BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
In 1860, the Boston Evening Transcript published Longfellow's poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere". This was a little known tale of the Revolutionary War. The Founding Fathers weren't too keen on the idea that the world should know that the Patriots were prepared to fight back. For a long time, they stifled Revere's story, but eventually history won out. You see, Revere wrote a letter in 1798 which was published in a magazine in 1832 which also contained a French tale which had been translated by a young Longfellow. Longfellow, seeing the letter, decided that someday it might be a good topic to write about, which he did, in 1860. However, today historians have noted that many of his facts aren't quite right. Jeff Lantos takes the poem, stanza by stanza and recreates the story as it actually happened, quoting professors, historians, even Paul Revere himself.
A fascinating look into the Battle of Lexington and Concord, includes maps, photographs and the best sidebars - those were my favorite - tidbits of more information helping put the whole thing in context. Well researched, it includes 18 pages of (small print) source notes and a 6 page bibliography! A great resource to accompany a class learning Longfellow's poem, or as a thorough study of this one event. Lantos also ties the poem to Longfellow's life just prior to the Civil War.
Lisa Librarian
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