In the 1640s--a decade of epidemic and warfare across colonial North America--eight Jesuit missionaries met their deaths at the hands of native antagonists. With their collective canonization in 1930; these men; known to the devout as the North American martyrs; would become the continent's first official Catholic saints. In The Death and Afterlife of the North American Martyrs; Emma Anderson untangles the complexities of these seminal acts of violence and their ever-changing legacy across the centuries. While exploring how Jesuit missionaries perceived their terrifying final hours; the work also seeks to comprehend the motivations of the those who confronted them from the other side of the axe; musket; or caldron of boiling water; and to illuminate the experiences of those native Catholics who; though they died alongside their missionary mentors; have yet to receive comparable recognition as martyrs by the Catholic Church. In tracing the creation and evolution of the cult of the martyrs across the centuries; Anderson reveals the ways in which both believers and detractors have honored and preserved the memory of the martyrs in this "afterlife;" and how their powerful story has been continually reinterpreted in the collective imagination over the centuries. As rival shrines rose to honor the martyrs on either side of the U.S.-Canadian border; these figures would both unite and deeply divide natives and non-natives; francophones and anglophones; Protestants and Catholics; Canadians and Americans; forging a legacy as controversial as it has been enduring.
#1194176 in Books Belknap Press 2009-11-23 2009-12-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.52 x 1.09 x 6.44l; 1.50 #File Name: 0674035364352 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. America's Army - An Excellent ResourceBy Clark SummersAs a military professional of some 28 years; I recommend this book strongly for any reader interested in history of the U.S. Army; current U.S. military affairs; minority and women's issues; and the role of advertising in U.S. culture."America's Army" details how the All-Volunteer Force was fielded and developed following the end of the Vietnam War. It includes an appropriate amount of strategic background (post-World War II; Korea; the Cold War; and current campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq) to provide context; while keeping attention on the challenges and issues at hand. Beth Bailey discusses effectively how changes in the wider U.S. culture - race; feminism; economic opportunity; family relations; homosexuality - were (and are) reflected in the way the Army evolved into an "all-recruited" organization.Bailey's work is rich in detail and generally well-documented. "America's Army" is at its strongest when it describes and analyzes the required shifts in Army culture and attitudes while struggling to maintain its ability to fight and win wars. In particular the descriptions of print; broadcast and advertising products illustrate well these changes. It is less so where the author allows attitudes and opinions to flavor her statements; particularly on policies regarding limits on women's' roles in combat and homosexuality. Nor does she ever address the role of the reserve components on development of the All-Volunteer Force. However; on the whole Bailey is fair and even-handed in her presentation."America's Army: Making the All-Volunteer Force" is an excellent survey of modern U.S. military history; and a first-rate discussion of current military affairs. It is a valuable resource for both the professional as well as the casual study of the Army; its place in U.S. culture and society; and its war-fighting capabilities.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. all voolunteer forceBy J. N. Childsexcellent thorough book on origin strengths and weaknesses of all volunteer force. A must read for anyone concerned with national security and its relationship with the military4 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Dense but worth the plow...By Leeaundra TemescuI've been a big fan of Beth Bailey's since I was introduced to her books a few years ago. I particularly loved her ability to present popular culture; courtship; WWII Hawaii; etc. in a serious academic manner that drew tremendous meaning from seemingly trivial facts and events. I truly appreciated her pristine and vivid narrative style which prevented the discussion from getting bogged down in a scholarly swamp. Her books were not only fascinating but also engrossing "reads" - providing insights I could absorb effortlessly because of the clarity of her writing.For me; "America's Army" was a different experience. It is was as interesting as Bailey's other works BUT it was work. Dense and chewy with facts; trends; analysis and copious amounts of sheer research. I had to read it in chunks and really focus to get through. However; what I learned about our army; military culture and our country during that time was absolutely invaluable. I'm able to listen to news stories about our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with a richer and; I think; better context. I'm glad I stuck with it and highly recommend others to do the same.
