Concord historian D. Michael Ryan's first book on the Concord Fight, Concord and the Dawn of Revolution: The Hidden Truths, has just been published by The History Press. Ryan (pictured at right) is a frequent contributor to the Concord Magazine, and in fact, it's through his many articles here over the past nine years that this book actually began its creation.
As any red-blooded American knows, the first action of the Revolutionary War took place at Concord, Massachusetts with the "shot heard 'round the world." (At least that's the Concord-centric view of it!) But a good deal of what is widely known about those early days of the Revolution is wrong. In this new book, Ryan illuminates acts of uprising by Patriots and Loyalists during the first action of the Revolutionary War in and around Concord.
Through a series of compelling essays, Ryan debunks historical myths and salutes those who fought for the recognition of our nation and became the first heroes of the fledgling United States. What was romanticized and changed in the generations since the Revolution is presented here directly through the voices of the people who faced the shocking facts of war and rebellion.
The History Press contacted the publisher of the Concord Magazine about a year ago, asking to be put in touch with local historians writing about local topics. Of course, Ryan's name floated immediately to the top of the list and the introduction was accomplished. Negotiations followed, feverish writing transpired, the book has now been published, and the rest is -- as they say -- history.
From Dr. Samuel Prescott, who joined Paul Revere on his famous ride and left fiancée Lydia Mulliken behind, to the mystery of the Bedford Flag unfurled on April 19th, these stories reveal the truths of our founding fathers and mothers. As their lives were interrupted by the birth of a nation, the citizens of Concord saw their friends and neighbors engaged in acts of bravery and of depravity. Ryan's account of the events surrounding April 19, 1775 provides a glimpse at the realities of the American Revolution.
Author D. Michael Ryan is an associate dean at Boston College where he also guest lectures on a variety of history topics. He writes frequently on the misconceptions of the Revolutionary War and other history topics in a variety of publications, and volunteers as a historical interpreter at Minute Man National Historical Park.
His avocation is researching, writing, reenacting, interpreting, and teaching relative to the American Revolution, with a focus on the 1770s in Massachussets, specifically the events of April 19, 1775. He belongs to numerous re-enacting units, both American and French.
The publisher, The History Press, based in Charleston, South Carolina and Gloucester, Massachusetts, brings an innovative way of thinking to history publishing by producing regional history titles by excellent historians, striving to make these books available to a wide audience.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: The Truth of It... Haunted and Heroic: The Hartwell Family... Recognizing the Enemy Within: Daniel Bliss, Tory... A Tale of Two Families: Joined by Love, Shattered by War... James Barrett: A Patriot's Name for Posterity... Espionage, Spies and Intrigue Surround Concord... A Place of Honor: Charles Miles in Extraordinary Times... Whatever Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong... An Unfurled Flag and the Concord Fight... Tragic Act Begets Revenge and Propaganda... Joseph Thaxter: Minister of the Lord at the Bridge... Legacy from the Daughters of Liberty... A Matter of Color: Slaves and the Two Fights for Freedom... Support from Our British "Cousins"... Intolerable Papists Influence a Revolution... Irksome Concord Jail and a Parliamentarian Prisoner.
Artwork: Author photo by Gary Wayne Gilbert. Backgrounds by Word of Mouth Web Design. Images courtesy of Clipart.com.
