Customer Reviews

Vexed and Troubled Englishmen 1590-1642

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Bridenbaugh's text needs to be reprinted. The complex backgrounds, problems, and motives of the earliest English emigres to New England is essen- tial to a more comprehensive understanding of the history of North America, and why its cultural, economic, and political features were established as we see them today after more than 350 years of refinement through a participatory federated republic.

I had to read this book and write a book report about it.
I assumed these Englishmen were "vexed and troubled." Hmmm....
You don't encounter the part about why they were vexed and troubled until way later. The first half of the book is a social history of what an English peasants life was like in England from 1590-1642. In HUGE detail. Trust me, hes pretty darn thorough. I can't stand social history. It doesn't "read" well; why not just make a list: Food eaten by Peasant: Brown Bread

Size of Peasants house: varies Roofing material: see boring book. I understand this is a popular book. Its great for genealogy as well. But its boring. The author tries to cover so much it ends up jumping all over the place. From very specific in the beginning, to broad and general in the end. We go from English poor, to monarchy, to across the seas in America. We jump around indiscriminately in 40 English counties, and jump from colony to colony in America. Its a social history with zero readability. Great reference, but I'd make heavy use of the index, don't get bogged down in the text. Social history as the written word, what a dumb idea!
PS You may notice there isn't much reference to "vexed and troubled" in this review. There isn't much in the book, either. Its all up to the reader to deduce it on their own. No problem, but as mundane as some points are (a "huswife" is a housewife; she got that title because she worked around the house all day...) you think the author could've reiterated his purpose a coupla times. Its just me, though. Go ahead and read it if you want to! :)