Puritan Dilemma, The: The Story of John Winthrop, 3rd edition

In every aspect of our society today we see the workings of the tension between individual freedom and the demands of authority.  Here is the story of the people that brought this idea to our shores: the Puritans.  Edmund Morgan relates the hardships and triumphs of the Puritan movement through this vivid account of its most influential leader, John Winthrop.

The titles in the Library of American Biography Series make ideal supplements for American History Survey courses or other courses in American history where figures in history are explored.  Paperback, brief, and inexpensive, each interpretive biography in this series focuses on a figure whose actions and ideas significantly influenced the course of American history and national life. In addition, each biography relates the life of its subject to the broader themes and developments of the times.

This indispensable text follows Winthrop from when he caught the fever of Puritanism in England to the dilemma that still lingers in the air of Democracy today: what responsibility does a religious person owe to society?

• A new preface by Series Editor Mark Carnes illustrates why this biography is so important to the series, and to the field.
• Study and Discussion Questions at the end of the book help students check their reading and comprehension. These questions can also be used to facilitate discussions in the classroom or student study groups.