Philbrick's book is aptly titled: A Story of Courage, Community, and War. Of course, almost all Americans know the story of the Mayflower. My God, what a story of courage and community! It's a story that is drilled into the heads of America's kindergartners every November, followed by the creation of feathered headdresses forged from construction paper and Elmer's glue. We all learn that the brave Pilgrims sailed to the New World and befriended the Native Americans, who helped them grow food! And to show their appreciation the pilgrims hosted a wonderful turkey dinner! And they all lived happily ever after! End. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay What an inspiring story to base the rest of a student's American history education on! But... wasn't there a third word? Courage, community and... war? Where does it come from? We all learn in elementary school that they will live happily ever after! The story of the Mayflower doesn't end with "The First Thanksgiving." This third word, war, is the part of history that no one will ever remember, yet it is the part of history that is most important to remember. Philbrick's novel reminds those who read it of this story and what happens when ideals are forgotten. . Our pilgrims, seeking worship without persecution, end up persecuting another race. From the front, this book is a beautifully told story; a testament to Philbrick's literary education and awards. It draws you into the story with all the details you find in a historical fiction novel... only... minus the fiction. Ultimately (literally), this book has a research backbone to rival the best academic reporting. Even though Philbrick doesn't have a degree in American history, you certainly wouldn't know it from his bibliography! With excellent use of primary sources, this book is as well-researched as it is well-formulated. There are also images of some of the documents used by Philbrick printed in the book itself. It is also based on many highly reputable secondary historical sources and publications, both modern and contemporary. Philbrick must have worn out the doors of the Massachusetts Historical Society going in and out! As well documented as this book is, it should be kept in mind that while the English kept meticulous records and left quite a paper trail, the Native Americans did not. It is likely that we are seeing Native Americans through the lens of English, as we primarily use English sources. This, of course, could lead to any opinions the English had about Native Americans being brought out in the book as prejudice. Even with this, I believe Philbrick is still able to give us a reasonably accurate account of unfolding events. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Mayflower is important, because it shows us the truth behind our American legend and what happens when ideals are forgotten.