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 enlarge | Author: David Hackett Fischer
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Category: Book
List Price: $40.00
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Rating:  75 reviews
Sales Rank: 132684
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 464
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.8
Dimensions (in): 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.3
ISBN: 0195088476
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.3311092
EAN: 9780195088472
ASIN: 0195088476
Publication Date: April 14, 1994
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Condition: Standard used condition.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Galloping Into Nationhood June 4, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
While many of his fellow Boston Sons of Liberty were orators and thinkers, Paul Revere was of a different stripe. As captured by David Hackett Fischer in "Paul Revere's Ride," the silversmith was a "doer." Actions spoke louder, as was the case on April 18, 1775 when he mounted the mare Brown Beauty and led a nation into being.
"His genius was to promote collective action in the cause of freedom - a paradox that lies closer to the heart of the American experience than the legendary historical loners we love to celebrate," Fischer writes. While Revere did not complete the mission he started, he set in motion a chain reaction which would create in the end something well beyond his imagining, or anyone else's.
As with "Washington's Crossing," his later history about a later chapter of the American Revolution, the title of Hackett's book is metaphorical, an individual's act that also represents a cultural shift from which there was no going back. Readers familiar with "Washington's Crossing" will recognize a similar treatment, a somewhat revisionist revisiting of the central occasion and the events immediately before and after it that nevertheless ratifies and enriches traditional interpretations.
Fischer's writing style is impressively vivid, and his narrative moves quickly. Revere's pre-ride story is dealt with fast, so he can get to the central event and give it the kind of focus to render it fresh and alive to the reader. Fischer wants us to feel just how chaotic Revere's ride and the subsequent battles of Lexington and Concord were, that while much had been planned in advance by both sides, there was little calculation and nothing was preordained.
About the "shot heard 'round the world," which triggered the first battle: "It is possible that one of the first shots was fired deliberately, either from an emotion of the moment or a cold-blooded intention to create an incident. More likely there was an accident. Firearms seemed to have a mind of their own in the 18th century."
That the colonists had minds of their own was something the British leaders in Boston did not appreciate. Gen. Thomas Gage, military governor of the colony, had an enlightened attitude for his day but called his subjects "sulky." Anticipating little trouble, the British soldiers who marched to Lexington to take away the colonists' cannonry didn't bother carting artillery of their own. Fischer notes that not only were the colonists more war-seasoned than the smartly-dressed but relatively raw Regulars they opposed, they fought with greater order, outmaneuvering the British at nearly every turn.
Fischer's book includes ample illustrations, maps, the British battle order, even the local weather and tides (Revere's ride actually began on a rowboat). As in "Washington's Crossing," Fischer offers an excellent analysis in the back of the book of the various interpretations Revere's ride was given in different periods of American life may be the most valuable and readable part of the book.
Maybe I found "Paul Revere's Ride" not as good as "Washington's Crossing" because I was expecting too darn much. But he leaves some loose ends, like the fate of a British soldier who fell victim to America's first war atrocity and a marriage which may have been sundered by America's first wartime spy. His interpretations of Revere's behavior seem at time too gushing, albeit fairer than those of Revere's detractors Fischer examines at the end of the book.
But one puts down "Paul Revere's Ride" with difficulty, and with a sense one is learning about this grammar-school chestnut for the first time, discovering it was in many ways a bigger deal than first supposed.
 Interesting, and good, but... May 11, 2006
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
David Hackett Fischer explores the events immediately preceding, occurring during, and immediately following Paul Revere's Ride. He argues in his introduction that historians and academicians in general have largely ignored the extraordinary role Revere played in the development of the revolutionary movement. His book, then, seeks to bring Revere to light. In so doing, Fischer holds a magnifying glass to Massachusetts in the year 1775, and describes in astonishing detail the Whig-ish beginnings of the United States of America.
His book is a mixture of biography and military history. It has two primary foci; one, make great the name of Paul Revere; and two, delve into the militaristic proceedings of both the colonists and Britain's "Regulars." Wherever possible he tries to intertwine the two; when an event is occurring that does not involve Revere-the skirmish at Lexington, for example, he goes to great lengths to explain what Revere was doing at the time (during the skirmish, he was removing a heavy chest from a tavern). Whenever Revere is involved in the event, Fischer takes great pains to portray his role as critical.
Insofar as military history is concerned, one learns exactly why the Regulars march on Lexington and Concord failed. From mistaken assumptions about the colonists to unreceived communication from General Thomas Gage, Fischer includes it all. He provides detailed maps to show the movements of the two camps, and further illuminates the human side of the conflict with plenty of photographs, portraits, and captions. With the very small exception included in his epilogue, in which he gives brief life summaries of the main characters following the conflict, he never discusses that conflict's ramifications outside the militaristic exacerbation of the revolution.
Fischer's book is interesting for the most part, but as to its historical accuracy, this reader has some concerns. The detail of Revere's and others' movements and thoughts is so fine, one must wonder if Fischer allowed himself some historical license for the sake of readability. It does, in fact, read like Herman Wouk or Gore Vidal. One also wonders about the near deification of Paul Revere. The tone is like an overly enthusiastic response to an overly unenthusiastic academic circle. For two centuries, historians have ignored Revere; Fischer's answer is to elevate Revere to the level of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Certainly, his book is extremely well researched, perhaps enough to create a highly readable work without sacrificing any integrity whatsoever. Perhaps enough also to justify his exuberance for the man that was Paul Revere. All the same, the extents of both leave doubts in the mind of this reader.
 Great Book, Fascinating Story April 25, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Living in the area where the events took place I thought I knew the real story about Paul Revere and the under-reported William Dawes and Dr. Prescott. But reading this book I realize how little I did know and that much of the story regarding the beginning of the revolution is myth. That's too bad as Fischer explains the true events are even more interesting than the myths. The story is told perfectly - letting the reader feel like a fly on the wall and let's us know the mindset of the principles involved and what they did and why. Having read the book then visiting Minuteman Park made the events seem much closer. Dr. Fischer knows his history and did an excellent job of research. Thankfully his prose allows the story to flow as easily as Brown Beauty was to ride. My heart pounded when reading of the fighting and the desperate plight of the British soldiers.
I also enjoyed reading what happened to the participants after the battle. I'd wondered why Revere didn't have more of an active roll in later events. This is the definitive story about those events and I think young and old can appreciate this classic.
Great Narrative!! April 23, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
David Hackett Fischer writes an amazing narrative of the history of Paul Revere and the beginnings of the Revolutionary War.
I am a history buff, but must confess that I did not know much about Paul Revere's true role or the Battles of Lexington & Concord. Like many others, I had always thought of Revere as a solitary rider, spreading alarm by himself throughout the countryside. I found Mr. Hackett's book as good as a suspensful fiction novel. I had no idea of how many people were involved in the alarms, the "midnight ride", and how overwhelming the response of the Mass. people to the alarms of "the Regulars are coming!".
The book is structured very well. It contains a short summary of key events, like the Boston Tea Party, the Stamp Act, etc. The author then introduces you to the two main players of his story - Paul Revere and General Gage of the British Army. The author explains Paul Revere's role as artisan, revolutionary, and community leader. Once the stage is set, the exceptional narrative regarding the alarms, the turning out of the militia, and the battles is given. The book wraps up with a great description of how subsequent generations were impacted and what Revere went on to accoomplish after the war.
If you want great insight into an icon of American history, and an entertaining education in the events that led to Bunker Hill and the Seige of Boston, this is your book. I will forever have a greater appreciation for the day that we now celebrate as Patroits' Day.
An Amazing Book April 21, 2006
David Hacker Fischer really wrote an amazing book with "Paul Revere's Ride." It is wonderful to learn more about the heroic ride and life of Paul Revere. Also one of the great qualities of the book is the way the author describes the fighting in Lexington and Concord. He really highlights the heroism and "citizen" nature of the militaia that goes up against the most powerful military at the time.
Another great quality of this publication is the way the author fills out the details of the life of other players involved. He details everybody from Thomas Gage, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, as well as the officers and common soldiers on both sides.
While the book is known for fact checking and setting some of the myths straight is also of course a treasure of new information, especially about the battle.
If you like history, and books that are well written, there is no doubt you will love this amazing tale from David Hackett Fischer. I hear Washington's Crossing is great as well and look forward to reading his other book.
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