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A review by mrsmarch
Signing Their Lives Away by Denise Kiernan
4.0
A lively and accessible introduction to 56 men who changed American history, only 3 of whom are probably at all known to modern Americans. Okay, 4 --- if you happen to like beer. I'm enjoying it immensely, although I'm not sure whether it would be a good read for a colonial-history newbie: the authors bandy about names, dates, and places that probably mean little to readers who don't have a passing knowledge of pre-Revolutionary and Revolutionary history already. It may have been a better developmental choice to put the Time Line in the front of the book instead of the back, as well as a map of the colonies. But it could be a good introductory text if readers take the initiative to follow up on the men and events mentioned in the book. As I said, the writing is immensely accessible, light-hearted, and not at all boggy, stuffy, or musty. I'd rather a fledgling start here than with, say, 1776.
One problem so far: the authors have wrongly named the church in which John Adams is interred. They call it the First Unitarian Church, when in fact its name is the United First Parish Church; I would know, as my husband and I were married just feet above the subterranean granite vault where the two Presidents Adams and their wives are interred. It's nitpicky of me and 99% of readers probably won't even pick up on it.
One problem so far: the authors have wrongly named the church in which John Adams is interred. They call it the First Unitarian Church, when in fact its name is the United First Parish Church; I would know, as my husband and I were married just feet above the subterranean granite vault where the two Presidents Adams and their wives are interred. It's nitpicky of me and 99% of readers probably won't even pick up on it.