Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid research and fascinating intellectual inquiry, December 27, 2001
By A Customer
Author John R. Galvin explores the personalities of three key figures whose actions and discourses constituted the roots of the American Revolution. Galvin's admirable scholarly discipline and his keen analysis deserve praise. His scope is very precise: it begins and ends with the period where Hutchinson, Adams, and Otis were interacting. Readers interested in Hutchinson, Adams, or Otis should read this book to gain a deeper insight into their personal philosophies and into the political struggles and challenges which made or defeated them, and which ultimately constituted the unyielding backdrop of their social existence and historical judgement. Readers interested in mid-18th century Massachussetts or American politics will learn much about the many groups and organizations of the period.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Politics of Pre-revolutionary Boston, November 11, 2000
John Galvin guides the reader through Boston politics in the fifteen years preceding the Revolution, 1760-1775. Mr. Galvin focuses on the three men he contends were the most influential in the events in Boston in the pre-revolutionary years (Thomas Hutchinson, James Otis, and Samuel Adams).Very readable and a good source of behind-the-scenes activity that led to the beginning of the American Revolution.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Brave Heart", November 27, 2007
John R.Galvin is an excellent writer, extremely articulate in the processing of his work. His book is, far and away, the best historical accounting I have read thus far regarding the "pre-revolution" activity that steadily lay the foundation and provided the impetus for the "Few Good Men" who followed to seize on and run with. The "Forward" section of the book is especially noteworthy, since it touches on two very important complex talents, at least one element of which is (but not necessarily both) common within the makeup of all great men : Reason and Judgment.
I was interested in the James Otis aspect of it, and found the book after following a link from another reader quite by accident, since not enough has been written or can be located about this incredible man, wise beyond his time, brave beyond duty, acting in the best interests of others, without regard to his own safety or the dire circumstances awaiting the iconoclastic in that time of unrest. Fortunately, we of later generations had these few remarkable individuals at the right place in the right time, and have been waiting for their equal ever since - yet few have proven as worthy successors even after the "trail was blazed for them through uncharted territory" and successfully delivered to those who waited for history to catch up to them. The initial work was done, and done well, and this book strives to bring it to us. If anyone is interested in American History or the Revolution and it's masterminds, this book is a "must read" in order to properly identify the players in their proper places as the drama (and it was an incredible one) began to unfold against the travesties of the Crown and it's loyalist puppets who held the first, hard-fisted power over the new people.
One thing is crystal clear: Politics hasn't changed much. The biggest difference is that the Revolutionists had more to lose in a personal way should they be challenged or defeated. This book exposes that early day turmoil explicitly and brings 300 years past into the present with all the subterfuge, anger and power playing of today's political arena, but with much larger stakes riding on the outcome.
The powerful force of James Otis - the complex, focused, articulate man, driven by the courage of his convictions, aided by his brilliance, and a complete disregard for personal safety or the consequences of his unparalleled stand against the King of England, has been vastly underwritten in the annals of history. Why this should be so is a mystery of immense proportions and this is the reason this book is so important, due to it's remarkable clarity. It is quite clear, upon reading what has history has had to attribute to him, coupled with the remarks of esteemed men such as John Adams - what his powerful personality accomplished in a short period of time. It leaves little doubt of his importance, and in fact, reveal that he was the catalyst for the American Revolution with his denouncing of the "writs of assistance" (broad power search and seizure warrants), taking on through legal argument the hand-picked loyalists of the Crown who were thwarting their own laws, voicing opposition to rampant corruption; and the initiating of the open, public meetings at Fanueil Hall, where the public began to gather to speak their minds regardless of the "pleasure of the Crown". Thus also, the "freedom of speech" idea was also thrust into the waiting world. Once loosed, this phenomenon was impossible to reverse course, and the quest for liberty began to take root within the people who attended.
There seemed to be an underlying "personal reason" as well for his passion, and which truthfully may have provided the greater detenator for an already explosive situation: his father, James Otis SR. was snubbed for a high-ranking government positon, and the position filled by a less qualified individual, Thomas Hutchinson, who was more easily persuaded to support the interests of the British Government, no matter if it followed law or not, it would seem. From that point on, the clash of wills intensified, and no doubt the midnight oil was burned night and night again by Otis in his quest to rout out the nest of thieves, fueled by his own personal anger as well as his professional integrity.
John Adams himself was a remarkable man, attributing Mr. Otis with credit where there credit was due, rather than taking it for himself, truly something out of the ordinary for any Century. James Otis was not only the right man for the job, he held the position to best accomplish it - the legal profession. That such a man was alive at all, is, itself, a miracle.
All in all, "Three Men of Boston" is a most excellent historical read, never dull or boring, and the reader feels intimately the thrill that the people living at the time must have felt, but without the inherent danger to person and family, something we should all be grateful for, should continue to offer gratitude and pay tribute to these unique, brave individuals through the reading of their histories; the keeping alive of their memory and their remarkable deeds when there was nothing to be gained for them but death upon failure - or - freedom for the posterity upon success born of fire. We know what happened now, but at the time of trial, there must have been dark moments indeed behind the scenes - moments of indecision and despair - for these men who "gave birth to our Nation".
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American History or those simply searching for inspiration within the world we live in now, since times haven't changed, only the people living them.
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by John Clark Ridpath
by David Hackett Fischer
by Hiller B. Zobel
DVD ~ Hal Stalmaster
