Of Plymouth Plantation: Historical Account (eBook)

In 'Of Plymouth Plantation,' William Bradford provides an indispensable narrative of the Pilgrims' arduous journey and the early decades of the Plymouth Colony. Composed between 1630 and 1651, Bradford's account spans from the Pilgrims' sojourn in the Dutch Republic to the trials and tribulations experienced on American soil, culminating in the year 1647. Renowned for its unvarnished honesty and adherence to fact, Bradford's manuscript is a cornerstone of American historiography. Crafted in a prose that is both plainspoken and evocative, the book carries the weight of authenticity, vividly capturing the Puritan ethos and the birth pangs of a settlement that would become iconic in the American imagination. Bradford's literary context, situated in the Puritan tradition with a reliance on providential history, provides readers with crucial perspectives into the communal values and theocratic foundation of Plymouth Colony.

William Bradford, the long-standing governor of Plymouth Colony, penned this historic volume not merely as a chronicle but as a testimony to the indomitable spirit of his people. His personal involvement and leadership through the colony's decades of hardships lend his narrative both authority and a pathos unique to one who has both shaped and been shaped by the events described therein. Bradford's commitment to a detailed recounting was driven by a desire to preserve the memory of his community's covenant with God, trials faced, and the character that those trials forged. This document emerges from the palpable urgency to justify the sacrifices made and to provide a moral framework for future generations.

'Readers with an interest in the early fabric of American history, the Puritan ethos, and the foundational saga of settlement in the New World will find 'Of Plymouth Plantation' to be essential reading. Bradford's narrative is not only a testament to the trials of the Plymouth colonists but also a touchstone for understanding the rigors and resilience of early American settlers. Through Bradford's eyes, educators, historians, and the curious alike can witness the inception of what Samuel Eliot Morison famously deemed a foundational narrative for 'all Americans.'