Paul Revere's Ride
by David Hackett Fischer
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Book Reviews of Paul Revere's Ride
Book Review: The Myth of the Ride
Summary: 4 Stars
In American History, no myth is more famous and unknown than Paul Revere's night ride. Who was this man and what did his role as messenger entail? David Hackett Fischer, Professor of History at Brandeis University, attempts to answer these among other questions.
Paul Revere's Ride is an unadorned narrative of the beginning of the American war for independence. The crucial decisions that precipitated this conflict were based on the nebulous concept of liberty. Revere, and his contemporaries, believed in the liberty granted to them as freeborn Englishmen, while Thomas Gage, Royal Governor of Massachusetts, believed in liberty constrained by the law.
The basic facts of the night ride are well known. Paul Revere did not undertake the alone being accompanied by William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott. Names of well known and lesser known New Englanders are sprinkled throughout the book, displaying their contribution to the American cause.
Paul Revere's Ride has much to teach us on the origins of the man and his country.
Book Review: Sometimes you can smell the gunpowder
Summary: 5 Stars
David Hackett Fischer has written an engaging and extremely detailed account of Paul Revere and the Battles of Lexington and Concord. With an erudite but accessible style of writing, Hackett has satisfied both my love of good solid history and an enjoyable read. Fischer gives the reader a historiograhpic overview of the study of Paul Revere's ride, from the celebratory to the cynical, we are shown that this man and his actions have engendered lively debate in academia.
However, not many readers may give a fig about historiography. They will however be immediately drawn into this excellent narrative account of Revere's ride, its aftermath and the thorough background provided about his life, and the life of his "adversary" General Gage.
Fischer has done something that many historians long to do, write both a readable and academically solid book. I hope that historians can use this book as an example for how to write history, and the public will read it to see that history doesn't have to be horribly dull.
Book Review: A real keeper
Summary: 5 Stars
This illuminating history revisits Paul Revere's iconic ride and brings Revere and his times back to life.
Fischer is a super historian and writer who specializes in early American history. In this book, he breathes new life into Paul Revere, the Boston silversmith who rode into the New England countryside in April, 1775 to warn the people about the British march to confiscate American guns and powder. Fischer uses Revere's ride as a takeoff point to explain how the outbreak of revolution at Lexington and Concord was not random individuals fed up with taxes, but a well-organized resistance to a powerful but clueless British military administration that seemed to make the wrong choices at every turn.
A captivating accounts of the ride and the battles, Paul Revere's Ride shows you history in the making. Great maps and photos. I'll keep this book and read it again.
Reviewer: Liz Clare, co-author of the historical novel "To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis and Clark"
Book Review: "The Regulars Are Coming!"
Summary: 5 Stars
David Hackett Fischer's "Paul Revere's Ride" is an amazing book. One of my favorite book's is Michael Shaara's "The Killer Angels" which is a work of historical fiction. "Paul Revere's Ride" is pure history but it reads as interesting and riveting as "Killer Angels".I live a few towns over from Concord and have been to the North Bridge on Patriots Day to see the re-enactment but now I will be able to appreciate it even more having read Fischer's fantastic book. I especially liked hearing about the minutemen from the surrounding towns and what role they played in the attack along the Battle Road. If you plan on going to Minuteman Park or along the Battle Road, read this book. A lot of the places and even buildings mentioned/described are still there for you to see.
A final plug, this year is the 225th anniversary of Patriots Day. What better way to celebrate than to read this incredible book.
Thank you David Fischer!
Book Review: Paul Revere's Ride
Summary: 5 Stars
In David Fischer's book, "Paul Revere's Ride", one gets a sense of a strong and interesting narrative. The book covers Paul Revere and General Thomas Gage's life as well as the events leading up to Paul Revere's famous ride. The book also discussed the Battles at Concord and Lexington. The book went into great detail of both men's lives as well as both sides of the battles. The title of the book was somewhat misleading because Paul Revere took many rides for liberty and did not act alone on his famous ride. It was a very interesting book because it gave both sides of the battles at Concord and Lexington; however, I found that the appendix were too numerous to keep going back to read. There were just enough pictures to maintain the reader's interest. I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book and David Hackett Fischer brought Paul Revere to life with his well organized narrative. One could almost picture Paul Revere on his horse riding down the street.