Insubordinate Spirit is a unique exploration into the life of Elizabeth Winthrop and other seventeenth-century English Puritans who emigrated to the rough; virtually untouched wilderness of present-day New England. Excerpts from newly discovered personal diaries and correspondence provide readers with not only fascinating insights into the hardships; dangers; and losses inherent to English and Dutch settlers in the 1600s; but also first-hand descriptions of the local Native Americans' family life; allegiances; and society. Caught between the unendurable expectations of her Puritan relatives and land disputes with the neighboring Dutch; Elizabeth Winthrop demonstrated a tremendous strength of resolve to protect her own family and remain true to her heart.
#4704338 in Books 2015-11-30 2015-11-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.05 x .44 x 5.91l; .0 #File Name: 0761865780152 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This book is the best source I have found for descriptions of his work ...By ldaI have been fascinated by Nansen for decades. This book is the best source I have found for descriptions of his work as a humanitarian. It is filled with descriptions of the why his work was necessary and how he successfully accomplished that work. Today the world needs another Nansen. Actually; likely every era needs a Nansen.It would be helpful if the authors were consistent in using only the equivalent value of one currency; either British pounds or US dollars; rather than the local currency of the several countries referenced in the book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A must read for anyone whose work involves humanitarian issuesBy Peter KennyThe boundaries drawn up after the First World War are said to have spawned many of the conflicts that still haunt humanity today. During that war the Russian Revolution occurred. It was followed by decades of upheaval and uncertainty and many millions of people were left displaced as refugees or migrants seeking a better place to live. National boundaries were drawn or redrawn after that conflict; the Great War.Doesn’t it all sound familiar?Reading Marit Fosse and John Fox’s “Nansen – Explorer and Humanitarian†it springs to mind that this stage of the 21st century badly needs someone like Fridtjof Nansen.This book could not be more timely in view of the refugee crises the world faces in the 21st century; giving insights into mistakes made and opportunities lost by international leaders; organizations and non-governmental players. More contextualization and analysis could accentuate its potential. The book is a must read for those all those whose work involves humanitarian issues and human rights and those dealing with mass movements of people. Journalists writing about them can see many of the historical markers.A larger than life character with strict ideals stemming from his austere Protestant background; Nansen started out as a scientist; explorer and oceanographer and was also an artist diplomat and humanitarian. Nansen lived in the days of an upper class family tradition of public service brought up in an elitist arena; but with a deep concern of those around him. At the age of 20 he set out to cross the massive Greenland icecap.As in much of his life Nansen’s actions were predicated by meticulous planning and foresight and the research into his colourful life documented in the book shows similar commitment.The book is written in a clear and logical style; easy to read and follow with flowing text; but could have examined Nansen more critically particularly with his often “naïve†lack of questioning about the Soviet Union. Its clear aim is to seek to explore the impact of Nansen’s life; and specifically his longstanding support of displaced people and to inspire others to follow in his footsteps.Interesting characters drop in; sometimes a little unexpectedly; like Jan Smuts; the former South African prime minister of South Africa who had fought against the British Empire as a general in the Anglo-Boer War at the turn of the century. But no contextualization for Smuts is given and why he was playing such a key role in the formation of the League of Nations; the organization that preceded the United Nations.A good segment of the book focusses on the League of Nations formed after the First World War; an organization that never fulfilled its potential in its short life due to the lack of commitment by some of its key members. Nansen had seen the League of Nations as giving new hope to humanity after that terrible war which spurred his devotion to helping refugees; prisoners of war and the stateless.The book provides us in the 21st century an idea of the scale of the problems after World War One and the mass movement of people that the conflict and the peace itself brought about with the redrawing of so many international boundaries.For his work Nansen was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922. Like many devoted to the causes of others Nansen’s own family life suffered and more detail on this would have made good reading.
