Indian New England Before the Mayflower

If you want to know what real daily life was like for New England tribes before the Europeans arrived, this is the book to read. I especially enjoyed the chapter about what a typical day would be like in the summer or the winter. Very enjoyable reading, also great to keep for reference.

This is an amazing resource on the everyday lives of the natives of New England. I love this book! So many interesting details, like how the English were shocked at the amount of wildlife they found in the area, how the natives were disgusted by European war tactics, and how native women gave birth to their babies (I won't go into detail there!). The author draws his info from the first explorers of the east coast to early settlers, using plenty of quotes. There are black and white drawings, maps, and photos too. This book is a colorful and educational step back in time. You'll learn things you would never have thought to ask about. Whether you are researching or just into history, it's a great book to have.

I picked this book up a couple of weeks ago at the Harvard Book store in Boston, Mass. It is an excellent book for anyone researching the pre-contact Native Peoples of New England. From Personal Characteristics to Horticulture and Warfare, Howard Russell's publication is phenomenal. It is full of primary source excerpts, which really backs up the author's writing. A must-read.