A Time Before New Hampshire: The Story of a Land and Native Peoples [Hardcover]

Michael J. Caduto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003

A comprehensive look at the geography, environment, and peoples of the land that became New Hampshire, from ancient times through the colonial era.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Spendidly vivid accounts of geological history... All New Hampshire libraries will want this book."--CHOICE

"Caduto's A Time Before New Hampshire fills a major gap in the literature of both natural and human history in New Hampshire, as well as of their interrelationships. Caduto presents a rich and dense story in a remarkably engaging way... Readers are asked to walk on a solo 'time-lapse' journey through a vastly changing physical, environmental, and cultural landscape--starting from the beginning, and checking their twenty-four-hour watches along the way... Caduto has also consciously conducted his research in a manner respectful to both the ancestors and the descendants of the Native American Indians he discusses... Caduto's A Time Before New Hampshire is a must-read for every New Hampshirite and can be enjoyed by just about any audience."--Historical New Hampshire

"Anyone who has ever walked the woods, mountains and towns of New Hampshire knows the thrill of finding evidence of the region's vast history. In A Time Before New Hampshire, Michael Caduto tells the story of the land that is New Hampshire, starting with the formation of Earth 4.6 billion years ago and continuing with evolution of the natural environment up through its settlement by European colonists."--Northern New Hampshire Magazine

"A Time Before New Hampshire: The Story of a Land and Native Peoples is an important and unusual book. It's important because it brings together many stories of our region and connects them in ways that will, I think, touch readers profoundly--especially those who love the land. It is unusual because the connections ring so true, root so deep, and because the author, Michael J. Caduto, lets intuition and imagination lead him, and readers in turn, to places that fact and legend can only suggest."--Concord Monitor --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"This is an excellent book, brilliantly written and masterfully organized so as to provide the grand context for our time and place. It offers an engaging, life-like and empathetic account of the ancient peoples of New Hampshire . . . There is something in it for all readers." (Gary W. Hume, former New Hampshire State Archaeologist ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: New Hampshire; 1st edition (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584651857
• ISBN-13: 978-1584651857
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,997,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding NHgeophysical and native people's history, October 31, 2007

By 

Lee Parmenter "leeparmenter.com" (Manchester, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Time Before New Hampshire: The Story of a Land and Native Peoples (Paperback)

Among other things I do, I sell fossils and minerals part time, and at an agricultural fair this past summer, my friend Gary lent me his copy of this book. I can not tell you what a pleasure it has been reading this work. The book covers from earliest geological times through the 1700's. Michael Caduto has done an excellent job of outlining all facets of NH history as best it can be reconstructed without benefit of written cultural history. If I could, I would give this book 5 stars for a fascinating read, 5 stars for creating a believable description of what life was like for our native peoples, and 5 stars for the resource information at the back of the book, which includes listings of NH museums, native language pronunciation, wildlife present during the times described, and so on. Thank you Gary for a great read, and, even more, thank you Michael, for all your extensive research on the subject.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NH from its beginnings, June 28, 2007

By 

S. C. Holbrook (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Time Before New Hampshire: The Story of a Land and Native Peoples (Paperback)

I feel lucky to have found this, and at such a great price! The book was perfect, and the arrival time more than prompt.

4.0 out of 5 stars Waxes Poetic For Science Sake, September 26, 2011

By 

GeoUtah - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Time Before New Hampshire: The Story of a Land and Native Peoples (Paperback)

I brought this book along with me for my honeymoon in New Hampshire. I am a native of the western US and a Geographer by training. This is a geographic text in the finest tradition. It is elegantly written for the more than casual readers reward for grasping the preliminary geology and moving into the botany, wildlife and indigenous populations of what is now the state of New Hampshire. I would recommend the text. He places the geologic time scale in human terms- as a year and walks very quickly through geologic eras and some periods. I enjoyed the read very much.