Rating: 
Summary: Men and Thier Times
Review: A highly readable history. This is not mere "idol-worship", as some would have it. Prof. Fischer does an admirable job of showing Revere, Gage, et. al., as men of their time and place (physical and social). Revere is not the simple "mechanic" and solitary actor of legend, but rather "wired" into the network of Whig organizations in Boston. Gage is not the tyrant of legend, but a principled man who may have been a victim of the "Peter Principal" (he apparently never won a battle, yet was made Commander-in-Chief). The seemingly contradictary character (e.g., independent yet communal, Calvinist yet "worldly") of Colonial Boston and New England is brought out.The events of the ride itself, and the expedition of the Regulars to Concord, show us again that history is not deterministic, but the result of decisions made by individuals, acting on the information at hand and informed by their principles, character, and honor. Many of the details of the battle were unknown to me, and the anecdotes conecrning individual soldiers/militiamen brought what could have been a dry account of a running battle to life. The extensive appendicies offer data on the British order of battle, the musters of the militia, original sources, and much else.
Rating: 
Summary: The definitive work on Revere.
Review: A marvelously well-narrated history of Paul Revere's life, contribution, and proper place in Boston's Revolutionary War. In the first of two parts, Fischer relates Revere and British Gen. Gates's personalities into the intrigue prior to the battles of Lexington and Concord. In the second part, Fischer excels as storyteller of the actual events of April 18th and 19th including the alarm, battle, and meaning of the conflict. The book is able bring together well-researched events, old myths, and a fascinating story that will keep a reader's interest throughout. The absolute reference on the topic of Revere and the events of April 19th. A great guidebook for visitors to the Battleroad park and historic Boston as well.
Rating:
Summary: Well Worth the Time and Well Written History
Review: Anyone interested in American history must read this book. The title of this book is modest for it is about much more than Paul Revere�s famous ride: it is a well-documented but lively history of the numerous events leading up to and including the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Fischer uses both Paul Revere and General Thomas Gage as examples to highlight the differences between the attitudes of the Colonists and the British. I had not fully appreciated the degree of the animosity between them until I read this book. I also gained a sense that the tensions between the British troops�the �Regulars��and the Colonists were quite high before April 19th, and that something was bound to erupt. The British confiscating gunpowder from the Powder House on Quarry Hill (September 1, 1774), the Portsmouth Alarm (December 13-19), and the Salem Alarm (February 26-27) were all preludes to the Battle of that fateful day of April 19th. Fischer also makes an excellent case that the Revolutionary movement was very well organized. Revere succeeded in alarming the country not by randomly waking the countryside but by methodically rousing the militia leaders of the various villages and towns. For much of the book, Paul Revere serves as a principal character, which is an appropriate for this story: he had the knack, somehow, of always ending up smack in the middle of the important events of the day. Shortly before the �first shot� at Lexington, for example, some of the Regulars in the front of the column may have very well seen Revere and John Lowell carrying across the Lexington Common through the ranks of Captain John Parker�s militia a wooden trunk owned by John Hancock with important papers that could have been used to indict various leaders of the Revolutionary cause.
Rating:
Summary: Well Worth the Time and Well Written History
Review: Anyone interested in American history must read this book. The title of this book is modest for it is about much more than Paul Revere's famous ride: it is a well-documented but lively history of the numerous events leading up to and including the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Fischer uses both Paul Revere and General Thomas Gage as examples to highlight the differences between the attitudes of the Colonists and the British. I had not fully appreciated the degree of the animosity between them until I read this book. I also gained a sense that the tensions between the British troops'the 'Regulars''and the Colonists were quite high before April 19th, and that something was bound to erupt. The British confiscating gunpowder from the Powder House on Quarry Hill (September 1, 1774), the Portsmouth Alarm (December 13-19), and the Salem Alarm (February 26-27) were all preludes to the Battle of that fateful day of April 19th. Fischer also makes an excellent case that the Revolutionary movement was very well organized. Revere succeeded in alarming the country not by randomly waking the countryside but by methodically rousing the militia leaders of the various villages and towns. For much of the book, Paul Revere serves as a principal character, which is an appropriate for this story: he had the knack, somehow, of always ending up smack in the middle of the important events of the day. Shortly before the 'first shot' at Lexington, for example, some of the Regulars in the front of the column may have very well seen Revere and John Lowell carrying across the Lexington Common through the ranks of Captain John Parker's militia a wooden trunk owned by John Hancock with important papers that could have been used to indict various leaders of the Revolutionary cause.
Rating:
Summary: A surprising gem of a book...
Review: As a fairly active history reader, I didn't realize that this much material was available on Paul Revere...One must now include this surprising summary in any essential reading of the Revolutionary War, specifically the battles of Lexington and Concorde. The "mountain" of information not-withstanding, the over-riding pleasure of this book (to me) was Mr. Fischer's capability to put one in Boston in the early 1770's and give a perspective that's sorely lacking in other discussions of this major era in our history. I only gave it 4 stars because of the almost confusing amount of notes and additional information carried in the appendiceies, but this book is well-worth buying and reading!
Rating:
Summary: Elegantly, clearly sets the story straight
Review: As a lover of history and a history major in college, I have read many history books and this is the best. It reads like a suspense thriller, as exciting as any fiction book on the shelf, but also exudes tremendous scholorship. From the casual reader who will be taken in by the fluid prose to the historian who will love the tremendous amount of research that obviously went into this book (including a fasinating section on the historiography of the ride), all should love this book. It examines not only the ride, but all of the players in the struggle in Mass. at that time, illustrating a cultural clash between the British authorities (General Gage, in particular) and the colonists, giving readers new incites into the causes of the American Revolution. I should also point out that shortly before this book was first published, I, as a student at Brandeis University, took a class with Prof. Fischer on the American Revolution. He is an even better lecturer than he is a writer (and that is saying something quite significant). An entire day's lecture was devoted to the events of Lexington and Concord. I remember it vividly every time I pick up this book. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Fischer's Masterpiece
Review: As a lover of history and a history major in college, I have read many history books and this is the best. It reads like a suspense thriller, as exciting as any fiction book on the shelf, but also exudes tremendous scholorship. From the casual reader who will be taken in by the fluid prose to the historian who will love the tremendous amount of research that obviously went into this book (including a fasinating section on the historiography of the ride), all should love this book. It examines not only the ride, but all of the players in the struggle in Mass. at that time, illustrating a cultural clash between the British authorities (General Gage, in particular) and the colonists, giving readers new incites into the causes of the American Revolution. I should also point out that shortly before this book was first published, I, as a student at Brandeis University, took a class with Prof. Fischer on the American Revolution. He is an even better lecturer than he is a writer (and that is saying something quite significant). An entire day's lecture was devoted to the events of Lexington and Concord. I remember it vividly every time I pick up this book. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: An informative read....
Review: As I read the introduction to the book, I found myself wide-eyed that I may be wrong about my knowledge of Paul Revere. The folklore of his midnight ride (and the song) has strongly influenced what I thought. Fischer addresses that, then writes a great narrative to show you the true patriot. First, I knew that Paul Revere rode to warn the colonists and Dawes rode as well. What I did not know was that they were part of a vast communication network set up by Paul Revere and his colleagues. The reader sees how successful this is (even with Revere being captured) through the explanation and maps of the troop movements. The book is not a biography about Paul Revere though it does go into some detail about him. This book is primarily about the incidents leading up to the ride and the incidents immediately after. The reader will hear about all the things going on within that span of months. Paul Revere's perspective is not the only one covered. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in American history. You will finish the book feeling enlightened.
Rating:
Summary: The Revolution in Real-Time
Review: Aside from Albion's seed, Paul Revere's Ride has to be the most exciting recounting of an historical event I have ever had the pleasure to read. As a direct decendant of any number of revolutionary soldiers and officers and a native of Natick, I was astounded at the wealth of information and description of real people who participated, who were veritable heroes and are never mentioned in our text books. My ancestors and yours came ALIVE in those pages. I felt as if I were there living the whole experience with them. David Hackett Fischer is an absolute marvel.
Rating: 
Summary: serious love for a dead white man
Review: David Fisher is in love with Paul Revere, and to a lesser extent holds a great amound of admiration for General Gage. History, generally, should be told from an unbiased, or trying to be unbiased, author, but Mr. Fisher has taken it upon himself to declare Paul Revere's magnificence to the whole world. Truly, Mr. Revere can only be seen as a hero through Mr. Fisher's eyes. He was a man of innumberable talents, who never did anything wrong, and succeeded in awakening the entire countryside, although not by himself. Mr. Revere's ability to use other riders and messengers does not take away from his glory, but rather adds more to it than if he had merely ridden throughout the countryside warning everyone on his own. Everyone should be in awe of Mr. Revere, because men like that are hard to come by in this day and age. I did not think it possible to love a man you've never met, one who's been dead for a while now, but Mr. Fisher has proved me wrong. He dedicated the book to Susie, but his true love lies apparent from the introduction. Granted, I am not like most of the people who have bought this book, I had to get it form my US history class, but it seems to me that Mr. Fisher has failed as a historian, and so I wonder, how is it that people can rate this book with more than three stars? Do you learn about April 18th, 1775? Yes. In that respect you will know more people living in Middlesex County on that night than you may know live in your neighborhood. He introduces you constantly to new "characters". However, his blatant love for the main character blinds him to Mr. Revere's failings, and it is extremely irritating to read a book in which a man who in fact had many faults, is portrayed as a saint. I give this book two stars, and not one, because it is not the worst book I have ever read, and for all of his inability to distinguish real life from fantasy, the author does write well- in grammatical terms. Think twice before buying this book, because I am sure you can learn just as much American History from someone who is not quite as prejudiced, and who has a little bit more commen sense than Mr. Fisher displays in this attempt at history. (I keep calling it a novel, because it certainly does not seem to be very factual.)
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