The Mayflower: The Families, the Voyage, and the Founding of America

Edward Winslow (1595–1655), an important yet overlooked name in early American history, fostered a relationship with the Wampanoag that saved lives during the pilgrims' first winter in New England. Fraser's (The Brontës: Charlotte Brontë & Her Family) account of the Mayflower voyage and its people walks readers through their harrowing journey in the New World, as well as the rise and fall of peaceful relations between the pilgrim community and the Wampanoag. Surviving in an unfamiliar land meant that Winslow had to juggle responsibility to his people with a loyalty and close friendship with tribal leader Massassoit. Epic in scope and pacing, this account of survival feels intimate, connecting readers to both groups in a refreshing way. Fraser's focus on the Winslow family, rather than on more common pilgrim names such as John Winthrop, rejuvenates an otherwise stale history. The author's inclusion of indigenous history along with the struggles of women pilgrims and their importance to the community's success is both appreciated and necessary.