by T. J. Stiles
First published 1998
This book brings together firsthand accounts from European settlers during a turbulent century and a half of colonial history. The narrative weaves original documents with storytelling to illuminate major events that shaped early America. Readers witness Bacon's Rebellion through the eyes of participants, experience the Salem witch trials as contemporaries recorded them, and follow the destruction of Huron communities through survivor testimonies. The book also chronicles the military campaign that led to Quebec's fall, told by those who fought in the battles. These personal voices reveal how colonists understood their own actions during this transformative period. The combination of primary sources and narrative structure allows readers to see colonial expansion as the settlers themselves experienced it, complete with their justifications, fears, and ambitions.
Genres: historical-fiction, non-fiction, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-events, multiple-perspectives
Setting: America, Quebec, Salem
Period: 17th Century, 18th Century
418 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Perigee Trade
Content warnings: colonialism