Portraying the man behind the myth, A True Republican goes beyond the famous "ride" to explore Paul Revere's larger role in the American Revolution, the evolution of his political thought, and his transformation from Revolutionary artisan to entrepreneur in the early republic. Jayne E. Triber's insightful reading of both primary and secondary sources—including government documents, Masonic records, and Revere's personal and business papers—illuminates the social, cultural, and economic factors that shaped Revere's Revolutionary activities as well as his ardent interpretation of republicanism. Through the lens of one man's life, Triber explores the meaning and attraction of republicanism for artisans, the social structure of Revolutionary and post-Revolutionary America, the importance of Free-masonry, and the development of political parties in the newly formed republic.
A fascinating study of the efforts of an ambitious young artisan who ultimately achieved the status of the gentlemen he had long admired and so ardently desired to emulate. This is a significant achievement and enhances our understanding of America's formative years. Any future analysis of Revere will certainly have to begin with Triber's work.'—American Historical Review
'Well written, extensively researched, and extremely detailed. . . . This will, no doubt, be the standard biography for years to come.'—Virginia Quarterly Review
'Revere will be forever immortalized by the mythology surrounding his 'ride.' The man behind the myth was far more interesting, as this informative and often surprising biography illustrates. . . . Triber is especially effective in describing the hothouse intellectual and social milieu of eighteenth-century Boston, which nurtured republicanism. This work is a worthy addition to any U.S. history collection.'—Booklist
'Triber gives us a portrait like John Singleton Copley's famous leather-aproned image: A proud, ambitious master craftsman eager for ever-greater prosperity and social recognition. Early on she proclaims her interest in 'what attracted Paul Revere to the Revolutionary cause, how [he] interpreted the republican principles of the Revolution, [and] how those principles shaped his life after April 19, 1775.' She succeeds admirably in all those goals.'—Journal of American History
'Triber's well-substantiated thesis is that Paul Revere was an excellent representative of an eighteenth-century artisan/mechanic culture, which sought, not entirely successfully, to bridge the gap between artisans and the social and political elite. It is the author's plausible contention that as a leader of an emerging working class, Revere, 'a true republican,' should be considered along with his more famous elite colleagues as one of the creators of the American republic. A comprehensive bibliography, index, and numerous illustrations greatly enhance the value of this long-needed, full-length biography.'—The Historian
'The best full biography we have of Revere.'—Gordon S. Wood, , author of The Radicalism of the American Revolution
'Based on extensive work in the papers of Revere and his contemporaries, as well as in the Boston press, this book provides a solid, believable picture of Revere. It will become the first resort for scholars looking for information on Revere and his connections and will fill an important gap in the literature of the period. Its clear writing and relative brevity should make it valuable for classroom use and there should be a broader interest from general readers.'—Steven C. Bullock, author of Revolutionary Brotherhood:
Freemasonry and the Transformation of the American Social Order
Jayne E. Triber is an independent scholar.
