The Trials of Thomas Morton

An Anglican Lawyer, His Puritan Foes, and the Battle for a New England

By: Peter C. Mancall

Narrated by: Bob Souer

A new look at Thomas Morton, his controversial colonial philosophy, and his lengthy feud with the Puritans.

Adding new depth to our understanding of early New England society, this riveting account of Thomas Morton explores the tensions that arose from competing colonial visions. A lawyer and fur trader, Thomas Morton dreamed of a society where Algonquian peoples and English colonists could coexist. Infamous for dancing around a maypole in defiance of his Pilgrim neighbors, Morton was reviled by the Puritans for selling guns to the Natives. Colonial authorities exiled him three separate times from New England, but Morton kept returning to fight for his beliefs.

This compelling counter-narrative to the familiar story of the Puritans combines a rich understanding of the period with a close reading of early texts to bring the contentious Morton to life. This volume sheds new light on the tumultuous formative decades of the American experience.

©2019 Peter C. Mancall (P)2019 Tantor

The disappointing narration

The narration is awful. It’s monotone and doesn’t even sound human despite the content being fascinating and important history about Thomas Morton and the early history of colonization. Sadly, I can’t finish the book because of the robotic narration. Such a shame because it doesn’t bring the historical events, which are extremely relevant in 2025, to life in a way that would engage the listeners to want to know more.

strange, compelling story

The history of the puritans in Massachusetts was morally compromised from the start. This book tells that story through the lens of Thomas Morton, who envisioned living alongside the American Indians in a drunken, joyous society centered on the maypole.

Historical

Well written, so very interesting with great historical insight. A history that not many people are aware of indeed worth the read.