By Paul Schneider - The Enduring Shore: A History of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and (2000-05-23) [Hardcover]

by Paul Schneider

Excellent Book

Genres: History, Travel, Natural History, Nonfiction, Nature, American History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Paul is currently the editor of Martha's Vineyard Magazine, the leading general interest magazine about the storied island off the coast of Massachusetts.

He is also the author of five books of non-fiction, most recently Old Man River: The Mississippi in North American History. (Henry Holt, 2013). The book was well reviewed in the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, and elsewhere.

Previous books include:

Bonnie and Clyde: The Lives Behind the Legend, which the LA Times called "extraordinarily immediate, not to mention lurid," and Oprah Magazine said "ignites like a combustion engine, driving the narrative toward its gruesome climax."

Brutal Journey: Cabeza de Vaca and the Epic First Crossing of North America, which Candice Millard, writing for the the New York Times, called "a fast-paced, moving story, one that is difficult to believe and impossible to forget."

The Enduring Shore: A History of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, which Paul Theroux, writing for the New York Times, called "a happy blend of the dramatic, the colorful, the outlandish and the monumental."

The Adirondacks: A History of America's First Wilderness, which was a New York Times notable book of the year.

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book's meandering ways, though some people might not. Lovely writing, and a memorable narrative of the Essex disaster, folded in with other stories.

[Anne Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Moby Dick long ago. Melville’s description of the whaling life bored me to tears. This author’s deep research of the Cape and Islands’ maritime economy and life brought me a whole new understanding of this part of America’s history. It is well written, compelling, and his depiction of the doomed Essex will haunt me.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, well-written and worthwhile history of the Cape and the Islands. Focus is heavily on the 17th, 18th and 19th century, with the book roughly divided into three topics: a coverage of early pilgrim settlers & their interactions with the indigenous Cape Codders, the history of New England whaling and the ill-fated Essex, and the writer's own Paul Theroux-like discussion of his kayak paddling around the area, which provided a good opportunity for some excellent nature writing. Some places were more exciting/interesting than others, but there is a lot of historical research and engaging primary sources included here. Keen to see if I can incorporate this in my teaching on the Cape this year.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an interesting combination of kayaker’s tour of Cape Cod and the islands, but also of the people who lived there from the Native Americans to the Pilgrims to the whalers to the more modern tourists who came to visit and stayed. There was extensive material on the whaling industry which was dominated by Nantucket - until it finally moved to New Bedford on the mainland.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of great stories in here, but the plot wanders a lot and it’s hard to keep track of all that’s going on. Maybe that was intentional—much like a shoreline, it undulates—but it made it hard for me to keep my focus.

[Olga Vannucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

A destination for adventurers
Who settled down as farmers,
Then went to sea on whalers.

[Marilyn]

FTM research re:
Captain Moses Howes &
Captain Frederick Howes 234

[Juanita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: The Enduring Shore by Paul Schneider.

This is a book on the history of Cape Cod, Martha 19s Vineyard, and Nantucket which I have visited many times over the years. The book is narrated by the author taking the reader on a tour of history while he travels around these coastal shores in a kayak remembering generations of people passing down varieties of events, adventures, culture, and expressing more on the economy aspect of this area which was whale hunting. There isn 19t any part of the whales that was thrown away, not even the head. I thought it was interesting and fascinating. Schneider has written about the Adirondack wilderness as vast and striking times of human dramas from the romantic to the terrifying ever changing information in detail starting around the late 1600 19s to the early 1800 19s.

Most of the information and storytelling was written in a chronological dense style to extremes of to much data. This made the book slow pace and at times overbearing. However, I still enjoyed what I read. After I got past the early 1700 19s I started acknowledging some of the places that has not changed dramatically over the years. Schneider used some humor in some of his storytelling about the encounters with the Indians, misguided settlers, whaling adventures, sinking ships, even as far back as the Pilgrim 19s and the Mayflower which these types of stories kept my interest immensely. He described in detail how the coastal shores had deteriorated or the land altered its shape within the years and how people changed over time, some for the better and some just getting by, day by day. Fishing has never been at the top for an annuity high paying job 26.

This area of New England is tourist attraction and many people came across the ocean in the 1600 19s and this is where they settled and called home. In the book Schneider stimulates stories of the region with tidal rhythm describing the cycles of marshlands, estuaries, bays, and ocean beaches. While kayaking he takes the reader along stretches of the Great Beach, around the ever-changing Pleasant Bay, and through passages of the Cape, the Elizabeth Islands, and Martha 19s Vineyard detailing both history and landscape. I did enjoy the storytelling, landmark information , and I remembered the feeling of the serene atmosphere of the people, the ocean scent, the slapping of the waves, and watching ships drift into the harbors and flowing with the breeze as ships sailed out to the vast ocean ahead 26

[Kathleen F · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit I was rather enthralled by the description of this book--the back cover suggested it was the intriguing "biography of a place," the place being Cape Cod and the islands. It started out quite promisingly, by giving a detailed geological history of the area, as well as historical accounts (what few there are) of Native American & early European settlements, and how towns and communities began to develop. There is some truly fascinating information about the Pilgrims, for instance, who first stopped at what is now Provincetown before proceeding on to Plymouth, and how they eventually realized that the Cape offered more promising prospects.

Where the book disappoints, however, is when it begins to turn to the seafaring past of the Cape. Certainly Schneider does a good job in giving us a sense of the truly international nature of Cape residents in centuries past--how far they roamed around the world, and what adventures they encountered there. But where his narrative fails, I think, is in the multi-chapter obsession with the whaleship Essex. Certainly the tragedy of that Moby Dick-inspiring event (the Essex was famously rammed & destroyed by a vengeful sperm whale, & the crew, stranded in small dories at sea, ended up turning to cannibalism to survive) looms large in the history of the Cape. But I feel as if it's given too much weight and lends only imbalance to the book. (And furthermore, Nathaniel Philbrick's The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex is a quite detailed, and much finer account of the incident.) Everything else--from a quick mention of the origin of the cranberry phenomenon & the religious tent gatherings in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, for example--seem brushed away as afterthoughts by comparison. How disappointing.

There are moments of personal exploration, when Schneider takes his kayak around bits of the Cape and between islands, often ruminating on its past or decrying its future (as in: it will certainly be destroyed by tourists and the many people moving there; it will also slowly be destroyed geologically.) But these would have worked better if they were linked more strongly and thematically to the content.

[Kevin Symmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a long-time summer resident of Cape Cod, serious boater, and history buff I found this book a joy to read. Full of stories about ancient peoples and voyages of discovery, vivid descriptions of current and past Cape and Island's locales and lots of "local" history thrown in I found that The Enduring Shore read like a good novel... it was difficult to put down. I was equally impressed by the fact that Paul Schneider did much of his geographic research not from the Internet or an armchair but in his kayak. Highly recommend this to anyone who has the interests I described earlier. You will thoroughly enjoy it!

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may live in NJ but I was born in Massachusetts and have this enduring affinity for all things New England, and in fact, most of my family lives on Cape Cod so it's genetic. I adored Paul Schneider's "The Adirondacks" so much and while I think "Cape Cod" is great I just didn't like it quite as much as the Adirondacks book. I can't say why exactly .... I just didn't. But, there is something about writing that enables you to smell, see, and hear a place that says volumes an author, and this book absolutely does that.

[David R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

An often listless and so-so history of the Cape and Islands. Sometimes Scheider talks about places in the current time---and most often during a subplot involving his efforts to kayak to various places. Sometimes he talks history, and gives enormous weight to the wreck of the whaler Essex in 1819. Having spent many years visiting the Cape and Islands I didn't find this one providing enough background or interest. It's sort of fitting that his last scene takes place in a marshy bog. I really wanted more.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant review of the history of Cape Cod and the islands with some nice vignettes that I haven't found anywhere else. Some of the narrative shifts and overall structure didn't work well with maintaining a consistent tone and the heavy focus on the "Essex" in the back third has been covered more thoroughly Philbrick's "In the Heart of the Sea". The author's voice was a very friendly guide so I would recommend this to anyone interested in the history of the areas covered.

[David Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually a very engaging read. One does not have to be a resident or visitor to this part of the country to enjoy this book. Especially the fascinating pre-colonial history of the area. It will radically change the way one thinks about the original inhabitants and societies of North America. Anyone who enjoyed 1491 would find this book interesting.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of Cape Cod's history. One problem was the veering off course to talk about the whaleboat Essex that was covered in detain in Nathaniel Philbrick's book. Would have liked to have more detail on convergence of cultures on the Cape. Lots of info on the Pilgrims vs. Quakers but where did all this Portuguese food that is available on the Cape come from!

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a most entertaining way to read history. Recommended for all history buffs whether they know the Cape or not.

[Jenn Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read while we were out east - found this history interesting.

[Toni jove · Rating 5 out of 5]

very informative