Tag: American Revolution
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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness by Peter Moore
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Not everyone loved Benjamin Franklin. Quick synopsis: The story of how the phrase, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” came to be in American culture. Fact for Non-History People: 12 of the original colonies voted yes on the Declaration of Independence on July…
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Revolutionary Roads by Bob Thompson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Revolutionary Roads: American Revolution ROAD TRIP! Quick synopsis: A literal walk-through of major places during the American Revolution. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Every American knows Lexington and Concord, but the most deaths on the day the Revolution started was in Menotomy (now Arlington), Massachusetts. Fun Fact for History Nerds:…
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Guest Post! Ryan Woolf’s Review of Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution by Mike Duncan
Alternate Tagline for Hero of Two Worlds: I thought there would be more rap battles. Quick synopsis: The fascinating life story of The Marquis de Lafayette. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Marquis de Lafayette was childhood friends with King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette; he had a surrogate father/son relationship with George…
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The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams: He’s more than just a beer! Quick synopsis: A biography of the overshadowed Adams, Samuel. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: He was never called “Sam.” Always Samuel. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Adams was gifted a slave from his mother-in-law. He immediately had her emancipated. Surrey…
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The Martyr and the Traitor by Virginia Anderson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Martyr and the Traitor: The ending will leave you hanging. I am so sorry. I’ll do better. Quick synopsis: The stories of Nathan Hale (you know him, probably) and Moses Dunbar (you do not) who were both tried and executed for treason. It just turns out one was executed by…
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Rebels at Sea by Eric Jay Dolin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Rebels at Sea: Whoop’em by land, whoop’em by sea. Quick synopsis: The story of American privateers in the American Revolution. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: One of the privateer boats was named Tyrannicide. Name a better boat name. I dare you. Fun Fact for History Nerds: At the time of…
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Benedict Arnold: Revolutionary Hero by James Kirby Martin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: He still sucks. Quick synopsis: A look at why Benedict Arnold became the traitor we still love to hate. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Arnold had two wives named Peggy. Not at the same time. That would be scandalous. Oh, wait… Fun Fact for History Nerds: Arnold is often thought of…
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Liberty’s Chain by David Gellman
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Liberty’s Chain: A lot of mixed messages in this one. Quick synopsis: The story of Founding Father, John Jay, his descendants and their relation to slavery. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: John Jay still had slaves while serving as a prominent abolitionist. Fun Fact for History Nerds: In the six…
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Revolutionary Brothers by Tom Chaffin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Revolutionary Brothers: This is a lovely reminder of why Thomas Jefferson sucks. Quick synopsis: A shortened dual biography of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson after the American Revolution and leading to the French Revolution. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Thomas Jefferson had his own daughter kidnapped. Go ahead,…