent the better part of his life trying to steer a course between fanaticism and worldly involvement. Anybody who wants to understand how mainstream American culture began needs to acquaint themselves with this seminal work -- if you can handle the omissions.