On 2009-08-19 Charles Evans, North Carolina wrote: Most Americans are aware of Patrick Henry´s famous, ´Give me liberty, or give me death!´ speech, but that is where most of our collective knowledge ends. In ´A Son of Thunder´ Henry Mayer helps to acquaint us with one most polarizing men of the revolution. What is surprising is that Henry only participated in two sessions of Congress - 1774 and 1775 - and was not a signer of The Declaration of Independence.
Mayer is very effective at showing how Patrick Henry was able to use his position in the confederacy´s most populous (and important) state as a force for change. Henry may have been the first ever ´Populist´ in the world of politics. He specialized in taking and forming the opinions of the lower class farmer into political debate. It really is amazing that Henry´s name lives on despite his virtual absence as a player in the newly formed Federal government.
Some points of interest-
- Henry was the first governor of Virginia and was followed by Thomas Jefferson.
- During Jefferson´s gubernatorial session he became bitter enemies with Henry
- Henry was a strong opponent AGAINST the Constitution - and felt that Americans needed a very strong Bill of Rights to protect both the people and the states.
- Henry was one of the very first men to call for a war of Independence with Britain.
While ´Son of Thunder´ is an excellent political biography on the maneuvering of Henry on the various issues it does leave a lot to be desired on understanding his personal life. When I think of McCullough excellent biographies on Truman and Adams the suthor is able to point to moments that shaped their thoughts and their belief systems. Unfortunately (and this may be due to a lack of private correspondence left by the Henry estate) we gain little insight on his private thoughts. The result is a one-sided biography that describes the actions of Henry, but with little reflection on his reasoning. Another result is that we lose any possible personal connection between the reader and Henry which gives the work a textbook like feel
Final Verdict - Despite the lack of personal reflection ´A Son of Thunder´ is still a worthy biography of an important contributor in the American Revolution. While it is not as colorful (or interesting) as McCullough´s ´Adams´ or Chernow´s ´Hamilton´ it is well-worth reading for anyone who enjoys Revolutionary history.
4 Stars
. And summed up by saying Somewhat Flawed - but still Worthy to be Read. Currently A Son of Thunder: Patrick Henry and the American Republic has an overall rating of 8 over 10.
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Grove Press claimed Patrick Henry was a brilliant orator whose devotion to the pursuit of liberty fueled the fire of the American Revolution. As a lawyer and a member of the Virginia House of Burgess, Henry spoke eloquently of the inalienable rights all men are born with. His philosophy inspired the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and, most significantly, the Bill of Rights. Famous for the line ´Give me liberty or give me death!´ Patrick Henry was a man who stirred souls and whose dedication to individual liberty became the voice for thousands. A Son of Thunder is as eloquent, witty, charged, and charismatic as its subject.
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