Captivity Narratives

Eunice Williams was captured in 1704, taken with her father and four other siblings from their home in Deerfield. While the others were released, Eunice was not, and to the horror of her family, eventually became a Mohawk, marrying one of them and embracing Catholicism. John Demos has constructed a historically-factual account of her journey, filled with intriguing notes and insights into early colonial and Native American life. 316 pages, softcover.

Enthralling generations of readers, the narrative of capture by Native Americans is arguably the first American literary form dominated by the experiences of women. The ten selections in this anthology span the early history of this country (1682-1892) and range in literary style from fact-based narrations to largely fictional, spellbinding adventure stories. The women are variously victimized, triumphant, or, in the case of Mary Jemison, permantently transculturated. This collection includes well known pieces such as Mary Rowlandson's "A True History" (1682), Cotton Mather's version of Hannah Dunstan's infamous captivity and escape (after scalping her captors!), and the "Panther Captivity", as well as lesser known texts. As Derounian-Stodola demonstrates in the introduction, the stories also raise questions about the motives of their (often male) narrators and promoters, who in many cases embellish melodrama to heighten anti-British and anti-Indian propaganda, shape the tales for ecclesiastical purposes, or romanticize them to exploit the growing popularity of sentimental fiction in order to boost sales.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Twelve-year old Mary Jemison lives on the border of eastern Pennsylvania in 1758--hardly a safe and quiet place to live. Captured by Seneca tribesmen, Mary was separated from her family, traveling to western New York. Initially missing her family, she soon learns many new things about the earth, its plants, creatures and more...so much so that she starts to enjoy living life as a sister to the Indians. When a chance comes to return to English civilization, will she want to leave them? 298 pages, softcover.

The long days on the trail were filled with excitement for adventurous Carrie Talbot. And at the end of the trail waited more adventure- she was going to start a brand new life at the Indian mission established by her uncle. Then a sudden encounter with an Indian raiding party left Carrie with more excitement than she wanted. As she rode off helplessly with her captors, frantic thoughts raced through Carrie's mind. Why was one of the Indians so interested in the family Bible she had managed to save? How could she escape? Even if she did, how could she ever find the wagon train again? The raiding party took Carrie deep into the wilderness to a Cheyenne camp on the banks of a distant river. There Carrie met the Indian called the Keeper and began a life far different from any she had ever imagined.

Based on a real diary, Miriam and her sister Susannah, along with her husband and children, are captured by Indians during the raids of the French and Indian War. Forced to march to Canada where they believe they'll be sold, from a rare night of partying to a grueling walk through the New Hampshire woods, Calico Captive traces the long trail of a family's trip from New England to Montreal to England and back to New England again. 274 pages, softcover.

Mary Jemison has been captured by a Shawnee war party! How will she survive?

When twelve-year-old Mary Jemison and her family are captured by Shawnee raiders, she's sure they'll all be killed. Instead, Mary is separated from her siblings and traded to two Seneca sisters, who adopt her and make her one of their own. Mary misses her home, but the tribe is kind to her. She learns to plant crops, make clay pots, and sew moccasins, just as the other members do. Slowly, Mary realizes that the Indians are not the monsters she believed them to be. When Mary is given the chance to return to her world, will she want to leave the tribe that has become her family?

This Newbery Honor book is based on the true story of Mary Jemison, the pioneer known as the "White Woman of the Genesee."

This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Lenski including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author's estate. eBook. Grade s 3-6.

Eunice Williams was captured in 1704, taken with her father and four other siblings from their home in Deerfield. While the others were released, Eunice was not, and to the horror of her family, eventually joined became a Mohawk, marrying one of them and embracing Catholicism. John Demos has constructed a historically-factual account of her journey, filled with intriguing notes and insights into early colonial and Native American life. 316 pages, softcover.