Classic Books Library presents this brand new edition of the “Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson” (1682). Mary Rowlandson (c. 1637-1711), nee Mary White, was born in Somerset, England. Her family moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the United States, and she settled in Lancaster, Massachusetts, marrying in 1656. It was here that Native Americans attacked during King Philip’s War, and Mary and her three children were taken hostage. This text is a profound first-hand account written by Mary detailing the experiences and conditions of her capture, and chronicling how she endured the 11 weeks in the wilderness under her Native American captors. It was published six years after her release, and explores the themes of mortal fragility, survival, faith and will, and the complexities of human nature. It is acknowledged as a seminal work of American historical literature.

In 1765 Mary Rowlandson was captured in Massachusetts by Native Americans during King Philip's War. She was held for eleven weeks. This is her story of the ordeal.

Considered to be America's first best-seller, the Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson (also known as The Sovereignty and Goodness of God) tells a harrowing true story captivity and escape. During King Philip's War, a woman in Colonial Massachusetts was captured during a raid by Native Americans and held captive for nearly three months.

Mary (White) Rowlandson was a colonial American woman who was captured during an attack by Native Americans during King Philip's War and held ransom for 11 weeks and 5 days. After being released, she wrote A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, also known as The Sovereignty and Goodness of God. It is a work in the literary genre of captivity narratives. It is considered to be one of America's first bestsellers, four editions appearing in 1682 when it was first published. Plot summary: On February 10, 1676, the settlement of Lancaster, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, was attacked by Native Americans. The Native Americans burned down houses and opened fire on the British settlers, killing several of them and wounding more. They took many of the survivors captive, including Mary Rowlandson and her three children. Mary and her youngest child are among the injured, while others of her family, including her brother-in-law, are killed. The Native Americans lead the captured survivors from their settlement into the wilderness. Rowlandson and her youngest, Sarah are allowed to stay together, but her two oldest, Joseph and Mary, are separated. After spending a night in a nearby town, the Native Americans with their captives head further into the wilderness. Being injured, the journey is difficult for Rowlandson and her daughter. They reach an Indian settlement called Wenimesset, where Rowlandson meets another captive named Robert Pepper who tries to help the new captives. After staying in Wenimesset for about a week, Rowlandson's injured daughter, Sarah, dies. Rowlandson is sold to another Indian who is related to King Philip by marriage. They bury Rowlandson's dead daughter, and she is allowed to visit her oldest daughter Mary who is also being held in Wenimesset, and her oldest son who is allowed to visit from a nearby Indian settlement. The Indians give Rowlandson a Bible in which she finds a great deal of hope..

During an Indian attack on Lancaster during King Philip's War, Mary Rowlandson and her three children were captured by Narraganset Indians on February 10, 1675. Her captivity lasted until May 2, when she was ransomed at Princeton. The money was donated by several citizens of Boston, the colony's capital. The site of her release is known today as Redemption Rock. One of her children did not survive being held hostage, and the other two were temporarily separated from her, but were later released. Captivity and Restoration is in the report a very important subject for M. R., who was a deeply religious woman. Gröls Classics - English Edition

Mary Rowlandson's The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, first published in 1682, is an English Puritan woman's account of her captivity among Native Americans during King Philip's, or Metacom's, War (1675-76) in southeastern New England. In this new edition, 21 related documents support Rowlandson's text, which is reprinted from the earliest surviving edition of the narrative. Neal Salisbury's revised introduction reflects the changes in scholars' understandings of issues relating to Rowlandson's captivity and her narrative that have occurred in the twenty years since the publication of the first edition. Five new related documents include a little-known narrative of Muslim captivity by a Puritan contemporary of Rowlandson's, a treaty that exhibits the motives of both English and Native American signers, an account of the forced removal of Christian Indians to Deer Island during Metacom's War, and two visual documents. The volume's document headnotes, footnotes, and appendices have been thoroughly revised in light of recent research and interpretations.

Reproduction of the original: Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson by Mary Rowlandson

Mary Rowlandson, a Minister's wife in New England as it says underwent a cruel and inhumane treatment from the Indians that took her captive. This is a story of sorrow and pain, of faith and truth, of tears and reflections, and of grief and hopes. The Indians poured their wrath and anger against this helpless small community.As she tells us in her narrative, in the midst of it all, miraculously, one of these salvages struck her as a lost star or beam of light by offering her a Bible he had from the Medfield fight, where they committed sacking and looting. He took it from his basket and gave it to Mary and she interpreted it as a gift from her merciful God in the middle of this valley of darkness.

The sovereignty and goodness of GOD, together with the faithfulness of his promises displayed, being a narrative of the captivity and restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, commended her, to all that desires to know the Lord's doings to, and dealings with her. Especially to her dear children and relations. The second Addition [sic] Corrected and amended. Written her own hand for her private use, and now made public at the earnest desire of some friends, and for the benefit of the afflicted. Deut. 32.39. See now that I, even I am he, and there is no god with me, I kill and I make alive, I wound and I heal, neither is there any can deliver out of my hand...