A Keyhole for Roger Williams' Key, or a Study of Suggested Misprints, in Its Sixteenth Chapter, "of the Earth and the Fruits Thereof, &C." (Classic ... Island Historical Society (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

Unraveling a century‑old printing puzzle in Roger Williams’ Key — this provocative essay investigates missing and misprinted words, revealing how a single swapped term could alter our understanding of early American language and agriculture.

In this historical paper, William Davis Ely looks at how the famous Key into the Language of America may have misrepresented Indian words for beans and other crops. He argues that printers’ errors, and the rough notes Williams used at sea, could have buried key meanings for two hundred fifty years. The result is a careful, evidence‑driven discussion about language, botany, and the roots of a timeless food staple.

• How misprints may have shifted the sense of Indian words for beans and other crops


• Connections between historic texts, botanical debates, and the origin of garden beans


• How scholars assess typography, translations, and the reliability of early printings


• Context about 17th‑century printing, philology, and colonial Rhode Island

Ideal for readers of historical society papers, language history, and early American botany, this edition offers a focused look at a specific textual puzzle and its broader implications. It’s a concise read that sheds light on how a single term can ripple through interpretation.

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