As famous as Paul Revere is as a Revolutionary icon, there are surprisingly few books about him.
Revere first became famous after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow published his poem about him, titled Paul Revere’s Ride, in 1860 but that was all we knew about Revere until historians finally began to take him seriously as a historical figure later on in the 20th century.
As a result, a handful of books were published on Paul Revere and we began to learn more about him than just his famous midnight ride.
The following is a list of the best books about Paul Revere:
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Paul Revere’s Ride by David Hackett Fischer
Published in 1963, this book is about what happened during Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride.
Up until the publication of this book, Paul Revere’s famous ride had always been considered sort of a children’s story. No historians wanted to explore the event seriously which is what prompted Fischer to write the book in the first place. Fischer’s goal was to separate the fact from fiction and explore the event in detail.
The book has received numerous positive reviews since its publication. Kirkus Reviews praised the book for its “lively” writing and thorough research and stated that “the thinking is fresh and clear” while the New Yorker described it as an “exciting history” with “meticulous” details.
The Commercial Appeal newspaper praised Fisher’s writing, stating: “Fischer knows how to grip the reader as few historians do….Fischer succeeds brilliantly in re-creating the milieu of the 1770s” while the Virginian-Pilot and the Ledger-Star declared it one of the “best recent books on the Revolution” that “carefully sifts accumulating legend from a substantial body of fact.”
The Boston Sunday Globe also praised the book’s thorough research and gripping narrative:
“A work of rare historical distinction, an unputdownable narrative scraping away the tarnish of time and myth to reveal the essential metal of Paul Revere, silversmith. It is crammed with anecdote, represents a meticulous standard of research…and offers a peerless portrait of its subject.”
The Library Journal described it as “a meticulously researched and wonderfully evocative narrative that will be enjoyed by history lovers and scholars alike…” while the Milwaukee Journal stated it “restores Paul Revere to his place in the pantheon of American heroes by clearing away the junk of myth and mockery.”
The Richmond Times-Dispatch called it “richly illuminating…Educational and though-provoking” while the Trenton Times called it a “thrilling read” and the Journal of American history declared it “historical writing of a very high order.”
David Hackett Fischer is a University Professor of History Emeritus at Brandeis University and author who has written a number of history books including Liberty and Freedom: A Visual History of America’s Founding Ideas; Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America; and Washington’s Crossing.
Paul Revere and the World He Lived In by Esther Forbes
Published in 1942, this book is about the life and times of Paul Revere.
The book explores Revere’s entire life, starting from his family’s migration to Boston to his youth as well as his activities in the American Revolution and beyond.
The book has received positive reviews since it was published. The New York Times stated it “Goes straight to the heart of life in old Boston without sacrificing an iota of universal quality” while Kirkus Reviews described it as an “absorbing read.”
Time Magazine gave the book a somewhat mixed review, stating that God didn’t make Revere an exciting person and Forbes didn’t do much better.
Yet, at the same time, the Time Magazine review goes on to say that the book makes for “absorbing reading” and is a “levelheaded account of Boston’s part in the American Revolution” and states that Forbes’ description of the Battle of Lexington and the Boston Massacre is a “superb piece of historical writing.”
The book won the Pulitzer Prize for history in 1943.
Esther Forbes, who died in 1967, was a novelist, historian and the first woman elected as a member of the American Antiquarian Society.
Forbes wrote a number of books including her best known work Johnny Tremain, which won her the Newberry Prize in 1944.
The Revolutionary Paul Revere by Joel Miller
Published in 2010, this book is about the life of Paul Revere and his role in the American Revolution.
The book explores Revere’s family and social life and his activities in the American Revolution serving as a spy, express rider, Freemason and entrepreneur.
Joel J. Miller is an author who has written a number of books including Bad Trip: How the War on Drugs is Destroying America; and Size Matters: How Big Government Puts the Squeeze on America’s Families, Finances, and Freedom.
The Court-Martial of Paul Revere: A Son of Liberty and America’s Forgotten Military Disaster by Michael M. Greenburg
Published in 2014, this book discusses Paul Revere’s role in the Penobscot Expedition and why he was court-martialed for it.
The book gives a full account of Revere’s conduct before, during, and after the disastrous Penobscot Expedition to Maine in 1779, which resulted in him being charged with neglect of duty, disobeying orders, and cowardice and ultimately damaged his reputation and put an end to his military career.
The book received positive reviews when it was published. Publisher’s Weekly stated that “readers interested in a realist school of history will find Greenburg’s effort enlightening.”
The Dispatch newspaper declared that although Revere’s court-martial isn’t a secret to most history buffs, this book is “the best documented account, giving us a fuller picture of a human, not saintly, patriot.”
The MetroWest Daily News praised Greenburg as “a fine writer” and praised the book for “breaking new ground” and humanizing the legendary Paul Revere:
“Greenburg’s Revere comes alive as a recognizable man of flesh and blood, more human than the literary legend children learn about from a catchy poem.”
Michael M. Greenburg is a practicing attorney and author of numerous books including Peaches and Daddy; and The Mad Bomber of New York.
A True Republican: The Life of Paul Revere by Jayne E. Triber
Published in 1998, this book is about the evolution of Paul Revere’s life during the American Revolution.
The book details how Revere went from being a silversmith to a merchant, explores his involvement in the American Revolution, discusses his role and activities in the Freemasons and details his military career.
Overall, the book explores how and why Paul Revere’s politics, business and personal life evolved throughout the American Revolution and in doing so shines a light on social mobility in America during and after the revolution.
The book received positive reviews when it was published. The Virginia Quarterly Review described it as “Well written, extensively researched, and extremely detailed” and declared it will “no doubt, be the standard biography for years to come” while Booklist described it as a “worthy addition to any U.S. history collection.”
The Journal of the American Revolution praised the book for its in-depth look into Revere’s life and character:
“Triber gives us a portrait like John Singleton Copley’s famous leather-aproned image: A proud, ambitious master craftsman eager for ever-greater prosperity and social recognition. Early on she proclaims her interest in ‘what attracted Paul Revere to the Revolutionary cause, how [he] interpreted the republican principles of the Revolution, [and] how those principles shaped his life after April 19, 1775.’ She succeeds admirably in all those goals.”
Jayne E. Triber is an independent scholar.
Sources:
“Notes on Current Books, Winter 1999.” Virginia Quarterly Review, 1999 vqronline.org/recent-books/notes-current-books-winter-1999
“Praise.” Michael Greenburg, michaelgreenburg.com/praise
“The Court-Martial of Paul Revere: A Son of Liberty & America’s Forgotten Military Disaster.” Publisher’s Weekly, publishersweekly.com/9781611685350
“The Revolutionary Paul Revere.” Joel L. Miller, joeljmiller.com/revere/
“Books: Early America.” Time Magazine, 29 June. 1942, content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,795978,00.html
“Paul Revere and the World He Lived In.” Kirkus Reviews, kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/esther-forbes-2/paul-revere-and-the-world-he-lived-in-3/
“Paul Revere’s Ride.” Kirkus Reviews, kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-hackett-fischer/paul-reveres-ride/
“Resources.” Paul Revere House, paulreverehouse.org/resources/