Samuel Adams: Son of Liberty, Father of Revolution (Oxford Portraits) - Hardcover

Irvin, Benjamin H.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195132254 ISBN 13: 9780195132250

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2002

Synopsis

The story of one of the most important -- and most elusive -- figures of the American Revolution, Samuel Adams traces the life of the "Man of the Revolution," as he was called by Thomas Jefferson, from his childhood as a fifth-generation New Englander to his pivotal role in the Boston Tea Party and war that followed to a life spent in public service. Benjamin Irvin explores the fascinating contradictions of Samuel Adams's life: he was born into a family of high rank, but lived a humble, almost impoverished life; he could barely manage his personal household, but brilliantly managed the Massachusetts House of Representatives; he pushed for the Revolution, but resisted the Constitution; he spearheaded resistance to the English government but staunchly opposed resistance to the U.S. government. A perceptive look at the life of a complex man, Samuel Adams is an evocative portrait of one of our nation's most interesting Founding Fathers.

Oxford Portraits are informative and insightful biographies of people whose lives shaped their times and continue to influence ours. Based on the most recent scholarship, they draw heavily on primary sources, including writings by and about their subjects. Each book is illustrated with a wealth of photographs, documents, memorabilia, framing the personality and achievements of its subject against the backdrop of history.

About this title

About the Author

Benjamin H. Irvin is at Brandeis University.

Reviews

Grade 7 Up-This book's prologue cites the important role that Adams played in the Revolutionary War and speculates as to some of the reasons that he has "largely eluded our popular imagination." He is portrayed here as a passionate man whose influence and actions were pivotal in our nation's history. Largely responsible for instigating the Boston Tea Party, Adams and the Sons of Liberty were active and vocal about England's control over Colonial trade. Irvin's account of events is exciting and written in a compelling narrative style. He presents an unbiased assessment of Adams's actions and character. Like Thomas Paine, Adams's talent for writing stirring articles was integral in invoking citizen support for an independent nation. Some articles and other primary-source documents, judiciously abridged, appear throughout the book. Black-and-white reproductions add visual appeal. Students will enjoy knowing such trivia as the fact that Adams's tuition to Harvard, at age 14, was paid in flour. A fine, objective biography that establishes the subject's egalitarian philosophies and explains the political realities of his day in an engaging manner.
Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 9-12. From the Oxford Portraits series, this book presents the life and contributions of Samuel Adams. Adams being Adams, the biography becomes inextricably intertwined with the history of Boston, particularly in the eventful and pivotal years that led up to the American Revolution. Irvin notes the relative obscurity of this Founding Father, who guarded his privacy during his life and, by destroying personal papers and letters, after his death as well. Still, there's a great deal of information here, well organized and well written, about Adams' family background, his strengths, his shortcomings, his goals, and his many achievements. Black-and-white reproductions of period paintings, prints, and documents illustrate the text. Occasional one- or two-page features introduce pertinent selections from the writings of Adams and his contemporaries. A chronology and a bibliography are appended. This solid, detailed biography will suit a somewhat older audience than Dennis Fradin's Samuel Adams: The Father of American Independence (1998). Carolyn Phelan
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Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0195132254
• ISBN 13: 9780195132250
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176