Tuesday , March 19 2024
Go back in history and view the beginning of the American Revolution through the eyes of its participants.

Book Review: Desperate Sons: Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and the Secret Bands of Radicals Who Led the Colonies to War by Les Standiford

Our history and the beginnings of our liberty and freedom are a constant reminder of what it takes to make a strong America. Schools teach us the history in the fashion it has been taught for hundreds of years, yet there must be more. Who were these pioneering men, ready to put their lives at stake in the pursuit of liberty?

In Desperate Sons: Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and the Secret Bands of Radicals Who Led the Colonies to War by Les Standiford, we are accorded a history of the radicals known as the Sons of Liberty, those who put their lives on the line in an effort to give the colonies the right to be a part of their own rule, and if that failed, find a way to gain their liberty from a nation that was intent on using them to build its coffers. The intrigues and ideals of this secret group of young men begin as a few muttered concerns, but bring about the Revolution and the freedom and liberty of America as we know it.

Some of the names are known for numerous reasons and often are accorded their place in history, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and John Hancock to name a few, but there was more to the depth of the accounts that stirred up the hornets’ nest that became a revolution. With both sides taking a strong stance, ego was a powerful weapon. When peace was a possibility it would take only the fire of incredulity to fan the breezes. Many of the actions and happenings are documented, other are just told from bits and pieces passed down through generations, but there is no doubt that the men throughout these pages had an incendiary part to play in the fate of all those in the colonies during the time before revolution raised its head.

Standiford has taken us on a journey into the past, into the very lives of the men we find most interesting. The organization and building of such a strong radical force took time and strong conviction, and Samuel Adams was full of both. With his other compatriots they set the stage for fairness, freedom, and liberty. Unlike the histories from our early school years, Desperate Sons draws you in to the workings of trade and taxation, detailing how these forces affected the early settlers. The consequences of such actions could not have been foretold as they came to happen.

If you enjoy history and politics this book is a must have for your library. Many of the concepts and ideas are well charted and organized, making it an excellent book for a reading or discussion group. Be prepared to bring your arguments.

Desperate Sons is a fascinating read, taking you to the depths of flame that still flickers to this day. The actions set in motion a finely crafted set of events the progressively lead to the American Revolution.

About Leslie Wright

Leslie Wright is an author and blogger in the Northwest.

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