The Essay: Mayflower Portraits

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The Essay: Mayflower Portraits: John Alden

400 years on

John Alden

Mayflower Portraits

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Michael Goldfarb on crew member turned colonist John Alden.

Michael Goldfarb, American author, journalist and broadcaster, considers the legacy of John Alden.

Five essays reflect on the impact of the Puritan Pilgrims setting sail on the ship the Mayflower 400 years ago, from Plymouth in England heading west to “the New World”. Writers look at what the anniversary means to Americans in 2020, and create portraits of some of the key players: two of the passengers, and two of the Native Americans who met them.

The tale of the 'Pilgrim Fathers' became part of the foundation myth of the United States. On the 400th anniversary of their setting sail, Nick Bryant (BBC New York correspondent) gives an overview of what the anniversary means in America this year, at a time when that myth is under scrutiny more than ever, and Margaret Verble (Cherokee writer, her book ‘Maud’s Line’ a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer) explores the motivations of Tisquantum, Native American ally and translator to the Pilgrims. Michael Goldfarb (American author, journalist and broadcaster) writes a portrait of John Alden, the crew member turned colonist, Rebecca Fraser (Historian and author of ‘The Mayflower: the Families, the Voyage, and the Founding of America’) uncovers the story of Susanna White-Winslow, Mayflower passenger, and David Silverman (American historian and author) looks at the decisions facing Metacom: a child when the Mayflower landed, he would become a resistance leader.

Michael Goldfarb, American journalist, broadcaster and author of 'Emancipation: How Liberating Europe's Jews from the Ghetto Led to Revolution and Renaissance', considers the life and legacy of John Alden, the Mayflower ship's cooper who became a settler.

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Reflection on the impact of the Pilgrims setting sail on the Mayflower 400 years ago.

Five writers reflect on the impact of the Pilgrims setting sail on the Mayflower 400 years ago and look at what the anniversary means to Americans in 2020,

Five essays reflecting on the impact of the Pilgrims setting sail on the Mayflower 400 years ago.  Writers look at what the anniversary means to Americans in 2020, and create portraits of some of the key players: two of the passengers, and two of the Native Americans who met them.

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