The Wordy Shipmates

By: Sarah Vowell

Narrated by: Sarah Vowell

Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

The Wordy Shipmates is New York Times best-selling author Sarah Vowell's exploration of the Puritans and their journey to America to become the people of John Winthrop's "city upon a hill" - a shining example, a "city that cannot be hid."

To this day, America views itself as a Puritan nation, but Vowell investigates what that means - and what it should mean. What was this great political enterprise all about? Who were these people who are considered the philosophical, spiritual, and moral ancestors of our nation? What Vowell discovers is something far different from what their uptight shoe-buckles-and-corn reputation might suggest. The people she finds are highly literate, deeply principled, and surprisingly feisty. Their story is filled with pamphlet feuds, witty courtroom dramas, and bloody vengeance. Along the way she asks:

Was Massachusetts Bay Colony governor John Winthrop a communitarian, a Christlike Christian, or conformity's tyrannical enforcer? Answer: Yes!

Was Rhode Island's architect, Roger Williams, America's founding freak or the father of the First Amendment? Same difference.

What does it take to get that jezebel Anne Hutchinson to shut up? A hatchet.

What was the Puritans' pet name for the Pope? The Great Whore of Babylon.

Sarah Vowell's special brand of armchair history makes the bizarre and esoteric fascinatingly relevant and fun. She takes us from the modern-day reenactment of an Indian massacre to the Mohegan Sun casino, from old-timey Puritan poetry, where "righteousness" is rhymed with "wilderness," to a Mayflower-themed waterslide. Throughout, The Wordy Shipmates is rich in historical fact, humorous insight, and social commentary by one of America's most celebrated voices. Thou shalt enjoy it.

©2008 Sarah Vowell (P)2008 Simon & Schuster

A bit much for audio

There was a little too much going on to follow in audio format for me. Maybe a relisten will fill in some of the blanks. I'm also not a history buff, so it wasn't quite my taste. But Sarah Vowell is funny, no doubt about it.

What a delightful surprise!

Would you listen to The Wordy Shipmates again? Why?

Yes.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The narrator and author...

What about Sarah Vowell, Eric Bogosian, T. Bone Burnett, Jill’s performance did you like?

The relationship of the past with the present and the way the author poked fun at the snobbishness and hypocrisy of our early founders...

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed the book. It was funny and interesting. A great combination. I saw her on Jon Stewart's Daily Show and thought, I bet her reading her book would be really funny and I was correct. Just the right balance of history, philosophy and comedy. Bravo Sarah Vowel. I am getting all of your books!

Still addicted to Sarah

The only problem with any of her books is that they don't go on forever. Please, keep writing, Sarah!

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was my Thanksgiving "read" this year. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sarah Vowell can deliver her work as no one else.

Excellent Thanksgiving Read

I am currently living in Japan so listening to this book on Thanksgiving gave me a little taste of American history.

This is a very small slice of history that somehow affects the whole of America history. The choices of a few Puritans on the ship The Arabella are shown to have consequences years later. This is not about the Pilgrims of Plymouth but an equally interesting lot of people.

I laughed during the book a lot but I was also brought to tears by her description of the Pequot Indian Mystic Massacre. The characters really come to life in her writings as well as in the performances by all the actors. She didn't inject as much of herself into this book as others. Usually she has many anecdotes about a trip she took or how she learned what she is talking about which I think brings the book to life and make it seem more like a conversation. There are a few gems here and there though that are great.

I always enjoy her books. I'm not a huge history buff by any means but her writing is so entertaining that I want to learn more. I have listened to her two previous books and look forward to listening to her newest book Unfamiliar Fishes.

A look at the reality of the mythical pioneers.

What made the experience of listening to The Wordy Shipmates the most enjoyable?

The book was a surprise to me, as I more often read fiction, because I love stories. I was fascinated by these different, historic stories, on which Sarah Vowell is really competent and well-informed . In addition to her research, her insight is thoughtful, sassy and full of wit. I was entertained, and totally hooked. Great read.

What did you like best about this story?

Sarahs insight, Sarahs voice, which suits her viewpoint completely.

Have you listened to any of Sarah Vowell, Eric Bogosian, T. Bone Burnett, Jill’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

not ever listened to them

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found myself quoting the book, and laughed at many of the stories.

Any additional comments?

I am a fan, now. There are many actors who portray the characters in the book, so there are quantities of variety of speakers, which made the book quite interesting to listen to.

I love Sarah Vowell

Sarah Vowell's innate medium is audiobooks and radio (NPR). In her squeaky voice, she recounts history with passion, irony and humor intertwined with curent events and pop culture. There is nobody I can think of who is quite rivals her in contemporary commentary. She is a modern version of Mark Twain. If she ever decides to auction off on eBay her attendance at a dinner party, I will certainly be one of the bidders.

This book provides a good companion piece to Philbrick's Mayflower which chronicles the Pilgrims from the point of view of the Indian Wars. Vowell focuses on the cousins of the Pilgrims in Boston and the Winthrop legacy. But the real hero of both books turns out to be Roger Williams who founded Rhode Island as a haven for religious freedom and civil liberties / property rights for the Native Americans. Thus, whatever cynicism one has for the Puritan settlers, it is leavened by the pride in the early recognition in this country for the values of freedom. She also balances the strictness of the Protestant ethic with the great devotion to education embodied in the founding of Harvard College that initiated the common goal of educational excellence that is so much part of American ideals.

Funny Scholarly Work

Sarah Vowels amusing history of the Puritans and the Native Americans around them, is engaging, scholarly, and, yes.... funny. It takes a good writer to subtly highlight the ironies of 17th Century New England. She liberally cites primary documents from the time period. Her greatest triumph is her ability to make the period come alive and relate it to today's America. The Author does a lovely job reading. Don't forget that she is a voice actress too. (The Incredibles)

Hurrah for Massachusetts

Somewhere between a travelogue, a camp history, a Thanksgiving dinner dissection, and and ode to Massachusetts, this is really quite wonderful. Best heard while traveling the Mass Pike with glances to the wording of the exit signs to pinpoint the drama. Hats off to our Puritan forbearers.

Who knew?

Sarah Vowell does a great job of making history entertaining. I assume that the detail is accurate, since this is non-fiction. She really weaves the intrigue and relationships in to the story, and does a wonderful job of tying some analogies to current day. It really makes you think. And laugh. LOTs of LOL. I also really enjoy her and the entire crew as narrators.