King Philip

The book narrates the tumultuous story of King Philip, also known as Metacom, and his role in the early conflicts between Native Americans and English settlers, particularly focusing on the Pilgrims and their settlements in New England. Through the lens of Philip's life and legacy, Abbott explores the complex interactions, agreements, and hostilities between the Indigenous tribes and the European colonizers. At the start of the narrative, the author introduces the arrival of the Mayflower and the challenges faced by the Pilgrims as they attempt to establish their settlement. The opening chapter, titled "Landing of the Pilgrims," details their first encounters with the local Native American tribes, highlighting the fears and misunderstandings that marred these initial interactions. Abbott describes the precarious circumstances in which the Pilgrims found themselves, from harsh weather conditions to conflicts with wary Indigenous peoples. The chapter sets the stage for further developments and foreshadows the inevitable clashes that would occur as they sought to claim their new home.

John S. C. Abbott (1805-1877) was a prolific American historian, educator, and Congregational pastor. He is best remembered for his vividly accessible, morally grounded biographies, notably his highly sympathetic History of Napoleon Bonaparte, and for writing foundational 19th-century domestic and parenting guides.