The book is NOT espousing some grand "liberal" conspiracy to denigrate or change our history; as some reviewers seem to believe. Instead, it is simply stating easily proven facts regarding mythologized characters and events in our nation's Revolutionary era. It can be dry in some areas, but overall it's a decent piece of work.
I know some reviewers on here have stated dismay or disappointment over Raphael's exposing of the truth. I guess those people would believe that ignorance is bliss and probably still want to believe that the Tonkin Gulf Incident occurred just as the LBJ Administration claimed it did back in the 60's. Enjoy a life of being taken advantage of, over and over again.
It stands to reason that some of these iconic figures in our history should be the ones trumpeted throughout our history. Doesn't it? Historical icons like Franklin (And don't get me wrong, I dig Ben Franks!), Jefferson and Revere had so much more access to the mass public than would a very young, little known doctor (Prescott) and a tanner (Dawes). Revere had his own small engraving/pressing business. Who do you think had more ability to get their version of the events out more easily and widely, a commoner standing around trying to tell any passerby from a street corner, or a guy who has a media outlet at his disposal? It's common sense and it happened all the time. If you study any history from the era, and later, one thing you'll see over and over again is that many of the military leaders "led" troops from the rear echelon. However, after the battle ended in victory, most of the time those "commanders" would get the accolades and a raise in their rank. Does that mean that they did all the important fighting while the common foot soldier who, in reality, slugged it out in the trenches, sat idly by? Far from it, but due to the elavated status in society, the commander got the credit, not the lowly foot soldier who bled and died. Those in power, were/are great at self-aggrandizement. Maybe most humans are. I'm sure lower ranked people are self-aggrandizers too. The difference is, the powerful have the ability to get their version of the events out to the masses, whereas the common man does not. That is how the facts get/got lost. I think that might be the point I took from Raphael's book. For a few examples of the way this works, look at Richard Henry Lee, Friedrich Engels or Alfred Dreyfus; just to name a few. That is not revisionist history, that is fact.
As for those who claim these are well known "strawmen", I've taught APUSH for over a decade, and I can tell you, the real facts are not well known among the youth, or many in the public. Ask any high school/college class who made the Midnight Ride and 90% + will answer "Revere", without hesitation. Ask most people on the street and you will overwhelmingly get the same response. Then ask them what was the final battle of the Revolution? If they can even remember that much, they will almost always answer "Yorktown", completely disregarding the last year and a half of combat operations in the south. This would be like claiming the European Theater of war, in WWII, ended after the Battle of the Bulge or Stalingrad. I think that false view disregards all the sacrifice and valor made by both sides after The Bulge and Stalingrad.
Anyway, if you spend your time living in reality, and like to know the truth about your own nation's history, I think you'll find this book to your liking. If that isn't the way you like your history, factual, then say "Hello" to the Tooth-Fairy and Easter Bunny for me.
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