Heather J. (ReadingAddict) reviewed The Unredeemed Captive: A Family Story from Early America on + 102 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
This book is fascinating! It is the story of European/American settlers taken captive by American Indians during raids, and they way those "prisoners" were integrated into the life of the tribe. In many cases, the "prisoners" did not want to leave the tribe when they were finally given the chance. The book weaves together a wide variety of stories, each with a differenct perspective. I hope you enjoy it!
Bonnie S. (Bonnie) -
Helpful Score: 3
From Publishers Weekly
The armed conflicts of the 18th century between the English colonies in North America and the French settlements that stretched into Canada were fought with the support of Native American allies. Demos, a Yale history professor ( Entertaining Satan: Witchcraft and the Culture of Early New England ), draws on primary source material to provide a perceptive analysis of the cultural encounters that occurred between combatants by detailing the experiences of the John Williams family. Williams, a Puritan minister, and his family were captured in 1704 in their Massachusetts home by a group of Frenchmen and Native Americans, and forced to march to Canada. Although he and four of his children were later released, his wife died on the march and his daughter, Eunice, became a convert to Catholicism and married a Native American. Despite the ongoing attempts of her father and brother to persuade Eunice to return to Massachusetts, she would agree only to brief visits and lived in a Native American settlement until her death at the age of 95. Illustrations not seen by PW. History Book Club main selection ; BOMC alternate .
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
The armed conflicts of the 18th century between the English colonies in North America and the French settlements that stretched into Canada were fought with the support of Native American allies. Demos, a Yale history professor ( Entertaining Satan: Witchcraft and the Culture of Early New England ), draws on primary source material to provide a perceptive analysis of the cultural encounters that occurred between combatants by detailing the experiences of the John Williams family. Williams, a Puritan minister, and his family were captured in 1704 in their Massachusetts home by a group of Frenchmen and Native Americans, and forced to march to Canada. Although he and four of his children were later released, his wife died on the march and his daughter, Eunice, became a convert to Catholicism and married a Native American. Despite the ongoing attempts of her father and brother to persuade Eunice to return to Massachusetts, she would agree only to brief visits and lived in a Native American settlement until her death at the age of 95. Illustrations not seen by PW. History Book Club main selection ; BOMC alternate .
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Suzanne K. (suezeeque) reviewed The Unredeemed Captive: A Family Story from Early America on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book. It's one that I will keep in my library. I never had that much interest in that particular historical period, but after reading about how people lived during those times (1700's) and their interactions with the indigenous Indians and the French it has spurred me to investigate my ancestors who lived in MD during this era. With scant information except for personal diaries and legal documents Putnam has managed to put together a story about one woman who was captured by Indians during a raid on Deerfield, MA and decided to stay and make a life with her captors. It was absolutely fascinating.
