The Peaceable Kingdom: An American Saga

I received this book unsolicited from a book club during the seventies. The way in which the author presents the struggles of these early Quakers with themselves and the world in which they lived left me with a stronger sense of individual values and the importance of our individual commitment to our own. I have highly recommended this book as a must read since then. There are two sequels which are interesting but lesser works.

In the course of his flowing narrative, De Hartog manages to deal with all sorts of issues surrounding the intersection of religion, daily life and history including:--is a prophet or founder of a religion anything other than a troublemaker who attracts women and wreaks havoc in society?--how does "doing the right thing" differ from "being a do-gooder"?--how does one listen for the voice of God?--isn't religion absurd in the face of evil?--what's the deal with religious people who kept slaves?Not that there are pat answers to these and other questions De Hartog, a Quaker himself, explores in the novel -- sometimes there are no answers at all, just characters who go on with their lives and their work anyhow.I think the book will be liked by the religiously inclined as well as atheists like myself. Just don't expect another absurdist, postmodern, depressing read, because you won't find it here...thankfully.

Anyone at all interested or intrigued by the Quaker witness to Christianity will find deHartog's adventure to be both exciting and contemplative. DeHartog wonderfully displays the God-inspired beauty, as well as the struggles and shortcomings, of those who inspired (and still inspire) these peace-loving people -- the Quakers. If you like historical novels, I strongly recommend this one.