The Wordy Shipmates
by Sarah Vowell
Book Summary Information
Author: Sarah VowellEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-10-07
ISBN: 1594489998
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9781594489990
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
- Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
Book Reviews of The Wordy Shipmates
Book Review: I love this woman
Summary: 5 Stars
Sarah Vowell is so witty and writes so cleverly about the subject. She does tend to meander through the story, but I think that is the nature of the story she is telling. She uses her slow winding trip through the history of the pilgrims to make a few points; but she isn't using it as a story to drive home some deeply held point about anything. It would seem that the point of the book is first and foremost to be an enjoyable read, secondly to educate on the pilgrims, and finally to show off just how witty she can be. I think all three aspects are accomplished masterfully.
Summary of The Wordy Shipmates
The Wordy Shipmates is New York Times-bestselling author Sarah Vowell's exploration of the Puritans and their journey to America to become the people of John Winthrop's "city upon a hill"-a shining example, a "city that cannot be hid."To this day, America views itself as a Puritan nation, but Vowell investigates what that means- and what it should mean. What was this great political enterprise all about? Who were these people who are considered the philosophical, spiritual, and moral ancestors of our nation? What Vowell discovers is something far different from what their uptight shoe-buckles-and- corn reputation might suggest. The people she finds are highly literate, deeply principled, and surprisingly feisty. Their story is filled with pamphlet feuds, witty courtroom dramas, and bloody vengeance. Along the way she asks:
* Was Massachusetts Bay Colony governor John Winthrop a communitarian, a Christlike Christian, or conformity's tyrannical enforcer? Answer: Yes!
* Was Rhode Island's architect, Roger Williams, America's founding freak or the father of the First Amendment? Same difference.
* What does it take to get that jezebel Anne Hutchinson to shut up? A hatchet.
* What was the Puritans' pet name for the Pope? The Great Whore of Babylon.
Sarah Vowell's special brand of armchair history makes the bizarre and esoteric fascinatingly relevant and fun. She takes us from the modern-day reenactment of an Indian massacre to the Mohegan Sun casino, from old-timey Puritan poetry, where "righteousness" is rhymed with "wilderness," to a Mayflower-themed waterslide. Throughout, The Wordy Shipmates is rich in historical fact, humorous insight, and social commentary by one of America's most celebrated voices. Thou shalt enjoy it.
Authors Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Authors Books
Akiane: Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetryby Akiane Kramarik
Thomas Nelson; Published: 2006-04-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.01
Price in other shops:
Shot in the Heartby Mikal Gilmore
Bantam Audio; Published: 1994; Audio Cassette; Book
Best price: $56.98
Alex: 2The Life of a Childby Frank Deford
Viking Adult; Published: 1983-10-24; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.95
The Coalwood Wayby Homer Hickam
Island Books; Published: 2001-09-04; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.40
Price in other shops:
Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rentby Anthony Rapp
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2006-10-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.13
Price in other shops:
In the Company of Heroesby Michael Durant, Steven Hartov
Putnam Adult; Published: 2003-05-12; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Life Is So Goodby George Dawson, Richard Glaubman
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2001-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.24
Price in other shops:
Fate is the Hunterby Ernest K. Gann
Simon & Schuster; Published: 1986-07-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.35
Price in other shops:
All Creatures Great and Smallby James Herriot
Demco Media; Published: 1990-03; Turtleback; Book
Best price: $39.95
Gift from the Seaby Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Pantheon; Published: 1991-01-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.97
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
The Tribes of America: Journalistic Discoveries of Our People and Their Culturesby Paul Cowan
New Press; Published: 2008-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.75
Price in other shops:
When You Are Engulfed in Flamesby David Sedaris
Back Bay Books; Published: 2009-06-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.90
Price in other shops:
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hopeby William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
William Morrow; Published: 2009-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.99
Price in other shops:
The Areas of My Expertiseby John Hodgman
Riverhead Trade; Published: 2006-09-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.11
Price in other shops:
Shakespeare Wrote for Moneyby Nick Hornby
McSweeney's; Published: 2008-12-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.72
Price in other shops:
More Information Than You Requireby John Hodgman
Riverhead Trade; Published: 2009-11-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.23
Price in other shops:
Radio On: A Listener's Diaryby Sarah Vowell
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 1997-12-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.90
Price in other shops:
Take the Cannoli : Stories From the New Worldby Sarah Vowell
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2001-04-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.13
Price in other shops:
Assassination Vacationby Sarah Vowell
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2006-01-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.50
Price in other shops:
The Partly Cloudy Patriotby Sarah Vowell
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2003-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.48
Price in other shops: