Between Two Worlds Lib/E: How the English Became Americans

by Malcolm Gaskill

Over 350,000 intrepid English men, women, and children migrated to America in the seventeenth century, leaving behind their homeland for an uncertain future on distant shores. Whether they settled in Jamestown, Salem, or Barbados, these early English migrants--entrepreneurs, soldiers, and pilgrims alike--sought to re-create their old country in the new land.Yet as Malcolm Gaskill reveals in Between Two Worlds, colonists' efforts to remake England and retain their Englishness proved impossible. As they strove to leave their mark on the New World, they too were altered: by harsh wilderness, by illness and infighting, and by bloody battles with Indians. Gradually acclimating to their new environment, later generations realized that they were perhaps not even English at all. These were the first Americans, and their newfound independence would propel them along the path toward rebellion.A major work of transatlantic history, Between Two Worlds brilliantly illuminates the long, complicated, and often traumatic process by which English colonists became American.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, American, British Literature, Reference, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published November 1, 2014

About the author

Malcolm Gaskill is Professor of Early Modern History at the University of East Anglia.

Reviews

[Robert Hopcke · Rating 3 out of 5]

The actual specifics of this whole era of early American history were unknown to me, so this book was very informative in a general way. I definitely enjoyed the particular perspective brought to it in which the author systemstically showed how political and social developments in England from 1600 to around 1750 were refracted through the American colonies. I learned a great deal about the difficulties of the early decades and a lot about the true nature of the Puritan culture in New England. However I didn't find the book especially easy to read, as the author recounted story after story of specific individuals as illustrations but without really ensconcing them in a clear larger analytical frame. The stories themselves were memorable but I did often think, "and why am I reading about him or her?" So in the end it was a bit like a mosaic of a lot of pieces you have to draw back and look at to get a sense of what the overall point or significance was. That said, it was stunning to me that issues at the center of the culture wars of that time, over 400 years ago, are STILL as hot as ever. If there were ever an argument for reading history, this is it.

[Carolyn Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to skim this book, as the history of the colonies in the early US of the 1600's makes such gruesome reading. The different groups of colonists fought with each other about religion, were periodically attacked by disease or Indians, and it is a wonder that they survived the first hundred years, and were eventually able to come together in the 1700's to fight for independence.

It appears that the early settlers came for economic reasons and for their own personal religious freedom, not for anyone else's freedom. The ideals of freedom of expression which we cherish, did not apparently exist at that time. Superstition was rampant, and the accusations of witchcraft, and the subsequent witch trials, are well documented.

This book is well written and well documented, however, the stories involve so much contention, disease and death, that I confess I was not at all comfortable reading it. The brutal and bloody attacks on the settlers by the Indians, and on the Indians by the settlers, are especially difficult to read.

I was raised with the stories of the happy, smiling Pilgrims, helped by the kind Indians, which stories unfortunately, were exaggerated and the rough edges smoothed over in the 1950's, when I began my formal schooling. The realities of the 1600's in this country are hard for me to face. I feel fortunate that some of my ancestors survived, and some of my ancestors came in the 1800's in quieter times.

[Simon Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good history of English settlers in America during the 17th century. As well as carefully explaining what possessed these people to cross the vast, unforgiving ocean and endure the numerous hardships they were met with on the other side, Gaskill goes deep into the complex to-and-fro of English colonial politics and faith in the Atlantic world. He makes it clear that it wasn't so clean-cut a 'New World' for the pilgrims, prospectors and adventurers who started to build America.

In places I found the writing a little dry and hard-going, but Gaskill makes events like the Indian massacre in Virginia (1622), the battles of King Philip's War (1670s) or the raid on Deerfield (1704) quite vivid and gripping when it's called for, and there was enough that was new to me that it held my interest throughout.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh what dry history. I couldn't get past the Preface. Check this sentence:
"Even English political unrest, notably the civil wars of the 1640s, sprang not from failure and despair but from pragmatic self-reflexivity: the creative urge of those quasi-republican citizens and office-holders to confront change and pursue compromise." What?
Not one of the early reviewers gave this book five stars.

[Aishuu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly the history I've been looking for - the interactions of England with her colonies, the political climate of the time and the development of different colonies. Definitely on the scholarly side, but it answered a lot of my questions about the time period and how the politics of England affected who came and went.

[Stephen Lavington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating history of the 17th century in colonial America (and the Caribbean) a period which, to my understanding, is rather over-shadowed by the myth of the founding fathers and the birth of the USA.

This birth did not actually take place until a century later, and Gaskill traces the course of a people who existed outside of England but at the same time keen to keep their connection with (their perception of) its ideas and its history, while at the same time existing in a frontier land of great challenges and tolerating hostility from (as well as perpetrating great savagery against) the native people of America.

It's a rich stew and one that is somewhat overwhelming at times - particularly, as Gaskill makes clear, given the diversity of views amongst colonists who were by no means a homogenous body of puritan founding fathers, and given the author's noble attempt to weave the colonial Caribbean into his narrative - but certainly a compelling tale.

My one regret is that I found it such a slog. I do not know why - the prose is limpid (it is by no means a dense book of deliberately exclusive academese) the scope well chosen and cast of characters engaging. This is likely a personal blind spot around religion in history - there is (somewhat inevitably) so much of it that it becomes rather wearying).

Also, the colonies themselves were very small affairs for much of this period - indeed, one of the central issues is the challenge of realising a profitable enterprise out of American colonisation (which makes inclusion of the vast Caribbean sugar plantations slightly jarring given how crucial they were to the coffers of the English (latterly British) state in the eighteenth century).

The issues and events covered in this book are, generally, quite trifling and only occasionally do they develop to larger tableaux (for example, the export of the Civil War in the 1640s, wars with native Americans and, latterly, the French, and the Salem witch trials). Again, this is an issue with the reader's prejudice; the book itself is expressly about the individuals and how they changed and developed over this time. This is not just a matter of dates and kings but is, arguably, much more important as it set the stage for the events of 1776.

[Adam Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

WSJ article was great - both content and style, but book is pretty dry and lacks cohesion and engaging style. Has the feel of an unedited research project with tons of historical data, but unclear organization despite the deceivingly "clear" three-part approach. Although there is a story to tell, the thesis of that story is repeated over and over, but an actual story isn't told. Needs a rewrite if it comes to a second edition.

[Alex Bugaeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Viewpoint of a British historian about the 17th century New World is surprisingly similar to ours. He overcomplicated the story, though, with extraneous details. And, his attempt to portray the Colonies/United States as unexceptional didn't come together.

[Desirae · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

My complaint stems from how broadening scope this book is. Speaking more than a hundred years, from the founding of Jamestownto the Frenchand Indian War. In would have preferred the book to be formatted differently to be more condensed.

[Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got through this whole big book so by my rules I have to give it 2 stars. I really did not get much out of it, however.
Basically the book is a whole lot of quoted material from the 17th century from the settlers who were colonizing North America and the Caribbean, but not an organized history. The author doesn't tell us what all these quotes mean.
A second major problem is the material of this period is really terribly, terribly sad. Settlements dying out like Jamestown. Slaughter and war with the Indians, and finally the horror of the witch trials and executions.
So I cannot recommend this work to anyone.

[Hannah Slack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok starting point. Throws in too many names at once without explanation, which makes it more difficult to follow any kind of narrative.
As a postgrad student in the American colonies, I would say I have read better. It's not the most comprehensive, leaves out a lot of significant debates, does not frame the role of Native Americans as well as I would have hoped and overall it is quite obvious that it is written by a historian of Early Modern England who has less experience in writing colonial history.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. It is a different perspective on the settling of the United States, working back and forth from England to the Colonies and showing how changes in the two countries shaped the Colonies. I listened to the audiobook and while the narration was dispassionate it was not boring. The book was long but held my interest throughout.

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately this goes into the DNF section. It has a lot of promise if you can handle all the back and forth between the story line. It was hard to read for me and I put it back several times before calling it quits. However, I am surprised that we managed as a group of people to manage to not only get to the East coast, but colonize and hold on to it to be where we are today.

[Rob Pruden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Excuse for saying that this book was just too boring for my sensibilities. The major thing I took from it was that it made our founding father's desire to have freedom of religion and freedom of speech as foundations of the nation that they wished to create because in the century prior, (ie. the century covered by this book) religion was extraordinarily restrictive and evil and intolerant. The other thing driven home was just how dangerous it was to move to North America; between the Indians who regularly attacked the pioneers and then fire seemed to wipe them out on a semi-regular cycle. How the pioneers pulled this off is extremely impressive

[Shaun Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting look at English America, how it started, how it changed the people that went to be the antipathy of what they were. The book was difficult to read because of its use of language, being academically verbose at times, and quoting directly from the Old English. I felt the author could have made it easier by translating the Old English into modern English, but that being said I can understand why he didn’t. But other than that it was a good over history of the time. I learned a lot, including new words!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning with the unknown at Roanoke and ending with the madness of witch trials at Salem, this is an excellent account of British settlement in America (including Newfoundland, Jamaica, Barbados, etc. and not just the future United States). Attitudes in England are themselves studied. And the two-sided trauma of relations with Native Americans is the tragedy front and center, with the blood-soaked years of King Philip's War as a cinematic climax. Well-documented and engaging.

[Melita · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me 2 months to listen to this 25 hour audiobook. I am interested in the topic, I wanted to learn, but it was so very dry it was hard to take more than 45min at a time and that was at 1.15x speed. There were so many names and my listening was so spread out that it was hard to remember who was who, why they were mentioned again. I learned a lot but it is not a gripping story: more a stage setting for why the USA is the way it is today. (Spoiler alert: nothing's changed.)

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I considered abandoning this book many times. I stuck with it. The premise of the book is compelling - basically, the title and subtitle describe that premise - but the content is dry dry dry. Lots of facts but not presented in a very readable way. Too bad.

[Aloysius · Rating 3 out of 5]

This helps fill the blank in between Plymouth Rock and Pocahontas, and the rise of the 13 colonies that we see in the days of the French and Indian War.

[Tamee · Rating 5 out of 5]

insightful

[Dave Annal · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best non-fiction books I’ve ever read. I was engaged from start to finish.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating recount of the early years of 17th Century America. It does expose a lot of the myths about early America. For example the so called "Pilgrims" who were not even close to being the earliest settlers. Well written an researched, I found it easy to read and follow. Highly recommended!

[Patreesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and well researched take on the Europeans coming to the Americas from an English perspective. This book might have been 4 stars but for the reader who did an excellent job bringing the brief dry sections to life.

[Melissa kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

interesting at points but then rambles. also doesn't connect events or topics. all in all its an interesting perspective of the multitude of factors that led to the fracturing of community's identities that created america. however the writing is very dry and jumps around allot.

[Bsldavio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction-history

[Sarah bullock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good history of 17th century America - covers entire seaboard from Maine to Caribbean.

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uneven - occasionally interesting - other times impenetrable - gave up mid-way through.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't get past the first 40 pages. The sentence structure was disfluent to my ear, and I couldn't retain the infirmation presented. I kept waiting for fluid, clear prose.

[Justinian]

2015-01 – Between Two Worlds: How the English Became Americans. (Audiobook) Malcolm Gaskill (Author) Gildart Jackson (Reader) 512 Pages. 2014.

We are a country founded in large part by a Christian Taliban … that is no joke. The evidence supports the assertion and it is something I have known for a while. In this book though I was stunned at how all pervasive religion was in English society in the late 16th and throughout the 17th centuries. How because of the Enlightenment England evolved but those in America hardened their views along puritanical lines (clinging to an idealized version of the England they left behind as it were), how every malady or act of nature was viewed through a religious prism of God’s judgment. … I am grateful for the Enlightenment. The fear, the racism, the intolerance and oppression, the greed, the grinding poverty … and yes, above all the courage. This is the history of how traveling from England and settling in the Americas forged an identity separate from those who stayed in England. It is a much different story than the colonies of Spain in the modern USA … It seems though that the truth of the English colonies has been sanitized and romanticized.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Enjoyable but began to meander in the last third of the book.