A True Republican: The Life of Paul Revere

by Jayne E. Triber

Book Overview

Portraying the man behind the myth, A True Republican goes beyond the famous "ride" to explore Paul Revere's larger role in the American Revolution, the evolution of his political thought, and his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558491392
• ISBN13: 9781558491397
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press
• Length: 314 Pages
• Weight: 1.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Informative about the Revolution as well as Revere

This book is readable, but also very well documented with sources, so that it works both for a causual reader and one who wants to dig further, I enjoyed it.

Definitely the best Revere biography to date

In "A True Republican," Triber successfully transforms the larger than life Revere of legend into a living and breathing American. This book is both readable and detailed, utilizing an ocean of facts to flesh out Revere's life while proving a central thesis.According to Triber, Revere epitomizes the development of republicanism in postcolonial America. What does this mean, you ask? Revere believed in the "American Dream," and tried to create a country in which individuals could achieve economic and social prosperity, and even political office, as long as they possessed the qualities of virtue, merit, and ambition. If this sounds trite to you, please realize that it was a novel concept in Colonial America, a land of hierarchy and inflexible social classes.Revere's life as a silversmith, patriot, and would-be merchant illustrate his devotion to republicanism. The son of an immigrant, he had to depend upon his own skill and drive in order to succeed, but he possessed these traits in abundance. His life took many twists and turns, and he failed to achieve many of his goals, but at the end of his life he was a successful businessman and patriarch of a huge and fairly prominent family. One quibble: I wish the book had focused a bit more on the last 20 or so years of his life. Many of Revere's later technological achievements are covered in less than thorough detail, unlike the earlier chapters. No book can cover every angle of a subject, of course, but I personally disagree with this aspect of Triber's emphasis.Whether you want a great biography, a study of early American social mobility, or just a great read, please give "A True Republican" a try!