Carla Gardina Pestana Books

Focusing on the history of two religious sects in seventeenth-century Massachusetts, the book explores the Quaker meeting in Salem and the Baptist church in Boston amidst a backdrop of legal constraints against non-Puritan faiths. It details the struggles of dissenters to establish themselves, their integration into families and communities, and the evolution of their beliefs and organizations. The author also examines gender differences in responses to these sects, alongside sociological theories of sectarian evolution and the political dynamics of dissent during this period.

The author, a prominent historian, explores the transformative period of the English Atlantic during the revolutionary years of 1640 to 1661. This work delves into the political, social, and cultural changes that shaped the Atlantic world, highlighting the interconnectedness of England and its colonies. Pestana's scholarly insights provide a nuanced understanding of the era's complexities and its lasting impact on history.

On the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower landing and the establishment of Plymouth Plantation, Carla Gardina Pestana offers an intimate look at life in the settlement. Hardly the isolated outpost of myth, in Pestana's telling Plymouth is revealed as a vibrant place of meeting, with strong connections to the seventeenth-century colonial world.