Red King's Rebellion: Racial Politics in New England, 1675-1678 (Hardcover)

by Russell Bourne (Author)
Key Phrases: great sachem, native allies, New England, The Red King's Rebellion, King Philip's War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
For half a century, colonists in New England enjoyed an uneasy peace with the native American Indians, in what Bourne (former editor and publisher of American Heritage Books) calls a biracial society. The idyll ended in 1675 when Pokanoket Prince Philip, son of an Indian sachem who had befriended the Pilgrims, led an uprising, dubbed "King Philip's War." More than half of New England's towns were attacked over two years; 9000 people died; as a result, the Puritan colonies, left battered and deep in debt, came under a tighter British rein. Bourne distances himself from revisionist historians who see the colonists as greedy land-grabbers from the outset and balances conflicting interpretations. The writing in this political history is stiltedwhat does stilted mean in this context/does that do it?gs , however, although sprinkled with dramatic glimpses of the conflict. Illustrations.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Bourne, former editor and publisher of American Heritage Books, presents a mostly balanced view of King Phillip's War, a conflict between New England Indians and English settlers. Beginning his research "as a visitor among the peoples," Bourne's efforts revealed that previous works on this war were "grotesque distortions." He clearly outlines the war named after Metacom, sachem of the Wampanoag, and his analysis of events leading up to the conflict is especially insightful. While Bourne does not disparage the settlers, his sympathies appear to lie with the Indians. The rebellion has been treated in a number of studies, ranging from Douglas Leach's classic Flintlock and Tomahawk (LJ 4/1/58) to Francis Jennings's revisionist The Invasion of America (LJ 11/15/75). While well researched and written, Bourne's work adds nothing new. Recommended for general readers and research libraries with extensive colonial American collections.
- Cindy Faries, Pennsylvania State Univ. Lib., University Park
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 273 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books (May 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689120001
• ISBN-13: 978-0689120008
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,344,687 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Pilgrims and Puritans deprive the Indians of his land., April 8, 2004

By	Kevin M Quigg (Carol Stream, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Red King's Rebellion: Racial Politics in New England 1675-1678 (Paperback)

This would be a great read around Thankgiving. When the Pilgrims first landed by Plymouth Rock, the native Indians helped the English settlers survive the winters. Cooperation between the Indian chiefs and the settlers resulted in survival in the new land. Fifty years later, the settlers took away the land of the Indians, sold Indian women and children into slavery and killed off most of the male Indians. How could peaceful coexistance lead to genocide of the Indians. Bourne explains this in his book about King Philip's War and the death and destuction of the native Indian tribes.
The author's contention is that Native Americans and the settlers could have led peaceful lives in New England. The influx of settlers led to the loss of the Indian's lives and land. Bourne argues that this should not have happened. What struck me is how the Pilgrims and Puritans (both religious fanatics) justified their wars and genocide because the Indians were heathens. Even if the Indians had converted to Christianity, they were still fair game in this war. This history is what should be taught at Thanksgiving.

That said, this book is only for the academic. The style of writing would not incite interest among the general population even though the topic is important in American history.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Jordan Plantation?????, May 24, 2005

By	Emmett Jordan (Milwaukee, WI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Red King's Rebellion: Racial Politics in New England 1675-1678 (Paperback)

Quite a bit of useful data on colonial New England.
However, where is mention of the Jordan Plantation
of Spurwink and Scarborough Maine, that was destroyed in the King Philip's War 1675-1678? It was founded by Rev Robert Jordan,
minister of Spurwink, Casco, and Saco, Maine, and there is a book, missing from the bibliography.....The Jordan Memorial.... by Tristram Frost Jordan Picton Press, Camden ME.