Customer Reviews

Nathan Hale: The Life and Death of America's First Spy

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Other than a few children's authors, no one has published a definitive biography of Nathan Hale for decades. M. William Phelps has now stepped in to fill the gap. Using his investigative research skills, honed as a true crime writer, Phelps has combed the archives to find any and all of the information currently available about the life of Nathan Hale. That is not an easy task, as most of the primary documents come from British sources, who, understandably, were biased. Most of the secondhand sources were provided years after Hale's death in 1776, and the tendency at that time was to glorify and romanticize.

In this book, Phelps has pulled together all available, credible documentation, and presented the information in an interesting format that blends fact-based fiction (vignettes from Hale's life) and hard data. Hale's upbringing, early stint as a schoolteacher, and fateful career as Revolutionary War soldier, are critically examined and brought to life. Hale is portrayed as an earnest young man who, like many of his contemporaries, saw the war for independence as a chance to prove one's belief in and devotion to the ideals of liberty and equality. Perhaps the most intriguing section deals with the possible ways in which Hale was identified and apprehended as a spy, as the mythology swirling around that event has long been debated. Did Samuel Hale, Nathan's Tory cousin and an officer on the staff of British General Gage, betray his kinsman? Did the infamous Robert Rogers entrap him? What about the patron of the tavern Nathan was said to frequent?

It will probably never be possible to determine exactly how and why Nathan Hale became the "martyr spy" of the American Revolution. Evidence clearly indicates that he wanted to do something heroic and memorable, and that indeed is what happened. Did he really say,"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" just moments before his death by hanging? I think he did. Read Phelps's Nathan Hale and draw your own conclusions.

Seemed to be researched well, writing was ok, especially about Nathan's early life. It was while Nathan was making his escape from New York that I heartily disagree with Mr. Phelps conclusions. He has the wise and intelligent Nathan setting up a social schedule in the middle of running for his life with the most dastardly villain on Long Island, Robert Rogers. Rogers was THE most famous Ranger in all of America at that time. Nathan being a Captain in Knowlton's Rangers himself would know everything there was to know about Robert Rogers including the little fact that he was fighting on the side of the British.
Given Nathan's background, education and experience up to this point in his short life it is just not possible that Nathan was captured in this manner. Rodgers Rangers were mostly robbing anyone they could on Long Island. Its more likely Nathan was jumped from ambush for the sole purpose of robbing a Dutch Schoolmaster, he was searched and the thieves found the maps and drawings and decided they could profit more being soldiers that evening than thieves.
I gave this book two stars for Mr. Phelps able handling of Nathans early life and would recommend it for that part.

What a shame that modern History textbooks leave out the story of Nathan Hale. Phelps has done a wonderful job of capturing the essence of a forgotten hero. Hale showed much promise as a young officer in Washington's rag-tag Continental army. I have always been intrigued by the mystery-ridden tale of how a 21-year old with everything going for him could take on such a risky mission, then accept the unfortunate consequences with such dignity, grace, and honor. I highly recommend this biography to anyone who enjoys reading about those who go above and beyond the call of duty for our great nation.

................It is stated that John Abams and Samuel Adams were brothers. Most people know this is not the case, except it seems, the author and his editor. I could not read any further given I was not sure which information was correct or very wrong. Read if you must but beware.

Hale's story is fascinating, and certainly deserves a decent contemporary biography. Phelps' book misses the mark by a wide margin. Phelps did a decent job of summarizing and rehashing others' work on Hale, but Phelps is certainly no historian. His books biggest failings come when trying to impart the larger situation of Revolutionary New England, and the time period in general. Some of his most egregious misstatements should have been picked up by an editor, but apparently this historical biography was neither written nor edited by someone with more than cursory knowledge of the American Revolution. Furthermore, Phelps spends an inordinate amount ink quoting- and seriously considering- the paeans of 19th century "historians" like Washington Irving (seriously? Washington Irving?) and Charles Dudley Warner. On Hale's life, stick with the older biographies but approach them with a critical eye. On Hale's times, go with just about anything else.

M.William Phelps book on Nathan Hale begins "slowly" and leaves one with that "I just ate at a nice restaurant and well the appetizer was missing some ...flavor". However once I moved past chapter one the book began to grip me. From his short time at Moodus (Haddam) which he did not apparently enjoy to his time in New London and so on to his military exploits and lack thereof Phelps affords us a view of the man, his friends and family from his own journal.

The book nears an end where one roots for Nathan to escape even though we all knew the outcome. Well done overall and I do disagree with others about his capture. This is exactly what is needed...further attention to a long forgotten hero of the American Revolution.

Warner Brothers has purchased the rights and is drafting the screenplay.

Evan J. -www.thericharddouglashouse.com (neighbor of Nathan Hale in New London)

M. William Phelps does an updated biography on the life of Nathan Hale America's first spy to be executed. Washington was well known for his desire to gather intelligence on the enemy and set up several spy rings throughout the revolution (See Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring for that history). Nathan Hale was the first attempt at spying on the British in the days leading up to the invasion of New York. Nathan was not a successful spy and was caught and hung by one of the great thugs of the American Revolution. From young farm boy in Connecticut to Yale Education to educator of colonial youth the reader gets to see a wonderful picture of life in colonial America leading up to the revolution. Nathan Hale is painted as a patriot who would give anything for the cause and comes off as a very idealistic hero here. The primary sources presented and his actions at Yale lend credence to this story and do make for a likely case that he uttered his famous phrase before being hung. Overall while there were one or two factual misprints that have already been noted by other reviewers there is still value in this book for those who really want to see more into the life of colonial America and how your average educated person became involved in the revolution instead of following the life of one of the major figures.

Nathan Hale: The Life and Death of the First American Spy by M. William Phelps is an interesting and enlightening look at a much mythologized character from American history. Nathan Hale sounds like the kind of young man every parent wants for a son. Smart, loyal, and devoted to his family and friends, Hale attended Yale as a young man and soon determined to to become a teacher. He worked at two different school districts before signing on to the Colonial Army. Hale was driven by a desire to defend his country's liberty as shown through letters to his friends and family. Phelps portrays him as the stereotypical All American boy with a great deal of faith. Reading about the quest General Washington sent him on seems a bit like watching a train wreck happen. It seems ill thought out and doomed from the start. Hale was well known throughout the area as a teacher and took his own identification papers with him to appear as a teacher looking for work as he went through British territory to gain information about their troops and movements. Phelps offers an alternative way for Hale's capture instead of the usually accepted betrayal by a Tory cousin. I've read evidence for both, and Phelps' seems viable. Hale probably never said the words attributed to him: I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country. The words are similar to those from a play by Cato and were attached to him well after his death in a newspaper article. Hale was stoic and loyal to his country to his ignominious end by hanging. The saddest part of the book for me was the lack of outrage after his death. His brother was forced to track down Nathan's regiment and do his own investigation to try and discover what happened to him. There were no newspaper articles or declarations released by Congress or Washington. The war went on, and Hale's death was nearly forgotten for several years until a newspaper wrote an article about him and his death birthing the legend that we all read in history books today. The book loses its power toward the end and drifts just a bit. That said, Phelps illuminates the true story of one of the first American martyrs.

I have heard about Nathan Hale for most of my life, but never knew the details of his life and death. This book fills in those details in an interesting and informative manner. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the American Revolution.

Nathan Hale - gave me great insight into happenings during the Rev. War.
Very interesting because I also live in the area where N. Hale lived.