The Pox and the Covenant: Mather, Franklin, and the Epidemic That Changed America's Destiny – Bargain Price PDF

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From Publishers Weekly

Historian Williams (Hurricane of Independence) explores a fascinating aside to American medical history—how a Puritan minister and one lone doctor... stood up to the medical establishment by carrying out the first-ever American inoculation program during Boston's 1721 smallpox epidemic. Here's the brilliant Puritan minister Cotton Mather, also a member of the prestigious British Royal Society, and Zabdiel Boylston, the doctor whom Mather persuaded to test out the theories of inoculation. The results were stunning. Out of 242 persons inoculated against smallpox, only six died. Despite this success, the public—including the young and brash Ben Franklin—loudly disapproved. If this account of the raucous, turbulent times is often stilted, the compelling details of the momentous experiment and the epidemic's devastating human toll speak for themselves. Williams argues that the campaign of Mather, the greatest preacher of his day, for inoculation illustrates the error of assuming that religion has always been an impediment to the progress of modern science and reason. But his better story is the one of Mather, a spiritual man and loving father who—despite being the target of an attempted assassin—wanted nothing more than to save his family and city.Map. (Apr.)
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From Booklist

In the midst of the deadly 1721 smallpox epidemic, two factions faced off in Boston over scientific innovation versus the Bible. A small but not inconsequential cadre believed that the previously unheard-of practice of inoculation would stem the spread of this serious disease. The larger community protested that the very notion of inoculation flew in the face of everything the Bible stood for. What’s more, they insisted, it was bad science. The surprising twist here, without spoilers, is that the latterly iconic Puritan minister Cotton Mather led the group putting its faith in science. The opposition numbered among it the most prominent and powerful physicians of the day, joined by several of Mather’s peers and community leaders and supported by members of the Boston press, including a teenaged Benjamin Franklin, who penned several scathing invectives criticizing Mather and his heretical proposal. Mather’s reputation took a beating, but Franklin did an about-face on inoculation within the decade. With present-day controversy over vaccination, everything old is new again. And Williams’ history is timely as well as engaging. --Donna Chavez

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• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks (April 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402236050
• ASIN: B006W46GNI
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds

The Pox and the Covenant: Mather, Franklin, and the Epidemic That Changed America's Destiny – Bargain Price PDF

My family visited the Boston area in 2007, during which time I indulged my passion for all things historical, especially those things involving the Salem Witch Trials. I'm mad about the witch trials, consumed with interest about them. Being in the area where everything transpired was a remarkable experience. I spent hours wandering the cemeteries in Boston and Salem both, looking for graves related to the major players in the trials. When I came upon the graves of Increase and Cotton Mather I felt such revulsion, no matter how much time had passed, for the parts they played in the travesty. Little did I realize there was much more to the story than I'd been led to believe.

When I read a pre-pub review of 'The Pox and the Covenant' I knew I'd have my hands on it as soon as I could. All the other books in my pile shoved aside, I started reading it. And I couldn't stop. I read it straight through, start to finish.

Here, for the first time I've seen, was a Cotton Mather with a heart. A man beside himself with worry on account of his own children contracting the dread disease smallpox, but also on behalf of the families of Boston. Not only that, which was surprising enough. He actively sought out medical literature relating to inoculations, reading early positive reports highlighting relative success with the procedure, promising a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

The same man who believed in witchcraft could be modern enough to encourage a radical new medical procedure? It was a revelation to me.

Putting his own reputation, and the lives and reputations of his family, on the line, Mather pursued the matter further. Speaking with a local doctor he persuaded the man to give the idea a try - to begin the process of inoculating smallpox victims.

First of all I'd like to say that I believe the title gave me a false impression or heightened expectations for the book's content. There is less on the role the founding covenant played in the lives of Bostonians in the early 1720s than I had expected. I was hoping for more on how the Mayflower Compact and subsequent charters influenced the governance of the city of Boston. The subtitle also suggests Franklin would appear more often in the book than he (or his brother) actually does. The book really focuses more on Mather and the smallpox epidemic itself. I liked the book, but it didn't seem to live up to its title (and subtitle).

However, the book changed my view of Cotton Mather. While another reviewer criticized Mr. Williams' writing, I find it accessible and a nice diversion from the often pedantic nature of non-fiction works. And its that accessibility that has re-opened the world of the early 1700s to me. More specifically, the lasting impact was to offer a more complex view of Cotton Mather. Like many, my understanding of Mather comes from the witch trials. And though as a student of history I know people and events are often more complex than they seem at first glance, I had no other basis from which to draw conclusions about Mr. Mather.

So, while I did not rip through this book at lightening speed (and that is possible, given the writing style), I did come back to it usually every afternoon and evening. The book was not only enough to hold my interest but to challenge my assumptions. It is obvious that was Mr. Williams' goal, and he succeeded. Therefore, I willingly grant this book five stars. After all, isn't the lasting impact of a work the most important element?

(As an aside, I would like to note that I have read two of his other books.