Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson

Wait - this woman essentially goes through hell and back, and she manages to hang onto her knitting the whole time? I'm calling shenanigans.......more

Two stars only for the unintentional comic value. Ah, only a Puritan could write this. You wouldn't think a 50 page piece could be that redundant, but oh, how it is. She basically talks about the food she eats and how much she loves god and how evil the Native Americans are, even though they don't t......more

This short historical narrative was an interesting read, both historically and spiritually. Mary Rowlandson was captured by Indians in the 1600's and held captive for eleven weeks until she was ransomed. Stripped of all comforts, and losing sight of all human help, she was able to endure her captivi......more

This is a very important piece of American literature not necessarily because it's what the narrator intended, but because of how much is revealed of the Native American culture - unintentionally! We read Mrs. Rowlandson describing all these seemingly "horrific" deeds of the natives, but really, any......more

I think I am on my fourth or fifth reading of this short book, and they have all been in an academic context, either as student of the text or teacher of it, and always, for that matter, from the Norton Anthology. Rowlandson's narrative stands up to that many readings. Her style is lively, even verg......more