Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan spiritual leader who left England and moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious freedom. I particularly appreciated the clear explanation of the conflict in the Anglican Church and the succeeding splinterings of other religious groups. Most books just say, "the Puritans left for religious freedom" but this book explained precisely what was going on both in England and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The author was clear about the influences in England and then the Massachusetts controversies.
Born in Lincolnshire, England, Anne was the educated daughter of a dissident minister. Because of her father's instructions, Anne was far more educated about religion and tenants of their faith than most women -- or even men of the time. In spite of bearing 20 children, Anne was active in offering home meetings with religious instruction for men and women.
As the author explains, there came a time when the belief that God gave salvation freely (Hutchinson's and her minister, John Cotton's belief) vs. God's giving salvation for good works (the authorities' beliefs) came to a head. Because a woman (Anne Hutchinson) was involved in the debate, the argument left the philosophical framework and turned to personal attacks. Before all was said and done, Anne was found guilty, banished and excommunicated from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Anne and her followers settled in Rhode Island (for a time), seeking religious freedom.
I hesitate to complain about a book that offers so much scholarly information, but I was disappointed in this book. I think the book should have had about 1/3 fewer pages with less info about errant religions and especially what happened to all the people involved in Anne's life. Anne was the story, not all the folks who didn't like her.
From about page 35, the book got bogged down in too much religion theory and lost sight of the reason for the book, Anne. After Anne died, there was too much info about what happened to every person related to her trial. A paragraph or two about each person would have been sufficient. This book was a disappointment. 3.5 stars
Born in Lincolnshire, England, Anne was the educated daughter of a dissident minister. Because of her father's instructions, Anne was far more educated about religion and tenants of their faith than most women -- or even men of the time. In spite of bearing 20 children, Anne was active in offering home meetings with religious instruction for men and women.
As the author explains, there came a time when the belief that God gave salvation freely (Hutchinson's and her minister, John Cotton's belief) vs. God's giving salvation for good works (the authorities' beliefs) came to a head. Because a woman (Anne Hutchinson) was involved in the debate, the argument left the philosophical framework and turned to personal attacks. Before all was said and done, Anne was found guilty, banished and excommunicated from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Anne and her followers settled in Rhode Island (for a time), seeking religious freedom.
I hesitate to complain about a book that offers so much scholarly information, but I was disappointed in this book. I think the book should have had about 1/3 fewer pages with less info about errant religions and especially what happened to all the people involved in Anne's life. Anne was the story, not all the folks who didn't like her.
From about page 35, the book got bogged down in too much religion theory and lost sight of the reason for the book, Anne. After Anne died, there was too much info about what happened to every person related to her trial. A paragraph or two about each person would have been sufficient. This book was a disappointment. 3.5 stars
