Revolutionary Books for Minutemen, Militia, and Loyalists

Revolutionary Books

for Minutemen, Militia, and Loyalists

BY JAIMEE LEIGH JOROFF

Whether your loyalties lie with the King or the colonists, you can catch up with some of the best books on the subject this spring.

Paul Revere’s Ride by David Hackett Fischer “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” has wound its way into American legend; the image of a Sons of Liberty Rider spotting two lanterns hanging in the steeple of Boston’s North Church and then galloping towards Concord. David Hackett Fischer’s book opens the lanterns and casts a broad light onto the life of Paul Revere and America at the time of the Revolutionary War. An engaging and informative read, Paul Revere’s Ride is an example of when the truth is as captivating as the legend it leaves behind.

Historic Concord and the Lexington Fight by Allen French Who has time to read when the British are on the march right now to Lexington and Concord? Not you! You’ve got to go grab your musket and assemble with the Minutemen, militias, or the King’s troops. And with this book, you can do it. A brief yet comprehensive guide to April 19th, 1775, French’s book marches you through the places and battles in Lexington and Concord. Read it and get going!

The Minutemen and Their World by Robert A. Gross If you’ve ever wondered what is was like to be a Minuteman, who they were and what they believed, this is your starting book. A favorite with historic interpreters, scholars, and the curious, Robert Gross escorts readers into 18th century New England, examining the concerns and conflicts between fellow citizens with divided loyalties. With a focus around Concord, Gross’s brilliant mix of anecdotes and history leaves you feeling like you were standing on the town commons, or the farm and battle fields, with the Minutemen — sharing in the moments, and their hopes for the future.

The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War by J.L. Bell The Road to Concord ignites the days leading to the American Revolutionary War and shows readers how stealing cannons and angering King George III and his appointed Military Governor of Massachusetts, General Thomas Gage, created an epic problem that ultimately cost Great Britain part of its empire. The Road to Concord is packed with anecdotes and facts, many brought to light for the first time by Bell in this well-researched history. Spies, Sons of Liberty, British soldiers, Minutemen, militia, plots, and planning abound.

John Adams by David McCullough If you’ve ever wanted to spend time with one of the Founding Fathers of America and learn what they really thought, this book is your chance. Beyond the action and chaos unfolding in the streets before and during the American Revolutionary War, there was a steady, fair-minded, and thoughtful figure at work: John Adams. In this biography of Adams, McCullough humanizes the New England Patriot whom Thomas Jefferson called, “the colossus of Independence.”

Jaimee Leigh Joroff is the manager of Barrow Bookstore in Concord. She has been an interpreter at all of Concord’s historic sites and is a licensed town guide. Stop by Barrow Bookstore and Jaimee will be happy to help you find the perfect book on the American Revolution.