Greatness to Spare: The Heroic Sacrifices of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence [Paperback]

T. R. Fehrenbach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2000

Fifty six men signed the Declaration of Independence, and of those, not one recanted. "Greatness to Spare" is the story of what happened after these patriots signed that historic document.

Reader Timothy Patrick Miller dramatically renders Fehrenbach's compelling account of the ordeal of 42 of the signers: men who risked all they had for the concept in which they believed -- liberty. During the terrible years from 1776 to 1782, for their defiant "treasonous act" they were hunted down, their property confiscated, and their families persecuted. You'll hear little-known true stories of some of the most famous men in American history.

--This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9-12-More appropriate for individual rather than group listening in an educational setting, these tapes provide the background to the personal factors influencing the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and 4-5 minute biographical sketches of 42 of the 56 signers of that document. Voice actor Timothy Patrick Miller, 1996 Audie Award finalist, clearly and dramatically chronicles the lives of those who put their fortunes and lives in jeopardy for us today. His reading of this abridged book by historian T.R. Fehrenbach makes listeners feel a personal relationship with these patriots, once called traitors by the English crown. Fehrenbach is also the author of such texts as This Kind of War, This Kind of Peace, F.D.R.'s Undeclared War, and Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans. Much of this information could be found by reading biographies of the signers. For those who prefer brief biographical facts and the audio format, this set is accessible to mature high school students. It is most appropriate for inclusion in public library audio collections.
Scott Johnson, Whittemore Park Middle School, Conway, SC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Review

I particularly like 'Greatness to Spare.'...It's an inspiring story. -- Bookviews --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 247 pages
• Publisher: Replica Books (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073510168X
• ISBN-13: 978-0735101685
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,901,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatness Indeed!, June 7, 2001

By 

Moon Girl (Brick, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Greatness to Spare: The Heroic Sacrifices of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence (Hardcover)

This is one of my favorite books about the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Very few books really delve into the fate of these brave men that risked all by signing this document. It is necessary to understand all that the signers went though in support of the Declaration...some were imprisoned, some had all their lands destroyed, and some even lost family members to stand behind the document. This book should be required reading, so that others can learn the history of these men, and in doing so learn the history of the conflict, and the steps taken to end it. To read this book is to understand what drove the signers to make the desicion they did, and what helped them stay strong in the face of such horrifying possibilities.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatness to Spare, June 13, 2000

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"highldhart2" (Maine - USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greatness to spare; the heroic sacrifices of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence (Audio Cassette)

If we fail to appreciate the quality of our founding fathers and the sacrifices they made, we will not understand the greatness of their creation. The audio Greatness to Spare follows the roster of the signers of the Declaration of Independence colony by colony, telling of the risks they took when they supported this fledgling nation. Although some of the information is common knowledge to history buffs, there is still much to learn from this audio. The quality of the reader's voice is very good, a pleasant one to listen to. This tape is an excellent addition to a private library or to the colonial historian. And the price is right!

1.0 out of 5 stars Full of Misinformation, May 16, 2011

By 

Jack Mingo (Alameda, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Greatness to Spare: The Heroic Sacrifices of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence (Paperback)

Check out the extensive debunking of this book and the 1965 essay it was based on from American Legion Magazine. Adding a new twist, Rush Limbaugh claims his dad wrote a speech that contains more than half of same text as this. (Although it's probably more likely that the elder Limbaugh "borrowed" from the better-known, published writer rather than vice versa.)

Most of the stories in here are dramatic, heroic...and completely untrue. If you like the one about Washington and the cherry tree, you'll love this book. Otherwise, find an account that is not so easily debunked.