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The Times of Their Lives: Life, Love, and Death in Plymouth Colony Paperback – October 16, 2001

by James Deetz (Author), Patricia Scott Deetz (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 54 ratings
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The utterly absorbing real story of the lives of the Pilgrims, whose desires and foibles may be more recognizable to us than they first appear.

Americans have been schooled to believe that their forefathers, the Pilgrims, were somber, dark-clad, pure-of-heart figures who conceived their country on the foundation of piety, hard work, and the desire to live simply and honestly. But the truth is far from the portrait painted by decades of historians. They wore brightly colored clothing, often drank heavily, believed in witches, had premarital sex and adulterous affairs, and committed petty and serious crimes against their neighbors in surprisingly high numbers. Beginning by debunking the numerous myths that surround the landing of the Mayflower and the first Thanksgiving, James Deetz and Patricia Scott Deetz lead us through court transcripts, wills, probate listings, and rare firsthand accounts, as well as archaeological finds, to reveal the true story of life in colonial America.
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  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Anchor
  4. Publication date
    October 16, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    5.2 x 1 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0385721536
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0385721530
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[A] fascinating and delightful?revisionist history of our Pilgrim forebears."
--The Providence Journal

"The Deetzes have knocked the dust off these Thanksgiving pageant characters and given them new life."
--The San Diego Union-Tribune

"A hard-headed description...based on the evidence, of life in the Plymouth Colony."
--The New York Times

From the Inside Flap

who until his death was a leading expert on the archaeology of Plymouth Colony, and his wife, cultural historian Patricia Scott Deetz, give a realistic and fascinating picture of life in colonial America as they recount, in colorful detail, the true story of Plymouth Colony.

The Pilgrims were not the somber, dark-clad historical figures children learn about in school. Nor were they nearly as pious as we've been led to believe: they wore brightly colored clothing, drank heavily, had adulterous affairs, and committed both petty and serious crimes against their neighbors. Using court transcripts, wills, probate listings, rare first-hand accounts, and archeological finds, the Deetzes delve into everyday life in Plymouth Colony, accurately recasting one of the most cherished chapters of American history.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anchor
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 16, 2001
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385721536
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385721530
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 1 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 54 ratings

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James Deetz

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4.5 out of 5 stars
54 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and chock full of facts, making it a good history read. The writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer noting it is written for lay people.

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ReadabilityWriting quality
6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and informative, describing it as a good history read that is chock full of facts.

"...I loved it, and I learned many interesting facts about how things have changed over the years...." Read more

"...Not exactly the most entertaining book but it is chock full of facts." Read more

"...The quality of writing and research are both excellent. This is a must-read for those interested in this historical period." Read more

"Great book. Easy to read. Interesting and a different perspective on my ancestors." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one noting its accessibility for lay readers and another highlighting the authors' attention to detail.

"...a historian, appraiser and museum worker, I appreciate the authors' attention to detail...." Read more

"...He spends much time describing and giving details on clothing, house building, the legal system with laws and punishment and generally gives the..." Read more

"...It's incredibly engaging and I think anyone with even a passing interest in American history would enjoy reading this book...." Read more

"...The book is written for lay people, but the author is a real scholar. The quality of writing and research are both excellent...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • ,xbdhsjdbdbaj
    5.0 out of 5 stars Informative Readable Book by a Noted Scholar
    Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I had read In Small Things Forgotten by James Deetz several times and only recently discovered The Times of Their Lives, which he co-authored with his wife. The book centers on Plymouth Plantation and draws on numerous sources to explore the myths and realities of the early years of the area. I thoroughly enjoyed the multipronged approach to the story, and in some ways the book approaches the story in the way he describes in In Small Things Forgotten. As a historian, appraiser and museum worker, I appreciate the authors' attention to detail. I recommend the book to those who want to know more about how we investigate the past (and learn from it).
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  • Jane Hinds
    5.0 out of 5 stars A New Look at the Old Story
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2009
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Dr. James Deetz presents much newly discovered material on the Pilgrims and their journey to the New World. He spends much time describing and giving details on clothing, house building, the legal system with laws and punishment and generally gives the reader a vision of life in the 1600s. He includes lists of possessions and values of items belonging to several men, giving us a glimpse into the world of their time. Even though his research questions many of our previously held assumptions, he presents a picture of a strong, dedicated group of individuals acting together as a group to meet a common goal.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Susan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    My third son is an archaeologist, and he has introduced me to James Deetz--his favorite archaeologist for whom he named a kitten that he found. The first book by Deetz that I read is "In Small Things Forgotten." I loved it, and I learned many interesting facts about how things have changed over the years. So now I'm reading "The Times of Their Lives" about the settlers in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It's really good to be able to separate fact from fiction. And you get a really graphic idea of how hard life was for the first settlers. (We'd still be in England or wherever if settling this country depended on people like me!) And I found out that there was a connection with John Smith between Jamestown and Plymouth--never heard about it in any history course.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • WhoooserDaddy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Work, But They Should've Done Even Better
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2007
    Format: Hardcover
    This book is a thorough piece of work - facts, dry text, colorful insights, dull academia, interesting human elements. It is a strange piece to review, as now that I have finished reading the book, I look back and can actually consider it to be a number of smaller works all contained within the save cover. With that in mind, I will comment on the "sections" individually as well as the work as a whole.

    Archaeology: interesting subject matter for sure, the reader may well find themselves irresistibly drawn in to the discussions on the various referenced sites. However, the author in his/her attempt at describing orientations of items/foundations, etc., does a poor job. In many instances, a simple keyed diagram would have much more applicable and practical than long-winded and convoluted textual descriptions.

    Lifestyles: flowing, page-turning descriptions of the subject matter at hand, be it the belief in the existence of witches, the settlement of estates, or the rules regarding fornication. Well done!

    References to other work: must say that I was a bit disappointed with the occasional complete dependence on Demos' A Little Commonwealth.

    Self-promotion: constant references by the authors to themselves in the 3rd person became annoying, carrying with it an unmistakable air of arrogance. And the disjointed and gratuitous "Postscript" written at the end of Chapter 6 by Patricia Scott Deetz that rambles on about her husband/co-author's many accomplishments was unnecessary and totally out of place.

    Overall: A strange conglomeration of creative writing and storytelling ala Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick and drier Demos-style reliance and regurgitation of old probate records. In the end, I am happy to have read this work, and the experience was enjoyable overall. I can't help but feel, however, that the authors have sold themselves short and not fully-harnessed their collective knowledge of and love for the Plymouth Colony history.
    19 people found this helpful
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  • kstar
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good history read for anyone interested
    Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I am reading this for a graduate course in Colonial social history. It's incredibly engaging and I think anyone with even a passing interest in American history would enjoy reading this book. It really brings the world of the "Pilgrims" to life.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Angel Hiott
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is one of those books that if you have any interest at all in history, you must read it. If you feel like reading the genres of romance, horror, or you need a little dirty fix then read this book. I bought this book for a history class. I'm not a history major and I would buy this book to read for pleasure. It is divided into sections beginning with the meal called Thanksgiving and works through how people lived during the early years of Plymouth Colony. It will make you take a hard look at where we came from. Great book and a must have for the home library.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Rob C.
    3.0 out of 5 stars Very long and sometimes boring
    Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    If you are writing a term paper (or your thesis for that matter) on early colonization in New England, this book is a must. But the writing style is very boring and because of that I found myself doing something that I rarely do.....skimming. Not exactly the most entertaining book but it is chock full of facts.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Nancy Rice
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful work.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I first read this from the public library, and I had to buy it. The book is written for lay people, but the author is a real scholar. The quality of writing and research are both excellent. This is a must-read for those interested in this historical period.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Gerard Raven
    5.0 out of 5 stars value for money
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    great book, light spine wear from former reader
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  • ric
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2017
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    content and service ecellent
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