Overview

In this action-packed history, award-winning author Harlow Giles Unger unfolds the epic story of Patrick Henry, who roused Americans to fight government tyrannyboth British and American. Remembered largely for his cry for liberty or death, Henry was actually the first (and most colorful) of Americas Founding Fathersfirst to call Americans to arms against Britain, first to demand a bill of rights, and first to fight the growth of big government after the Revolution. As quick with a rifle as he was with his tongue, Henry was Americas greatest orator and courtroom lawyer, who mixed histrionics and hilarity to provoke tears or laughter from judges and jurors alike. Henrys passion for liberty (as well as his very large family), suggested to many Americans that he, not Washington, was the real father of his country. This biography is history at its best, telling a story both human and philosophical. As Unger points out, Henrys words continue to echo across America and inspire millions to fight government intrusion in their daily lives.

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9780306818868

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<p> Kirkus Reviews, 9/1/10<br> A veteran biographer specializing in the Founding Fathers offers a short, sharp life of the Virginia patriot...A fine appreciation--and explanation--of freedom's champion. Library Journal , 10/1 [An] engaging popular biography... An appealing element here is the wealth of excerpts from Henry's legendary speeches and revealing letters, seamlessly woven in with Unger's narrative...A good choice for general readers seeking a relatively brief account of Patrick Henry's political activity and contributions to early America. <br>Asbury Park Press , 9/19 Pat Henry wasn't a Johnny One-Note patriot. And the author strives to reveal the whole Revolutionary enchilada here--calls to arms, demands for a bill of rights, fights against big government. Why, we could almost call this guy a Tea Party member! Wall Street Journal, 10/22/10 [A] vivid biography of the Virginia firebrand. <p> The Oklahoman, 10/31/10<br> Unger shows how down-to-earth Henry was and ho

Kirkus Reviews, 9/1/10 A veteran biographer specializing in the Founding Fathers offers a short, sharp life of the Virginia patriot...A fine appreciation--and explanation--of freedom's champion. Library Journal , 10/1 [An] engaging popular biography... An appealing element here is the wealth of excerpts from Henry's legendary speeches and revealing letters, seamlessly woven in with Unger's narrative...A good choice for general readers seeking a relatively brief account of Patrick Henry's political activity and contributions to early America. Asbury Park Press , 9/19 Pat Henry wasn't a Johnny One-Note patriot. And the author strives to reveal the whole Revolutionary enchilada here--calls to arms, demands for a bill of rights, fights against big government. Why, we could almost call this guy a Tea Party member! Wall Street Journal, 10/22/10 [A] vivid biography of the Virginia firebrand. The Oklahoman, 10/31/10 Unger shows how down-to-earth Henry was and how connected he was to regular people... [A] great book about one of our nation's founders. Bookviews.com, November 2010 This biography adds to our further knowledge of the men who were our Founding Fathers. Hudson Valley News, 11/3/10 Very readable, engaging. New York Journal of Books, 10/26/10 Harlow Giles Unger does a remarkable job of putting together the life and times of this most noted but little known Founder. Unger provides a startling history of the man who, though never in combat, remains one of the great patriots of his new country...Unger is not only a superior storyteller, he is also a gifted researcher; he sweeps the reader into the story, also enveloping us in the times...The book brings fresh insights to the process of building a nation with little direction from which to work...If you want to know what the Founders meant while deliberating the creation of the Confederation and the Constitution, and if you wish to understand why they made the decisi

<p> Kirkus Reviews, 9/1/10<br> A veteran biographer specializing in the Founding Fathers offers a short, sharp life of the Virginia patriot...A fine appreciation--and explanation--of freedom's champion. Library Journal , 10/1 [An] engaging popular biography... An appealing element here is the wealth of excerpts from Henry's legendary speeches and revealing letters, seamlessly woven in with Unger's narrative...A good choice for general readers seeking a relatively brief account of Patrick Henry's political activity and contributions to early America. <br> Asbury Park Press , 9/19 Pat Henry wasn't a Johnny One-Note patriot. And the author strives to reveal the whole Revolutionary enchilada here--calls to arms, demands for a bill of rights, fights against big government. Why, we could almost call this guy a Tea Party member! Wall Street Journal, 10/22/10 [A] vivid biography of the Virginia firebrand. <p> The Oklahoman, 10/31/10<br> Unger shows how down-to-earth Henry was and how connected he was to regular people... [A] great book about one of our nation's founders. Bookviews.com, November 2010 This biography adds to our further knowledge of the men who were our Founding Fathers. Hudson Valley News, 11/3/10 Very readable, engaging. <br> New York Journal of Books, 10/26/10<br> Harlow Giles Unger does a remarkable job of putting together the life and times of this most noted but little known Founder. Unger provides a startling history of the man who, though never in combat, remains one of the great patriots of his new country...Unger is not only a superior storyteller, he is also a gifted researcher; he sweeps the reader into the story, also enveloping us in the times...The book brings fresh insights to the process of building a nation with little direction from which to work...If you want to know what the Founders meant while deliberating the creation of the Confederation and the Constitution, and if you wish to understand why they made the deci

Author Information

A veteran journalist, broadcaster, educator, and historian, Harlow Giles Unger is a former Distinguished Visiting Fellow in American History at Mount Vernon and is the author of sixteen books, including five other biographies of America's Founding Fathers. He lives in New York.

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