Schiff on The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams

A new biography of Samuel Adams comes out later this month, written by Stacy Schiff. She won a Pulitzer Prize for Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), but she’s no stranger to New Englanders of the long eighteenth century as author of A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America (winner of the George Washington Book Prize) and The Witches.

Smithsonian Magazine ran an excerpt from The Revolutionary in its October issue.

On a wet night in 1774, when a group of Massachusetts farmers settled in a tavern before the fire and, pipes in hand, discussed what had driven Bostonians mad—reasoning that Parliament might soon begin to tax horses, cows and sheep; wondering what additional affronts could come their way; and concluding that it was better to rebel sooner rather than later—it was because the long arm of Adams had reached them.

He muscled words into deeds, effecting, with various partners, a revolution that culminated, in 1776, with the Declaration of Independence. It was a sideways, looping, secretive business. Adams steered New Englanders where he was certain they meant, or should mean, to head, occasionally even revealing the destination along the way. As a grandson acknowledged: “Shallow men called this cunning, and wise men wisdom.”

Schiff will speak about her new book at two separate events hosted or co-hosted by the Massachusetts Historical Society this fall.

Friday, 28 October, 6:00 P.M.
The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams
Stacy Schiff in conversation with Sara Georgini

This book talk will be free for M.H.S. members and will also be shown online. There’s a large fee to attend the small reception preceding it. Register for one or both portions here.

Tuesday, 29 November, 6:00 P.M., online
American Inspiration
Stacy Schiff in conversation with Ryan J. Woods of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and Catherine Allgor of the M.H.S.

Again, Schiff book talk will be free, but for an additional cost people can participate in the subsequent question-and-answer session on the process of writing history, and receive a copy of the book. Register for one or both portions here.