Beheld by TaraShea Nesbit
Plymouth is the first colony in New England, where a group of Puritans and non-Puritans arrive from England making it their new home in 1620.
Now, 10 years later, it seems that a friction between religious Puritans and not so religious Anglicans – as they are seen in the eyes of Puritans – wasn’t left in England, but rather transported to New England.
As divided as they already are, a murder in the colony separates them even more.
John Billington despises godly Puritans, calling them hypocrites as they call the Indians idle. But it was the Indians who helped Puritans to survive the first years on unknown sandy soil. He is a commoner who has been treated with deference from the moment he stepped from the Mayflower ship. Puritans who see God everywhere, treat another man as he is worth something less. How he hates those hypocrites. He complains to investors about ill-treatment, which puts even a bigger friction between him and the governor, William Bradford.
Alice Bradford, governor’s wife, says “To be a successful colony, to pay off our debts, to be free of England, we needed a good reputation.” And John Billington certainly isn’t bringing them the much needed good reputation.
Eleanor Billington says “So when those hypocrites looked their cherubic faces my way and claimed themselves to be the saints and I, a stranger to God? Ho, ho, I said to them. They were as flimsy in mind and spirit as saplings.”
Newcomen is Billingtons’ new neighbor, whose acreage seems to be overlapping with Billingtons’. A conflict begins.
What an incredible cast of characters. Enjoyed their versions of the story from the moment they opened their mouths. But Eleanor just tops them all with her garlicked breath, “I preferred my breath to be nice and garlicked, keeping away the illnesses those dour ones kept giving us.” And if you asked her who the governor of New Plymouth was? She’d tell you Captain Shrimp. “I put on my proper voice for the occasion of insulting him.” Loved her sharp tongue.
The story presents interesting details of how colony functioned, for example, how land was distributed and in some situations how reconsiderations needed to be made – meant only for certain people. How trading with Indians needed approval from the Puritan leaders. And “Who traded with the Indians? Those who did the approving.”
The story also grippingly reveals the missions of Mayflower and Speedwell. The latter failing to even leave the port.
Originally written story, with vividly portrayed characters, takes a reader on an eye opening journey. Journey of the Mayflower travelers, who weren’t strictly Puritans – looking for religious freedom. But people from different backgrounds coming to the new colony for different reasons – “indentured servants who signed up out of various necessities, craftsmen hired to assist in the physical creation of the colony, adventurers looking for economic gain…”
Release date: 17 March 2020
Source: Bloomsbury Publishing
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