When a party of French and Indians attacked Deerfield; Mass.; in 1704; 49 people were killed; including Reverend Williams#39;s wife and two of their children. Williams#39s life was spared but he was taken captive. This is the story of the massacre and William's eventual release in his own words.
#435054 in Books 2011-08-11Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .88 x 6.75l; 1.70 #File Name: 1554078970224 pages
Review
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful. This book disappointed me.By Silk ManI teach human evolution at the college level; so I ordered a copy of this book hoping and expecting to get some worthwhile information. In this I have been disappointed. Although the book is filled with amusing and interesting anecdotes and historical passages; the author goes off on tangents unrestrained; giving details to seemingly irrelevant items; and omitting what would appear to be basic and important details under each entry. There is no evidence that the author has much training in basic biology. Someone at the publishing house did not do their job; which would have been to subject this manuscript to a rigorous review by a real biologist. Some examples among many I could cite: page 85: Proailurus lived in the forests of earth 25 million years ago. Really? The “forests of earthâ€? Page 48: “…all dogs are genetically identical to wolves.†Should we assume the physical and behavioral differences between wolves and dogs are not genetic? The section on the elephant totally mixes the two extant species (saying they are in two “genusesâ€); the Indian and African elephants; yet the heading of the chapter has Loxodonta africana. There are several errors in fact in the text under the honey bee. I cannot recommend this book; even for readers who are more inclined toward history than science.3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A fun and fascinating book that intertwines history; zoology; and many other fieldsBy Thomas E. DavisI've purchased all five books in this series (Fifty Animals; Plants; Minerals; Machines; and Railroads that Changed the Course of History) and they've proven consistently delightful. Each one carefully selects many of the pivotal things that have had a profound impact on human life and societies on a large scale; connecting them both directly and tangentially to numerous other items and events. One will not agree with the authors' every choice; but they are always thought-provoking.In entries that range from two to eight pages; "Fifty Animals" describes the creatures that have had the greatest effect on mankind: how we hunt; eat; clothe ourselves; travel; communicate; do research; play sports; engage in warfare; sicken; and die. The text concisely and entertainingly places them into context and provides a rationale for their significance. Sidebars offer entertaining details about their special abilities or uses; legends and cultural connections; and challenges to their survival.The author explains how the natural and human worlds intersect in social; economic; medical; and historical terms. For example; we read of the food and other products we obtain from the honeybee; whale; buffalo; cow; goat; herring; cod; chicken; turkey; rabbit; oyster; and pig. We learn of the clothing we manufacture from the silkworm; beaver; llama; and sheep; the diseases we acquire from the mosquito; leech; louse; and flea; the discoveries we have made courtesy of the fruit fly; finch; iguanodon; chimpanzee; and dodo; and the companionship; transportation; and labor afforded by such animals as the dog; cat; camel; donkey; horse; and elephant.There are entries on wildlife as diverse as the bat and lion; the cobra and reindeer; the seal and bald eagle; the earthworm and scarab beetle. The book concludes with a chapter on ourselves; the most recent animal to have evolved and the greatest threat to all of the others. A useful list of related readings and websites is also appended.Each of these volumes is cleverly designed; copiously illustrated; and beautifully bound a la the renowned Dorling-Kindersley books; and each makes a fine; durable resource for family and school libraries. They provide a jumping-off point for further research and an invitation into the perennial game of "what would you have included on or excluded from this list." All of them are great fun to pick up and browse at random or read from cover to cover.4 of 6 people found the following review helpful. very goodBy W. M. NielsonExcellent book; great layout and format. Rips along with a brief but very informative collection about the amazing animals on this planet and how we utilize them and should appreciate them. These animals really did change the world (so did e coli but that is not featured!! hahah) We are still so dependent on these fellows that we share the planet with but we don't give enough credit nor understanding. Read and learn. Also get the others in the series. All of them are great.
