Product Description
In this long-awaited paperback edition, food historian William Woys Weaver revises and expands the lengthy material that supplements a reprint of Elizabeth Ellicott Lea's 1845 cookbook Domestic Cookery. In his introduction, Weaver reveals new information on Lea, her Quaker world, and her cookbook. A glossary traces the origins and histories of the foods in Lea's book, placing them in cultural context. The cookbook is a quintessential example of rural American folk cookery of the nineteenth century, representing a mingling of southern Pennsylvania and Tidewater cuisine. Modern kitchen conversions are included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Lacking Creativity
I bought a little booklet, years ago, probably had as many or probably more recipes for oatmeal as this one does.I think I got that little book from a special offer off of the Quaker Oatmeal Box.In comparison this little book is disappointing.Recipes which have mixins for a bowl of hot cereal is not what I am exactly after.I think most of us can figure that out so needless to say, I was not impressed with the breakfast section of this book.Some of the cookie and muffin recipes sound good.I did not like the fact that there did'nt seem to be any recipes using ground oats or oat flour.I think oat flour should have been vital in a book devoted to oatmeal.Oatmeal is pretty healthy and I feel there could of been a lot more creative ways to use it in this book. ... Read more

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This book presents the history of the Irish Quakers from their origins in Ireland to their settlement in Pennsylvania. The book is divided into three parts. Part One begins with the planting of Quakerism in Ireland. It then goes on to discuss the rise of ... Read more

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The Little Quaker - or, the Triumph of Virtue. A Tale for the Instruction of Youth is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Susanna Moodie is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Susanna Moodie then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

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A detailed descriiption of Philadelphia Quaker's work with the Allegany Senecas from 1795 to 1960. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Philadelphia Quaker's work with the seneca Indians.
"This book is a very, very important work on Seneca history.The Quaker influence changed the lives of the Seneca people; it is still very much felt today.I'm glad Lois Barton has done this." DuWayne"Duce" Bowen, Seneca author, Contemporary Seneca Stories of theSupernatural. ... Read more

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This book chronicles for the first time the military activities of Indiana Quakers during America’s bloodiest war and explores the motivation behind the abandonment, at least temporarily, of their long-standing testimony against war. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A nice addition to American historical work
The book Indiana Quakers confront the Civil War looks into how Quakers within the state of Indiana dealt with the Civil War.This is obvious.But what is not obvious is what the author, Jacquelyn Nelson, investigates.While Quakers are generally pacifists, many Quakers actively supported the war, up to and including becoming soldiers for the Union Army.How Quakers dealt with their fellow Quakers getting so involved with the War is also covered.I think the author did a good job covering the subject, but she seemed determine to repeat herself throughout the book, as if she was deliberately writing just to increase the page count.
On the subject of Indiana Quakers, the books divides the chapters as Quaker Background, Quaker Military Service, Why the Quakers Fought, How the Quakers Dealt with Army Life, the Home Front, and Opposition to the War.She mostly worked with examples, although she did include a few narratives, mostly as an appendix to the book.In fact, the appendixes are more than half of the book, as it includes primary sources as well as brief biographies of each Quaker found to serve in the War.There was no problem with the content within the book.
The book offers an interesting thesis: that Quakers were not entirely pacifistic during the Civil War and in fact, many actively participated in the War as the evidence of the Indiana Quakers shows.The author believes that most have overlooked the Quakers in Civil War study due to the fact that Quakers are such known pacifists that most historians simply concluded that the Quakers were not involved in the War so there was no need to study their actions during the War.This is a significant contribution to preexisting work.Never before had the subject of Quakers in the War been so thoroughly looked upon, and thus this book was a needed addition to history.However, the author does tend to try making certain details bigger than they are; there is little difference between six Quakers out of sixty in a Quaker community going to war and thirteen out of a community of 118 going to war, but the author seems to fail in her mathematics in treating this as a large difference.I did like that she gave details into why many Quakers fought; that it was mostly due to Christian patriotism and less to do with national patriotism.I also appreciated the all-too-brief comparisons between Quakers in the Civil War to those who experienced the American Revolution first hand.
Jacquelyn S. Nelson was certainly interested in this subject; it is unclear whether or not she was a Quaker or not.She was definitely sympathetic to all the Quakers in the book.However, she needed to look at the broader prospective of Quakers as a whole, in order that she could show whether or not Indiana Quakers were typical of other Quakers, or this was a simply an occurrence that happened in Indiana.
I have few complaints about the author's writing style.I had feared it would be much like other scholarly work: rather unreadable with its pompousness.Instead, the flow in reading this book was undisturbed; I just wish she did not repeat herself as much.There was little reason to separate the last two chapters in the book, as half of each was the same as the other chapter.
There is a sizeable audience for this book.Those who will find it the most useful are genealogists who will love the detailed listing of every Quaker the author found while doing her research on those who fought in the War.Professors and grad students who specialize in studying religious groups in the United States will be the most interested academics in this book.Civil War historians might see merit in this book, but they will probably wish for more frontline experiences for Quakers rather than so much homefront details.
In conclusion, Indiana Quakers confront the Civil War does a good job in relating its thesis to the reader.However, I think the author could have gone much deeper than she did; repeating how pacifistic Quakers are usually does not cover up the lack of depth of Quakers during the Civil War as a whole.Still, a worthwhile book this is. ... Read more

Product Description
An in-depth narrative about a young soldier from Clearfield, PA who enlisted in the 149th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in 1862. Though a Quaker who was committed to pacifism, John F. Irwin also deeply opposed slavery and was hence committed to abolitionism. His abolitionism won out, and he served in the Army of the Potomac until the end in 1865. Three things defined the Civil War as a modern war: 1) the extensive use of railroads; 2) newspapers were represented on the battlefield by reporters, artists, and photographers, and 3) the telegraph system which made nearly instant communication available for the newspapers. Because of this availability of news from the front, a disappointing refrain in his letters home was "...but I don't need to go into details as you read all this in the newspapers." The 149th PVI regiment fought in all the major battles of the Army of the Potomac, battles such a Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, the siege of Richmond-Petersburg. Toward the end they were sent to Elmira, NY to oversee the Rebel prison camp there and to escort new draftees to their assignments. John F. was eventually mustered out and discharged in July 1865. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Stepping back in history to find the present
"He never wavered in his conviction that the war had a righteous goal, that of overcoming slavery."

This is John (Jack) Irwin's second delve into the genre of nonfiction/military.The first was Another River, Another Town: a Teenage Tank Gunner Comes of Age in Combat.In A Quaker Soldier in the Civil War, Irwin draws from letters preserved in his own family.

A Quaker soldier is paradoxical, as probable as the reverent atheist or the selfless politician.This is exactly why Jack is the best person to tell readers the story.As a former professor of philosophy, he is fearless in tackling a contradiction.

From the preface:

"He had to choose between two Quaker principles: pacifism and the opposition to slavery in any form.And his choice, once he made it, was irrevocable.He never wavered in his conviction that the war had a righteous goal, that of overcoming slavery.Yet, his letters hint of no malice toward his enemy."

Lt. John F. Irwin was a prolific letter writer and offers his family (and us today) the soldier's insight.Not much changes.The food on the battlefield is horrible, and troops are forever tormented by rumors.
... Read more

Product Description
Presents the diary of the sixteen-year-old daughter of a prominent Quaker family who moved with her family from British-occupied Philadelphia for the safety of the countryside during the Revolutionary War. Includes sidebars, activities, and a timeline related to this era. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the history of Mary Dyer (1611--1660) whose efforts to seek and find 'freedom to worship' led eventually to her death. Her quest began when she and her husband sailed from 'Old' to 'New' England in 1635. They were soon disillusioned by the intolerant practices and beliefs of the Puritans, who considered all truth could be found in the Old Testament -- and only there. Variations, from Puritan interpretations of the Ten Commandments, were punished by cruel torture and/or death. Banished from Boston for protesting such rigidity in belief and practice, Mary was among the group who founded Rhodes Island, where freedom in belief and practice of worship was established. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Mary Dyer
Enjoyed the details of Mary Dyer's life and times, journey to America and life experiences.

A Remarkable Lady
My heart is so touched by this lady's life. I think it deserves a movie about an amazing historical figure. She never gave up!!

An Essential Linchpin of Early Euro-America That Is Suspiciously Ignored
I grew up in one of the towns through which Mary Dyer repeatedly passed both while being ejected from Massachusetts and while sneaking back into the intolerant theocracy that was Massachusetts Bay Colony.Later I crossed daily, on the way to work, the very land that she and her husband farmed in Newport, the city of their exile.Despite my Massachusetts public education about the pilgrims of Plymouth and the witch burnings of Salem, the state failed to teach me and my fellow students about the woman who should be remembered as the catalyst for the self implosion of that puritan theocracy and the birth of religious liberty, not only in the United States, but in the Western world.Mary Dyer was a true martyr every bit as courageous as Gandhi and Martin Luther King Junior.We all owe her a debt of gratitude.Had I not read this book, I would have remained ignorant of this heroic woman.

As for the book itself, the author shows her inexperience with writing in her less than smooth prose and apparent unawareness of the ignorance of her audience.Some names of key players come up without needed introduction.She seems to believe that her readers can read the occasional French quotes without translation.This and many other flaws may discourage some readers, but the story itself is a beautiful and moving story well worth the effort of wading though the various defects of its telling.In a sense, I would expect this story to be told by a novice, for the professional writer most often writes for the masses and the masses are sadly unaware of the story of this beautiful woman.

For the sake of having read this book, I've found a true hero.I recommend that you read it and then think about how this strong, intelligent, and independent woman changed your life more than 350 years ago.

Excellent book
This is an excellent book about somebody to whom all Americans are indebted.We could benefit from her being less overlooked in our history.The title might require an explanation:Mary Dyer could perhaps be called a rebel in relation to the ruling party in early colonial Boston, but not in relation to other Quakers after she became a Quaker.

I would not call the book "plodding" at all.Mary Dyer's life is a story almost too moving for words.The story is not fiction.In fiction, the telling is the thing, and by the rules we cannot understand anything at odds with the telling itself.But the events of this story actually happened, to be understood from the unembellished facts.

I recently began rereading this book.It is simply not as bad as the criticsm may indicate, especially in view of how little there is in print about Mary Dyer, who may well be the most important martyr for religious freedom in American history.

The word "antinomian" deserves more elucidation than the author provides.Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary gives two definitions:1. one who holds that under the gospel dispensation of grace the moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation, and 2. one who rejects a socially established morality.This word has its uses; the underlying issues are at least as old as the Epistles.Wanting to do away with the adjective itself as completely useless could be an indication of exactly what the adjective is about.As with any other adjective, the issue is whether the adjective rightly applies.Mary Dyer was among those accused of antinomianism in Boston, but they were far from being guilty of true antinomiansim, which might be called, after the Epistle of Jude, licentiousness in the name of grace.

An important subject that probably deserves more...
The execution of Mary Dyer is an unfortunate but important part of the early history of the American colonies.She is still a relatively unknown historical figure.I was eager to read this book, and my Quaker meeting's first day school group for adolescents read it together as well. I wanted very much to think highly of it, but it frustrated me, for some of the reasons given in the editorial review.I feel that it isn't sufficiently scholarly or serious--it often reads like a middle school social studies text, and I think Mary Dyer, in all of her own frustrating complexity, deserves better. ... Read more

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Professor Nevaskar explores two vastly different cultures--the Quakers of America and the Jains of India--to show how non-economic factors affect the development of economic systems. ... Read more

Product Description
"An examination centered on the commercial world ofVictorian Britain, of the tiny denomination that rose to immensewealth and respectability once its members abandoned the noisyprophetic radicalism of their 17th-century founders. It gives adue sense of the ramifications of Quaker money and the impact ofQuaker morals." The New York Times Book Review December 6, 1998Amazon.com Review
Unless you happen to be a Quaker, most of your impressions ofthis particular sect probably come from books such as FriendlyPersuasion--maybe even right off the side of a box ofquick-cooking oats. Nowhere in the popular conception of these soberlyclad, peaceable individuals who quaintly address each other as"thou" and "thee" is there a place for eitherreligious zealotry or great wealth. And yet, at one time or another intheir history, the Quakers have known both. In The Quakers,historian James Walvin concentrates on the sect's prodigious wealthand how they acquired it.

Walvin suggests that, having bannedmusic, art, dancing, and just about every other form of entertainment,the Quakers had both the time and the discipline to concentrate onbusiness. A combination of individual self-abnegation and awell-connected worldwide community of fellow believers helped createsuch successful institutions as Barclays Bank, Lloyds of London, andCadbury. At the same time the Quakers were amassing great fortunes,they were committed to worthy social causes as well, chiefly theabolition of slavery. Walvin's study of the culture and contradictionsof 19th-century Quakerism provides insight into a little-known side ofthis religion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A good read
I enjoyed this book. I was researching the Quakers in regard to socially responsible investing (SRI), their ancient stance against slavery often being quoted as an illustration. The author does a good job of tracing the Quaker movement from its origins through its evolutional period and ends just before the modern era. It was entertaining, though I only gleaned a bit about their investing habits. Essentially, they were excellent businessmen, hard workers, and charitable to the greatest extent. They put their money where their morals were, very impressive compared to today's businessmen. However, though they are highly praised by SRI, I doubt they would return the praise to today's SRI movement. The Quakers were more akin to today's Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) movement, an offshoot from SRI. Today's slavery issue is abortion, which SRI ignores completely.
A good read for anyone interested in English / American history or responsible investing.

Fascinating History
Quakers influence in the English speaking world has been far greater than their numbers would indicate.This book was a fascinating read by an author who is not a Quaker himself.He became interested in Quakers (Society of Friends) through his research into the anti-slavery movement.But Friends have also had an immense impact on the world of commerce.We, in England and the U.S.A. don't barter/bargain because of the Quaker thoughts on fair-trade.

If you like history, you will enjoy this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Prepared over a period of nearly 10 years, it is the distillation of the thoughts of around a thousand Quakers with an interest in spiritual subjects.

It includes inspirational writings and personal stories about challenge and opportunity, which reflect on the geography and social history of Australia.

Chapters are arranged under subject headings such as Experiences of the Spirit, Images of God, Silence and stillness, Faith in action, Prayer, Truthfulness and integrity, Simplicity and peace, Life stages and challenges and Indigenous people.

This book can be used for personal study and meditation, for group work or just for inspiration.

Includes an extensive glossary, sources, index and history of the Quaker movement in Australia. ... Read more

Product Description
An elderly Quaker widow living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Elizabeth Elliot investigates the brutal slaying of a wealthy Quaker to save an innocent man from being unjustly convicted of the crime. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A mystery with an interesting Quaker background
Elizabeth Elliot is the clerk of the Quaker Meeting in Cambridge, Massachusetts.She has recently been elected to this position and she wrestles with the many complexities of guiding the Meeting through worship services and business decisions.When a prominent member of her meeting is killed, she feels that someone is being unjustly accused of the crime and she begins a quiet invesigation in order to find the real murderer.

I found the Quaker background of the book to be very interesting and informative, and I enjoyed the main character of Elizabeth Elliot because of her compassion and dedication to her faith.I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

Describes Cambridge well, but very little "mystery" here..
Irene Allen's first mystery "Quaker Silence" shows some promise.It makes the reader initimate with Cambridge, and shows a fascinating world of the Society of Friends(Quakers), but this fails as a mystery.Why?Because there wasn't much suspense here, as we figure out quickly that the homeless man isn't guilty, and when we find out who the killer is, we are disappointed because of the accidental nature of the killing, and we are left to wonder what will happen to him.Also the book is only about 200 pages.Fascinating Quaker quotes however.

A wonderful mystery featuring an elderly Quaker sleuth
As a Quaker, I greatly enjoyed this book ... sort of Miss Marple the Quaker (member of the Religious Society of Friends), about an elderly woman who feels Led to help solve a murder involving her Meeting.My only quibbles are that the author tried a wee bit too hard to make Friends appear unusual ... e.g., writing such things as "The two Friends walked down the street," etc., which no one would ever say or think.(One of the tenets of our faith is that we do not pass judgment on others -- so we're known for fitting in and getting along, despite not drinking, swearing, dancing, etc.As such, we do not stand out that noticeably, and you would no more say "The two Friends walked down the street" than you would "There goes a Baptist!")Likewise, we have unprogrammed worship wherein we sit quietly, waiting for the spirit of God to touch us and often inspire us to share something with the group.Although outsiders call it silent worship, *WE* don't.Also, the main character complained so much about her arthritis that I thought it related to the case's solution ... In the real world, however short of the mark we may fall, we nonetheless strive to be thankful for all that we have, rather than whining about what we lack.

However, that's just quibbling -- and probably something with which only a Quaker would find fault.If you enjoy comparatively light mysteries (no profanity, sex, vulgarity, or fast-paced, high-level spy themes) with a Miss Marple type of elderly woman thrust into the role of sleuth) and would like a glimpse of the Quaker beliefs, you should greatly enjoy this book.I certainly did!

Curl up with this and a cup of tea
No blood and guts, no drooling perverts, no wisecracking cardboard characters -- just a really good mystery written with a careful eye and a sort of spare simplicity that's appealing and fun to read. Less discerningreaders may find Elizabeth Elliot a bit pedestrian -- but, what do theyknow?I love the way Elizabeth applies her deep faith, as well as hermature and healthy skepticism, to solve the mystery.Put the kettle on thestove and lose yourself with this wonderful book.

A charming mystery with great personality.
I appreciated the information on the Quaker tradition, and that the heroine is not a super hero or private sleuth.She is an interesting person dealing with the modern world.I look forward to reading more aboutElizabeth. ... Read more

Product Description
Wilmer Cooper updates this Quaker classic. Books which present a systematic theological reflection on Quaker beliefs are rare. Wilmer Cooper draws on thirty years of teaching theology and social ethics, with a concentration on Quaker studies, for this work. Each Chapter has questions for use by those who wish to use the book for group discussions. Includes a glossary of theological terms. Second Edition ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Wonderful book
This is a very thorough book regarding Quaker theology. It reviews original beliefs and current Quaker beliefs. It is organized by topic, such as: sin, God, Church, etc.It is also very understandable. I recommend this for any new or old Quaker.

Very Good Book
I have recently become interested in learning more about the history of Christianity because I want to know more about my faith.I am not a Quaker but I became interested in Quakerism after touring a Philadelphia meeting house.This book provides an excellent summary of Quaker beliefs that I now consult from time to time.I recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand more about Quakerism.

A Book that Answered the Questions that Prompted Me to Read It
This book answered for me many of the questions I had about the different varieties of Quakerism and their historic genealogies.The book is succinctly written.Those with strong theological backgrounds will find it an easier read than those, like myself, with a background primarily in philosophy.If you have read few religious studies books, you will benefit greatly by reading the the book's glossary first.The book has several useful diagrams in its appendices which I found very helpful for visualizing the derivation of the different historical threads and splits of the Society of Friends.

A Living Faith: An Historical and Comparative Study of Quaker Beliefs.
For anyone interested in becoming acquainted with traditional/classical Quaker beliefs by reading a single clearly and well-written book, this volume has few peers (none known to me). As with any single-volume work of modest length that deals with a complex theological and social phenomenon that has endured for over 350 years one can find fault, but that would be either a churlish or academic thing to do. The author very clearly sets out his goals, and meets them in an exemplary fashion--by the end of the book one has a clear retrospective of Quakerism.

Each chapter deals with a specific question in the history of Quakerism, starting with the history of the movement and ending with "Future Prospects." Each chapter is a gem of succinct exposition. And, while the sympathies of Prof. Cooper clearly lie with the conservative, Christ-centered view of Quakerism; on the whole he fairly represents the liberal view. There is a dearth of information on Universalist Quakerism, and its opposite of extreme evangelism, but the author clearly warns the reader that his intent is only to present the "mainstream" range of Quaker history.

My one criticism of the work is that in presenting the possible future of Quakerism, Dr. Cooper does not go far enough in laying out its potential. It is obvious that he shares, as I do, Rufus Jones' view that Quakerism is the seed of a movement and not just a Christian sect. But we diverge in our views, in that Wilmer Cooper views Quakerism as the core or essence of Christianity, while I see it as a movement that has transcended its original Christian roots. In my view George Fox, has had the same impact on Christianity as Jesus did on Judaism. Perhaps George Fox still lacks his St. Paul. But that is a matter for another article. For now, I recommend this wonderful volume.

great reference book!
I use this book the most when I do any historical or "beliefs" articles on Quakers.As a Quaker, myself, it is true to what I believe, and especially shows what testimonies we value as a people.I would recommend this for Quaker education in your meeting.Great book, get it and read it, especially if you want to learn more about Quakers! ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Astonishingly Poor Edition
This edition reads like a scanned original manuscript that has had rudimentary OCR performed on it.Littered with typographical errors and odd formatting, it is nearly unreadable.An example from the first page:
"yo American Novel fiat ever commanded to wide-spread an interest, at (his work.It has been made
the subject of criticism wherever the English language is spoken.On one hand, it hat been denounced at..."

I'm shocked Amazon would sell this text.Publishers who take public domain works and re-sell them in such a shoddy fashion = weak.

Sensationally wicked masterpiece!
A best-seller in its day, Quaker City is a violent and surreal look at the life of the citizens of Philadelphia in the 1840s. Anyone who likes Edgar Allen Poe or the Marquis de Sade will find this an interesting read; written off by critics as blatantly pulp, before such a term existed, they considered its mass appeal a sign of weakness, and by 1900, it had vanished from most lists of important American novels. I'm glad that critics are reconsidering its position, and I look forward to more of Lippard's novels coming back to print. Devil-bug, the mastermind of evil, is a great villain, and he looks ahead to Jarry's Pere Ubu, Faulkner's Popeye and many of the great surreal or superreal villains of the twentieth century.

America's first best-seller.
Anybody who enjoyed Matthew Lewis' 'The Monk' will appreciate George Lippard's "You ain't seen nothin' yet" style. The plot revolvesaround an American version of England's famous 'Hellfire Club' located inPhiladelphia's Southwark region (Historians differ on rather or not 'MonkHall' actually existed. Some claim that such a club did exist from the late1700's until the 1820's. Other claim that the club sprang from Lippard'svery fertile imagination) and features such goodies as white slavery, trapdoors, and wanton booze & oyster abuse (now you know why theRepublicans picked Philly for their convention). This is one wild read.Lippard once attempted to produce it as a play, but angry protestersthreatened to burn down the theater.'The Monks of Monks Hall' wasAmerica's first, real best seller. Read, no doubt, by people who keptuttering "Immoral...shocking...filth..." as they eagerly turnedeach page. Pick up this piece of history now.

A Peculiar, Enticing Novel
This is a long, sprawling, peculiar novel, but one that I always enjoy going back to.Iforget, every time I reread it, how wonderful and strange an adventure it is!Lippard is a minor figure in American letters,inspired by early American masters such as Charles Brockden Brown andpopular French novelists such as Eugen Sue.The Quaker City is certainly aflawed work, but it is only more human, engaging and approachable becauseof this fact.Lippard was no master of plot structure or narrativetechnique; in fact, he wasn't much of a craftsman at all, regarding thenuances and fine textures of language.However, he was a writer giftedwith a dizzingly original, and sometimes grotesque, imagination.TheQuaker City is the kind of book that you can't pot down, although part ofyou sometimes wants to.His tale of the intrigues and iniquities lurkingbeaneath the surface of Victorian Philadelphia will shock and amaze.Iespecially recommend this novel for fans of Caleb Carr, Egdar Allan Poe,and Robertson Davies. ... Read more

Product Description
A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the People Called Quakers is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by William Penn is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of William Penn then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I could not set this book down.
This was a great book. Besides all else mentioned already,it reads like a story. No theoretical arabesques, just nitty gritty factual details so you can see connectednesses for yourself. Baltzell's very factual illustrations of idealisms' realities and human tensions towards cultishness versus civic participation serve as a useful lense and compass to me ever since reading this book. I recommend it whenever I can, particularly to someone who, like me, may at one time, be shocked by a human experience or contrast and want to ask why. I'd recommend it to any one ever involved in a cult. Its readability is comforting and enthralling, and it is deeply seated in a sense of the continuity of history and human nature. I found it a healing book. I'm sorry Mr. Baltzell is no longer alive so I can thank him. Read every crumb of this book. Its thick, but allot the time.

Fascinating study of social leadership in America
Digby Baltzell uses the history of Philadelphia and Boston as very real examples of two types of leadership.In Boston, the "BostonBrahmin" elites formed a strong upper class that was not tolerant,certainly, but took responsibility for community life and exercised atremendous influence on American culture, politics, arts, and science. InPhiladelphia, the "Proper Philadelphians" were charming,tolerant--and deeply irresponsible, abandoning any role in governing thecity and making it by common agreement the worst run city in the UnitedStates. When Philadelphia needed a mover and shaker, it imported some onefrom outside, like Ben Franklin.

Baltzell takes these difference back tothe colonial period and the dramatic differences in the viewpoints of thePuritans who founded Boston and the Quakers who founded Philadelphia. Healso sees these changes working forward as the old upper-class socializeimmigrant elites into their respective patterns, producing the Kennedy clanout of Boston, and Grace Kelly out of Philadelphia.Many of the pointshere can also be seen in David Hackett Fischer's Albion'sSeed.

Baltzell's bedrock conviction is that every society needs an upperclass and is going to get one whether it likes it or not (the history ofrevolutions proves this rather conclusively).Those who see the very factof social stratification as an personal affront will of course getaffronted.The interesting point he makes though is that many thingsanti-elitists think are opposites actually go together.As he shows fromhis examples, social tolerance goes together with a much more blatantlymoney-conscious and just plain richer upper-class, and societies withwidespread hostility to "elites" also show deep cynicism abouttheir leadership and society in general, a cynicism merited by thegenerally short-sighted and narrowly (as opposed to broadly) selfishbehavior of the upper class.

Does this sound familiar?Baltzell's finalpoint is that in the wake of the sixties, which he compares to the Englishcivil war (1640-1660) environment that spawned the Quakers and released"a host of self-righteous seekers" on the land," Americanleadership has moved much closer to the nakedly plutocratic andirresponsible leadership model found in Philadelphia.And along with thischange in the upper class has grown egalitarianism, openness to immigrants,cynicism, leadership gridlock, and social tolerance. The irony of communalutopianism producing results exactly opposite of what was intended wouldnot have surprised de Tocqueville, Baltzell's great mentor insociology.

Don't think that this book is just about grand theory--it isfilled with a host of fascinating portratits of the two cities' upperclasses, and so contains a good deal of the achievers of America fromcolonial days to World War II. The simple quantitative analysis iseffective and not off-putting. ... Read more

Product Description
This study draws upon original qualitative research in which the author - in systematic and analytical ways - asked nearly fifty Quakers, from both the eastern part of the United States and in England, to describe their understandings of Quaker silent worship in the unprogrammed tradition. The research draws upon contemporary theory and integrates an interdisciplinary perspective about the complex relationship between silence and words. ... Read more