Samuel Adams - by Ira Stoll (Paperback)

About the Book

With eloquence equal to Jefferson and Tom Paine, Adams helped ignite the flame of liberty and made sure it glowed even during the Revolution's darkest hours. He was, as Jefferson later observed, "truly the man of the Revolution." Adams played a pivotal role not fully appreciated until now in the events leading up to the confrontation with the British. Believing that God willed a free American nation, he was among the first to call for independence. He saw the opportunity to stir things up after the Boston Massacre and helped plan and instigate the Boston Tea Party. A fiery newspaper editor, he railed ceaselessly against "taxation without representation" and argued the urgency of revolution. When the top British general in America offered a general amnesty in 1775 to all who would lay down their arms, he excepted only John Hancock and Samuel Adams: these two were destined for the gallows.--From publisher description.

Book Synopsis

In this "triumph of learning and understanding" (James Grant, author of John Adams: A Party of One), the comprehensive biography of Samuel Adams, the moral compass of the American Revolution. Perfect for fans of Walter Isaacson and David McCullough.Long overlooked, Samuel Adams was, according to Thomas Jefferson, "truly the man of the Revolution." Now, with eloquence and insight, Ira Stoll effortlessly illustrates how crucial Adams was in the founding of the United States of America. Filled with religious fervor and with profound power as the editor of the influential Boston Gazette, Adams was one of the earliest advocates for independence from Great Britain. His dedication to liberty and the crucial part he played in building and sustaining the revolutionary cause are revealed as never before here. "Stoll does a glorious job bringing to life this agitated and revolutionary apostle of liberty, whose passions still reverberate in our nation's soul. This book will help you understand our founding, and our future" (Walter Isaacson, New York Times bestselling author).

Review Quotes

"In order to understand the moral and religious roots of America's zeal for liberty, you need to know and appreciate Samuel Adams. Ira Stoll does a glorious job bringing to life this agitated and revolutionary apostle of liberty, whose passions still reverberate in our nation's soul. This book will help you understand our founding, and our future." -- Walter Isaacson, author of Benjamin Franklin: An American Life and Einstein: His Life and Universe

About the Author

Ira Stoll was vice president and managing editor of The New York Sun, which he helped to found. He has been a consultant to the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal, an editor of the Jerusalem Post, managing editor and Washington correspondent of the Forward, and a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. He is a native of Massachusetts and a graduate of Harvard College. He lives in New York City.