The Shakers are perhaps the best known of all the American religious communities. The Shakers' theological ideas were explained and justified in their publications, but the realities of their day-to-day life remained hidden. The texts included in this edition come from Shakers' firsthand accounts written in the nineteenth century. These memoirs describe the society's founders, show why individuals chose to join the Shakers and reveal interesting details of daily life. The sources reflect the Shakers' geographical diversity; contributions by brethren, sisters, leaders and rank and file members...

In the late eighteenth century a small Shaker community travelled to America under the leadership of 'Mother Ann' Lee. The American communities they founded were based on ideals of pacifism, celibacy and gender equality. The texts included in this edition come from first-hand accounts of life in the Shaker communities during the nineteenth century.

In the late eighteenth century a small Shaker community travelled to America under the leadership of 'Mother Ann' Lee. The American communities they founded were based on ideals of pacifism, celibacy and gender equality. The texts included in this edition come from first-hand accounts of life in the Shaker communities during the nineteenth century.

In the late eighteenth century a small Shaker community travelled to America under the leadership of 'Mother Ann' Lee. The American communities they founded were based on ideals of pacifism, celibacy and gender equality. The texts included in this edition come from first-hand accounts of life in the Shaker communities during the nineteenth century.