Ray Raphael Back in Town in September

Ray Raphael, author of Founders: The People Who Brought You a Nation, is coming back to Boston this month for back-to-back presentations at two big venues.

At 6:30 P.M. on Tuesday, 15 September, Ray will speak at Old South Meeting House on “Raucous Rebel: Dr. Thomas Young and Boston’s Venues of Revolution.” Dr. Young was probably the most radical and forward-looking of the Boston Whigs, and little-known today. As the event description says:

He marched in the streets, pressured recalcitrant merchants, and propagandized in the press. He helped form the Committees of Correspondence and pen its influential “Boston Pamphlet.” He gave a rousing closing speech at the massive tea tax meeting at Old South Meeting House.

Dr. Thomas Young was one of Boston’s most colorful colonial characters. Acclaimed author Ray Raphael looks at how Boston provided a political atmosphere that allowed such a raucous rebel to flourish.

This event will be free and open to the public, with plenty of sitting seats, and a booksigning will follow.

The very next day, Ray will speak at the Massachusetts Historical Society, which says:

Join Ray Raphael, the bestselling author of A People's History of the American Revolution, for a “behind the scenes” look at how seven diverse characters were chosen to carry the story of his newest book. During this lively program, a participatory discussion led by our speaker will focus on an “experiment” of selecting seven people whose contributions to the founding of this country could both broaden and deepen our national narrative.

Audience members are encouraged to weigh in with their own picks: Who would you choose as your representatives in this great drama and why? What criteria would you use to suggest candidates and determine who makes the cut?

In preparation, you can review the Boston 1775 discussion of that topic way back here.

The M.H.S. will serve refreshments starting at 5:30 P.M., and Ray will speak at 6:00. Again, there will be a booksigning. Reservations requested; contact education@masshist.org.