Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

CraftyRole4567 t1_je5gm7q wrote

I just finished Malcolm Gaskill’s Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World. It’s the story of the witch hunt in Springfield Massachusetts in 1651, but it starts with the founding of the plantation and it’s an incredible exploration of what life was actually like there in the 1600s. He perfectly captures the hothouse atmosphere of exhaustion, boredom, anxiety and gossip that led to the witch accusations, but I also don’t think I’ve gotten a better portrait of what life was like for the Puritans.

It really well written too, and sometimes unexpectedly funny. Somehow I did not expect >!the most damning accusation to be based on a pudding!<

15

TadpoleWaxer t1_je7d1cz wrote

That sounds fascinating. Adding it to my list.

Currently reading Bruce Catton's The Army of the Potomac trilogy. The beautiful Library of America edition. I'm such a sucker for those books.

3

CraftyRole4567 t1_jeb8ufg wrote

He’s a wonderful writer! When I encountered him, I didn’t know history could be written that way & it really opened my eyes.

1

TadpoleWaxer t1_jec9wv0 wrote

I agree. It's such an engaging read, and so many interesting, humanizing details about the people. And such a cutting wit when he talks about McClellan's many flaws.

1