{"id":5697,"date":"2006-12-11T17:33:25","date_gmt":"2006-12-11T22:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=5697"},"modified":"2022-10-09T12:09:32","modified_gmt":"2022-10-09T16:09:32","slug":"young-patriots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=5697","title":{"rendered":"From the Stacks Challenge: Young Patriots: The Remarkable Story of Two Men. Their Impossible Plan and The Revolution That Created The Constitution<\/i>"},"content":{"rendered":"

I finished my 4th book in the From the Stacks<\/a> challenge: Young Patriots: The Remarkable Story of Two Men, Their Impossible Plan and the Revolution That Created the Constitution<\/a>\"\"<\/i>.<\/p>\n

I guess I would say that if you want to know about that convention, then you really can’t do any better than Miracle At Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May – September 1787<\/a>\"\"<\/i>. I enjoyed Young Patriots<\/i> – but the overall impression was that this was a rather shallow book. If you want to know about Hamilton’s role in this convention, and also his role in ratification – then go for the Chernow biography, go for any biography of the dude. And James Madison as well.<\/p>\n

Nothing new here. I did appreciate the entire chapter on Rhode Island’s role (or lack thereof) in the 1787 convention – and what was going on there – this is all well-trodden ground for me, naturally, it’s my home state – so it was kind of nice to read an in-depth explanation of the situation in RI at that time.<\/p>\n

But still. I’d say: Best book about that convention is Miracle at Philadelphia<\/i>. That’s the one. Detailed descriptions of Hamilton’s personal journey with all of it … you can get in biographies, and it will be a much more satisfying read than Young Patriots<\/i>.<\/p>\n

I think, as a whole, what I got from this book is that the whole Revolutionary War topic is so hot right now – books are sellin’ like hot cakes, I tell ya – the American President series, new books come out almost every week now! – and you need to have a “gimmick” if you want your book to stand out.<\/p>\n

The History of Dental Surgery at the time of the American Revolution<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Dolley Madison: Muse or Metaphor? Gender Roles in Colonial America<\/i><\/p>\n

John Adams: A Farmer’s Perspective<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Luther Martin: Unsung Hero of 1787<\/i><\/p>\n

May 14 – May 17, 1782: 4 Days That Changed Human History<\/i><\/p>\n

Books focus on one battle. Or one year. They hone in on a specific aspect rather than do an overview.<\/p>\n

A flat out history of the convention won’t do now, because it’s already been done. And better. So you have to say that by focusing on Madison and Hamilton you will be giving the reader something they can’t get elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Not so.<\/p>\n

Still. I enjoyed it because I would enjoy reading anything about that convention – there’s always a nugget or two that I have not yet encountered, and that’s always fun.<\/p>\n

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