American Colonies: The Settlement of North America to 1800 (Penguin History of the United States)

Excellent, fast-paced account of the "colonization" of the North American continent. Throughout, the author makes the point that first "colonizers" were there millennia before the Europeans rediscovered the continent in the 15th century. Interesting and very readable.

I read this book for my own enjoyment as this is my very favourite part of American history - the life and struggles of the colonists that established the original 13 colonies and the United States

I found this a very interesting book. I had wanted to fill in the gaps between Colombus and the American Revolution and this book did a superb job at that. I thought it was a well-written and user-friendly book that succeeded in keeping my attention throughout. Colonial American history lasted longer than US history has so far done and it was instructive to chart the gradual transformations of how in an unknown and challenging land societies evolved from a few starving and failing 'plantations' to the wealthy, healthy and thriving cummunities of some million and a half people on the eve of their challenging and winning independence from the mother country.The role that Indians and Africans played in this drama is dealt with proportionately and sympathetically along with examining the diverse mix of nationalities, the various religious and economic motivations driving colonisation, the 'pushes and pulls' of emigration, European rivalries and how this all coalesced to produce the nation that was to become the United States of America.In this 21st century, if you want to understand the American psyche then you need to look at its infancy and formative years.

Well researched, pithy, a new slant for me on the real history the American 'wilderness' as we have assumed it to be. Highly recommended

Fantastic book if you wish to understand American Colonisation pre and post. I thought I knew a lot about slavery and the original settlements of America but this book proved to be most insightful and thought changing. Author does not beat around the bush, tells it like it is and argues with historians matched with compelling evidence. Brilliant for study or just as a bedtime book!

Excellent condition for used, well written. Good size volume. A little late in delivery but, it is the holidays

This is a very good read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Alan Taylor is a distinguished historian and an excellent writer. This is a thorough introduction to the settlement of North America full of interest and information.

A very interesting journey through the early history of America as we know it.

I read three or four of Alan Taylor's books covering the early years and how North America was settled and developed. Taylor gives a good account of the settlement development and so after reading his books I have a much better understanding of where we are today.

Entspricht voll meinen Erwartungen von einem Buch über the Settling of North Amerika.

A balanced view on the trials and tribulations of the colonizers as well as the colonised native americans and the slaves of African origin. Though the author maintains political correctness, the savagery of all European colonizers and the zealous conversion of colonized is so evident ! A real eye opener to how power , money and religious ideology can tear up societies and transform them in unimaginable ways !

Formidabile! Rende meglio di molti altri volumi sull’argomento la realtà delle prime fasi della colonizzazione Americana. In un vero atto da debunker, Alan Taylor fa piazza pulita dei miti da entrambe le parti, mostrando come le perenni rivalità interne tra le tribù e le popolazioni isolani avessero contribuito alla disfatta, di come diverse tribù africane contribuissero attivamente al mercato infame dello schiavismo, e di quanto odiosi e raccapriccianti fossero stati i comportamenti dei colonizzatori, che fossero Russi, Inglesi, Spagnoli, Francesi…. Davvero, dovrebbe essere istituito un Giorno della Vergogna per come, da Colombo in su, ci siamo comportati ai danni di popoli che, seppur non gente innocente e pura di cuore come vuole la nuova narrativa, nulla avevano fatto per meritare un trattamento così atroce e prolungato nel tempo.

Very detailed and well written. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for colonial history of the Americas. Lots of facts and details but written in an entertaining fast paced way.