A Cotton Mather Reader

A brilliant collection of Cotton Mather's writings, revealing his diverse interests and contributions, making it the best introduction to the Puritan divine's mind.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 02 August 2022
Publisher: Yale University Press

Cotton Mather ({PHONE}) is a prominent figure in American culture, and there is a growing scholarly interest in his works due to the availability of previously unpublished writings. This reader serves as an introduction to the man and his extensive body of published and unpublished works.

Mather was born in Boston in 1663 and was the son of a Puritan minister. He attended Harvard University, where he studied theology and became a minister himself. Mather was a deeply religious man and was known for his strong belief in the supernatural and his opposition to witchcraft and other forms of magic.

Mather's most famous work is "The Magnal History of New England," which was published in 1702. This book is a comprehensive history of the Puritan settlers in New England, and it includes accounts of witchcraft trials, religious conflicts, and other important events in the region's history. Mather was also a prolific writer of sermons, which were published in collections such as "The Christian Instructor" and "The Great Instauration."

In addition to his religious writings, Mather was also interested in the natural world and wrote extensively on scientific topics such as meteorology, geology, and medicine. He was a strong advocate for the scientific method and believed that science could be used to understand the world around us.

Mather's influence on American culture was significant, and he played a key role in shaping the religious and intellectual landscape of the early American colonies. He was a strong advocate for the Puritan way of life and was known for his strict moral codes and his opposition to secularism and liberalism.

Despite his many accomplishments, Mather was also controversial, and he was criticized by some for his strict moral codes and his opposition to certain forms of religious freedom. He was also accused of witchcraft hysteria and of using his position as a minister to gain personal wealth and power.

In conclusion, Cotton Mather was a prominent figure in American culture who made significant contributions to religion, science, and literature. His writings on witchcraft, religion, and the natural world have had a lasting impact on American society, and his legacy continues to be studied and debated by scholars today.

Dimension: 235 x 156 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300260182