Courtship of Miles Standish

About the book

"Courtship of Miles Standish" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a narrative poem published in 1858. Set in 1621 Plymouth Colony, it tells the story of a love triangle among three Mayflower passengers: soldier Miles Standish, Priscilla Mullins, and John Alden. Though based on real historical figures—Longfellow's own ancestors—the tale blends family tradition with poetic imagination. Against the backdrop of early colonial America and Indian warfare, this beloved poem explores romance, friendship, and the tensions between duty and desire among the Pilgrims.