Silversmith. Engraver. Family Man. Patriot. James Cross Giblin chronicles the highly principled, multifacted life of Paul Revere in a fascinating biography that sets straight the facts about his most famous ride and, more important, illuminates his larger role in the fight for American independence. Revere did indeed take many rides on behalf of the Patriot cause as a messenger, sometimes barely escaping British capture. He also fought the British in battle and contributed to the Revolutionary cause as a publisher and printer. A skilled artisan, he had already earned a reputation as a silversmith and engraver prior to the war, and added bellmaker to the list later in his life. Giblin’s lively account of Revere’s life concludes with the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that made Revere well known among generations of children. Giblin details the famous ride in his narrative, providing readers the opportunity to discover where Longfellow took poetic license with the truth. Black-and-white reproductions of maps and paintings, along with photographs of Revere’s work, round out this lively volume. (Ages 9–13)

Sibert Medalist James Cross Giblin takes readers on a wild and fascinating ride through the American Revolution.
Paul Revere is commonly remembered in the Longfellow legend of his Midnight Ride before the 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord. In this bright, informative biography, Giblin follows Revere's life from his humble beginnings as a French immigrant's son to his work as a silversmith and a horse messenger amid the mounting pressures of revolution. In precise, accessible prose, Giblin chronicles Revere's daring acts -- both the famous and the overlooked. Along the way, he portrays a brave, compassionate, multitalented American patriot.