Book cover

Customs and Fashions in Old New England

By Alice Morse Earle

(3.5 stars) • 10 reviews

"Customs and Fashions in Old New England" by Alice Morse Earle is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book explores the daily l...

Genres
Released
2008-01-04
Formats
epub (images)
epub3 (images)
epub
mobi (images)
mobi
Read Now
Overview

"Customs and Fashions in Old New England" by Alice Morse Earle is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book explores the daily life, customs, and practices of early New England settlers, delving into aspects from childbirth to courtship, and providing insights into their social structures and traditions. It aims to illuminate the challenges and norms faced by Puritan families in their distinct cultural setting. At the start of the book, Earle discusses the harsh realities of life for Puritan infants and their families during the colonial period. She details the physical hardships that babies endured, such as exposure to cold and the grim process of baptism, and notices the high infant mortality rates. The narrative also touches on the roles of midwives and the traditional practices surrounding childbirth, as exemplified through references to historical figures like Judge Samuel Sewall, whose diaries offer a glimpse into the family dynamics and societal norms of the time. The opening sets a somber tone, highlighting the survival instincts necessitated by the harsh New England environment while providing rich historical context to the customs of the era. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

About the Author

Alice Morse Earle was an American historian and writer from Worcester, Massachusetts.

Average Rating
4.0
Aggregate review score sourced from Goodreads
5
200
4
200
3
200
2
200
1
200
Total Reviews
10.0k
Total reviews from Goodreads may change