Sensory Worlds in Early America

Focusing on the sensory experiences of early North America, this work by Peter Charles Hoffer redefines historical understanding by examining how sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch influenced the lives of Europeans, Indigenous peoples, and Africans. By reconstructing the nuanced sensory aspects of colonial life, Hoffer reveals their significant impact on human thought and actions, challenging traditional narratives that attribute events solely to cultural or material factors.