Before the Mayflower: A Novel

by J.L. Rose

If you were living in civilized places like England or the Netherlands, why would you consider boarding the Mayflower, bound for the New World? The Atlantic crossing would be a nightmare, with the threat of storms, pirates, and cramped, dark conditions. Even if you reached land, you were destined for a wild place, lacking shelter and filled with uncertainty. Your odds of survival hovered at fifty percent.

Enter the late 16th and early 17th centuries, a time of transition from Queen Elizabeth to King James in England, and in the Netherlands, the Dutch Golden Age. The story of the thirty-three years leading up to the famous Mayflower voyage is told in this meticulously researched novel, combining known names like Brewster and Bradford, with the fictional London family of printer Nicholas Okes.

The printing press connects the characters, with some obeying the King's rules, and others fleeing to the Netherlands for religious freedom and printing forbidden works. Romance ripples through the families, leading them to the docks in Southampton, waiting in the shadow of the ships. Who will venture aboard, and will it be for love, land, or religious freedom?

Keeping History Alive...Proceeds from this book will be donated to Plimoth Plantation (Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA) and The American Leiden Pilgrim Museum (Leiden, the Netherlands). Donations will also be offered to the Pieterskerk, Hooglandsekerk, and Weaver's House Museum (Leiden, the Netherlands), as well as the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

Genres: Historical Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

Published November 27, 2018

About the author

A Massachusetts native, Jennifer Sinsigalli, pen name J.L. Rose, has called Duxbury home since 2015. The mother of thirteen-year-old twins, and wife of an Ocean Spray employee, her family was fortunate to have the chance to relocate to historic Duxbury, where she could work at Plimoth Plantation as a historic interpreter, and complete her extensively researched novel, Before the Mayflower.

The project began in 2003, the pursuit ignited by a visit to the Mayflower ll, in Plymouth Harbor. What captured the author’s eye was a panel featuring the landscape of a town in the Netherlands. She found the story leading up to the crossing, especially the more than decade of refuge spent in Leiden, to be an important and fascinating piece deserving more attention and detail.

Sinsigalli, a 1996 graduate of Williams College, had an interest in Dutch art and 17th Dutch history, after taking a course on this topic during her studies. The cover of the book, a painting by Hendrick Avercamp from c.1608, Winter Landscape with Skaters, which hangs in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, beautifully captures the people of all classes from that period.

For fifteen years, research and writing progressed, with rare books requested from places like Brown University, the Boston Public Library, Wheaton College, and Plimoth Plantation. The quest for accuracy took her to London, Scrooby and Gainsborough in England, and Amsterdam and Leiden, among other places in both England and the Netherlands. Many hours with historians and other passionate people all contributed to capturing the details of the thirty-three years before the Mayflower crossing; from religion to daily life, to the perils of fleeing one country to take refuge in another, and then to consider repeating that risky act.
Brewster, Bradford, Carver, Robinson, and Standish- these people and their families tell the story best, connected closely to a London printer and his family. The connection to Duxbury remains, through people like Brewster and Standish, and is something we should be proud of, living here today. The novel, although historic fiction, has been accepted as credible by some of the finest institutions in the world, and is being sold by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Pieterskerk in Leiden, and both Pilgrim Hall and Plimoth Plantation. A portion of the proceeds will return to these and other churches and museums honoring and keeping this history alive.


Keeping History Alive. . . A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to Plimoth Plantation (Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA) and The American Leiden Pilgrim Museum (Leiden, the Netherlands). Donations will also be offered to the Pieterskerk, Hooglandsekerk, and Weaver’s House Museum (Leiden, the Netherlands), as well as the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam, the Netherlands).

Reviews

[Wayne Hallett · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the historic anniversary of the Mayflower crossing rapidly approaching, this is certainly a most appropriate read. Coupled with the fact that proceeds from this work are being donated to several iconic historical institutions made this a must. My own degree and love of history coupled with this being a novel, made it an even more attractive draw. The author's ability to paint vivid pictures with words is an absolute joy, and the unbridled passion, love and dedication to the work is overwhelmingly apparent. It is so uplifting to be involved with human lives and experiences throughout, in addition to the history and its significance. You enjoy a true feeling of being there. You are granted a remarkable look at the lives of this select group, their mindset, the conditions and circumstances under which they lived and labored, and the actions they felt they must take to fulfill their lives, structured around their religious beliefs, government and the central tool of communication, the printing press. This book, in a unique manner, brings us a significant, precious segment of history in a personal and extremely heartfelt fashion. Kudos to J L Rose for a passionate, heartfelt and entertaining experience.

[Lynne Casal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before the Mayflower is a book with extraordinary writing, amazing character development and credible historical accuracy. It is a page turner that I couldn't lay down. As readers we are dropped into the turmoil of an important religious transformation that continues to shape our world. This world is presented with vibriant language, graphic scenes and dramatic flare. A true jewel not to be missed.

[Lizzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable & informative as historical fiction for the first half of the book. The novel then turns into a historical romance novel within the events of leaving Leyden for the New World. An odd way to advance the story.

[Tech Nossomy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written for the historically illiterate, the dead hand of research permeates throughout this book. Plot points implied are a few paragraphs later needlessly made explicit. Descriptions of locations appear as if they'd be better suited in a tourist guide. The text is teeming with circumstantial descriptions, such as colours of accessories, which street leads into which other street and from which side the sun is shining. Dialogues with platitudes fill many a page.
Transparent attempts at maintaining exciting prose lead to some odd constructs, such as a "church erupting powerfully through the cobblestones", but I didn't know churches could do that, and I'm sure it would have been big news even back then.
There is no such thing as a "greyish hue" or a " partial knock" and "meat flesh" is a tautology.
Interestingly, the cloth trade in Leiden is described as "developing", despite having been established for a good 2 centuries.
The book lacks in the background of religious persecution, summarising it with paragraphs such as: "Tensions have heightened within the Dutch reformed church. The power of two factions, the Remonstrants, or Arminians, and the contra-remonstrants, has been shifting this year, and the Arminians will be ousted completely. There might be some violence associated with this change". This summary of prophetic developments does not sound fully appreciative of developments that already took place by then, such as iconoclasm, brutalities committed during the contra-reformation, political infighting or the julich succession war.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished this book. A few thoughts. I read this novel because I'm doing some research for a presentation on Mayflower passengers the year before they left Leyden, and I thought a fictional narrative might make the facts easier to remember. That's true in part. It is clear that much research has gone into this book. Many times a conversation or a letter seems obviously a means to deliver a chunk of facts. Since I was interested in the facts, this didn't bother me too much. But halfway through the novel when two characters are suddenly thrown into a steamy sexual encounter, I was startled. I hadn't seen that coming. And from that point on, the romantic angst seemed to drive the narrative. And the ending? It wrapped up the romance, but did little for the larger story of the pilgrims and the Mayflower. Baffling. Readers who have stuck with this for 373 pages deserve better.

[Anne Bendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed J.J. Rose’s historical novel “Before the Mayflower”. I am always eager to read historical novels to learn of our past, through human experience. A successful historical novel makes history come alive. I was effectively taken back in time to 33 years before the Mayflower, to live with the families; to feel their heartaches, the challenges they faced, and the strength they gained through family, friendships, their guilds and congregation. I connected to the characters, feeling the sacrifice and difficult choices they made to be able to worship according to their beliefs. Because of the author’s extensive research, including letters, the events, clothing, language and settings, I have confidence that it is historically sound.

There are two other bonuses about this book, I think should not be missed. Loving to travel myself, her page “Touring the Novel’s Path” with internet links make this a fun travelogue. The book stimulated lots of thought to visit these places electronically. Secondly, to keep “History Alive” all the proceeds from the book are donated to the resources she referenced in her book.

[Maryellen Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend gave me this book to read and described it as a must read for those of us interested in historical fiction of the time frame 1620 Mayflower arrival in America and the years right before in the Netherlands and London. As I began to read this book I was impressed with the amount of the research that had gone into this work. The author mentioned that this book took 15 years to research. The author’s descriptive writing style grips you immediately. I loved the way that fictional and factual characters are woven together in the story. I for one enjoyed the romantic aspect of the story. It is really a remarkable look at the actions that these individuals needed to take in order to live their lives. Rose (my favorite character) and the other characters had to make difficult choices relative to love, land and religious freedom. I loved the book and highly recommend it. I also love that the author donates proceeds from the book to museums in the Netherlands and in the US.

[Elvira Brock Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book beautifully written and enjoyed the detailed description of life in the times before the Mayflower departed England. Is also a wonderful explanation of Leyden and how life in The Netherlands was compared to England. Historically is very accurate and at the same time fiction helps on recognising characters. I would have enjoyed less soap opera drama and more descriptions of the boats and way people thought of the crossing of the New World in the bottom of the boat.

[Farrah Sing-peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly informative, accurate read! I highly recommend Before the Mayflower by J.L. Rose. This book was one of the most interesting I have read about the Mayflower in a very long time. I am sure all will enjoy this the way that I did. I look forward to reading more by J.L. Rose in the future. 5+ stars

[Nanny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. It made early 17th century life in England and Holland very tangible and provided the why of the Pilgrims's departure from all they knew to sail on the Mayflower to what became New England. Ms. Rose wove a love story through the book that was compelling. I enjoyed reading about Edward Winslow, one of my ancestors.

It has made me want to visit Leyden.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm impressed with how the historical accuracy and descriptive details are woven into the story line. "Before the Mayflower" really puts into perspective what finding a better life meant for people subject to religious persecution. What a great historical novel.

[Eric Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Fascinating, well-researched account of the families that would eventually brave the sea to get to the New World.

[B MacD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply put, this is a wonderful story by J.L. Rose, who eloquently blends history and fiction. The facts, from cover to cover, have been well documented in history as individuals plotted their fates while attempting to find a way to the New World. Using a creative mind, the writer has woven fictional families into the authenticated lives of those who eventually crossed the seas in hope of finding a better life. These imagined families endured, life, death, and love attempting to change each of their lives for the better. While the ending may not be what we expected, or wanted, it allows everyone to end the story with their own imagination. Readers of “Before the Mayflower: A Novel” will wait with optimism that J.L. Rose will continue the journey for us.

[Julia Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. It's the story of a young person deciding to follow his passions in a world where not only did the government restrict religious practices, but customs and societal pressures are also restrictive by today's standards. The printing press had been around for a while, but the industry was still fairly new and attracted ambitious people like William Brewster and the main character of this book, Nicholas. It's hard to believe that things were so different only 400 years ago, and it makes you wonder how much things will have changed 400 years from today.

[Susan Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because I just found out that I have a direct ancestor on the Mayflower! After I read some actual non-fiction about that event, I thought this novel would be a fun read. It contained many of the actual people I had already learned about, including my ancestors, William and Jonathan Brewster. It really brought them to life in my eyes and showed all the things they went through even before setting sail across the ocean to America. If you like historical fiction, you should give this book a try!

[Linda Wigner]

I enjoyed this book very much. In my opinion the author did a lot of research about the years in which the book took place from the importance and influence printing had to what people ate and what they wore.
I became involved with the characters and I liked that some of the characters were real people. I hope the author will write another book about the characters.