Review by Choice Review
Making effective use of narrative and statistical evidence, Vickers skillfully traces the evolution of farming and fishing in Essex County, Massachusetts, from 1630 to 1850. The opportunities of the 17th-century frontier affected these industries differently. Farmers used family labor to slowly accrue more property, whereas fishermen earned a meager livelihood during their short lives. The increasingly commercial society of the 18th century transformed both forms of work. Fishermen went to sea in larger boats on longer voyages. Confronted by the growing scarcity of land, farmers sought added sources of income by developing crafts or, on occasion, fishing. Manufacturing dramatically transformed the world of work between 1775 and 1850. Initially, wives and children worked to supplement the family income, but by mid-century manufacturing was a lifetime job for the area's increasingly propertyless population. The author concludes that in re-creating the socioeconomic world of old England, New Englanders were unique in North America. A first-rate work for upper-level undergraduates and above.
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
