"Balmer has mastered the relevant sources, and he provides a new look at the role of religious controversy in the acculturation of the large Dutch-speaking population of the middle colonies."--Choice "A welcome addition to the scholarship....Balmer's narrative of the little-known Dutch experience in the Middle Colonies renders this book a useful addition to the literature....Raises questions and suggests patterns that specialists in the colonial period cannot afford to ignore."--American Historical Review "[T]his book stands as an important contribution to the history of American ethnic assimilation. Its provocative thesis and impressive documentation willpresent a formidable target for some and an authoritative explanation for others. Scholars interested in the interplay of ethnicity, religion, and culture in colonial America will welcome this book."--Journal of American Ethnic History "Advances our understanding markedly of just what happens to Dutch religion after the 1664 conquest. The book will be extraordinarily useful to all students of the Middle Colonies, especially New York and New Jersey. It will also fascinate students of ethnicity and religion, and of course all who have an interest in Dutch immigration, religion, family, and culture."--Jon Butler, Yale University "His extensive documentation leaves no doubt about how thoroughly he has saturated himself in the sources, and how skillfull he is in making his way smoothly and authoritatively through them. Cultural history at its finest; in no sense can the book be regarded as a parochial chapter in history."--Edwin S. Gaustad, University of California, Riverside "Balmer has mastered the relevant sources, and he provides a new look at the role of religious controversy in the acculturation of the large Dutch-speaking population of the middle colonies."--Choice "A welcome addition to the scholarship....Balmer's narrative of the little-known Dutch experience in the Middle Colonies renders this book a useful addition to the literature....Raises questions and suggests patterns that specialists in the colonial period cannot afford to ignore."--American Historical Review "[T]his book stands as an important contribution to the history of American ethnic assimilation. Its provocative thesis and impressive documentation willpresent a formidable target for some and an authoritative explanation for others. Scholars interested in the interplay of ethnicity, religion, and culture in colonial America will welcome this book."--Journal of American Ethnic History "Advances our understanding markedly of just what happens to Dutch religion after the 1664 conquest. The book will be extraordinarily useful to all students of the Middle Colonies, especially New York and New Jersey. It will also fascinate students of ethnicity and religion, and of course all who have an interest in Dutch immigration, religion, family, and culture."--Jon Butler, Yale University "His extensive documentation leaves no doubt about how thoroughly he has saturated himself in the sources, and how skillfull he is in making his way smoothly and authoritatively through them. Cultural history at its finest; in no sense can the book be regarded as a parochial chapter in history."--Edwin S. Gaustad, University of California, Riverside "Because it provides a fresh approach for interpreting the Middle Colonies, this book is a valuable addition to colonial studies."--William & Mary Quarterly "An area that once seemed important only because it divided New England from the South now is gaining the scholarly prominence that it deserves. Randall Balmer has contributed significantly to this development."--Journal of American History "The strength of this book lies in its examination of the ways in which economic and social issues influencced developments within the colonial Dutch Calvinist culture."--Journal of British Studies "Fresh research and a fresh interpretation of a neglected subject--the rise of the distinct religious ethos of the middle colonies/states. A remarkably clear and very well-written book."--Mark Noll, Wheaton College "Randall Balmer is an excellent story teller....This is an important skill for anyone writing about religion in the Middle Colonies for confusion was abundant in this region. The real contribution of this book is the clarity with which it traces a path through this confusion, making this particular tributary of the American religious experience more accessible than it has been before....Balmer has articulated this story with more finesse than any of his predecessors and he has deftly woven social analysis into the text along with concern for the socio-economic status of the actors in this drama....Balmer's book fills an important niche in contemporary scholarship dealing with the Middle Colonies....An important source for the comparative study of immigrant religion. The cleanness of the book's thesis and the readibility of Balmer's style will make it an excellent introductory text, while the bibliography will serve as a valuable guide for more advanced study."--Church History