The American Revolution: Our Literary Legacy

by Rea Berg

In 1942, Esther Forbes was awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in history for her work on Paul Revere and the World He Lived In.  Only the second woman in history to win this distinction, it is ironic that it was not for this achievement that Forbes became a household name, but rather for her children's novel Johnny Tremain, winner of the Newbery Medal in 1944.  While inspirations for works of art are multiple and varied, Cornelia Meigs has noted in her Critical History of Children's Literature, it was Forbes' work in Paul Revere that acquainted the author with the "apprentice boys of Boston and the part they played in the Revolution.  Although they may have changed the tide of events many times, history has paid them neither honor nor blame and they have been lost in the crowd of ordinary unknown people for whom and by whom wars are fought"¹.

Forbes elaborated on this theme in her 1944 "Acceptance Paper" for the Newbery Medal when she expressed how the attack on Pearl Harbor forced modern boys to face losses and hard decisions like those confronted by boys in the eighteenth century.  "When war comes, these boys suddenly are asked to play their part as men [. . .] today, the boys Johnny's age are not yet in the armed forces, but many of them soon will be and many will lose or have lost older brothers.  I also wanted to show that these earlier boys were conscious of what they were fighting for and that it was something which they believed was worth more than their own lives"². The force of these inspirations—the archetypal young warrior sacrificing himself for freedom--resulted in Forbes's Newbery Medal novel Johnny Tremain.

Sixty-eight years after its publication, Johnny Tremain remains one of the best-loved children's books for its simple yet sublime depiction of the quest for liberty. Indeed, as recently as 2005, Alan Levoy, the children's author and literature critic, described Johnny Tremain as "one of the great children's novels of all time"³.  Long a staple for middle-elementary students studying American history, the novel explores the issues of the Revolution through the eyes of a star silversmith apprentice who is permanently handicapped by the cruel actions of a fellow apprentice.  Not an endearing character to begin with, Johnny's resulting fall from power and grace exposes all the human frailties of loneliness, despair, angst, lost love, and broken dreams­–ultimately developing a character all readers can identify with.  Befriended by a kind and generous Son of Liberty, Johnny eventually (but painfully) finds his way back to meaning and purposefulness. All of these important life-lessons take place against a backdrop of key historical characters and events during the American colonies' struggle for independence. 

America's Paul Revere by Esther Forbes draws upon the author's Pulitzer prize-winning work on the life of America's most famous silversmith and revolutionary. Indeed, it was after Lynd Ward (who ultimately illustrated the children's version) read Forbe's work that he approached her with the suggestion that they do a children's edition. America's Paul Revere combines the muscular energy of Ward's dynamic oil paintings with Forbes historically grounded and inspiring text.

The story of Paul Revere actually begins in France, where Revere's ancestors–French Huguenots–suffered under the brutal persecution of both church and state. Huguenots were a sect of Protestants that through the writings of John Calvin had come to believe in the primacy of God's word and had rejected what they viewed as unscriptural church practices. Ongoing persecution forced many Huguenots out of France and Paul Revere's father settled in Boston and learned the trade of silversmith.  His oldest son was Paul Revere who became the famous Son of Liberty, exquisite silversmith, soldier, dentist, lithographer, but most importantly devoted patriot.  America's Paul Revere is suitable for the middle reader and will acquaint students with the gripping drama of the early days of the Revolution.  Younger readers will enjoy Ted Rand's beautifully illustrated Paul Revere's Ride by Longfellow.

Lynd Ward also illustrated America's Ethan Allen by Stuart Holbrook, which won a Caldecott Honor in 1950.  This book relates the history of the intrepid Ethan Allan and his Green Mountain Boys and the tremendous part they played in the colonies struggle for independence. Shortly after the Minutemen fired on the Redcoats at Lexington, Allen and his backwoods troops were given the commission to take Fort Ticonderoga–a strong British post on Lake Champlain. Allen's wily and courageous men had no trouble overpowering the forces there.  When the British Lieutenant in charge of Ticonderoga asked by whose authority Allen dared to take the fort, Allen replied with the immortal words, "In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!"⁴.  Ethan Allen's passion for liberty, his fearless pursuit of colonial rights, and the tender devotion and loyalty he inspired in his Green Mountain Boys is a timeless tale of America's early years.

The Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz explores the life story of the man considered the "Father of the Constitution" for middle grades and up.  Indeed, no other American founder did more to advance and promote the public understanding of a federal republic than James Madison. As Fritz points out, though Madison was small in physical stature, he was a giant of a man when it came to laying a firm foundation for representative government in the new republic. This book won the Boston Horn Book award in the year of its publication.

Jean Fritz also penned delightful biographies of a number of other key figures of America's early years particularly for the youngest historian.  Parents will find her works introduce central figures with humor and a keen sense of what children like to know.  Look for the following: Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?, Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?, And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?, Shh! We're writing the Constitution!, Can't You Make Them Behave, King George? and a number of others. Various artistic masters have lent their hand to beautifying Fritz's work including: Trina Schart Hyman, Tomie dePaola, and Margot Tomes.

Fritz's latest work (written at the ripe age of 95!) is Alexander Hamilton, Outsider and tells the life story of America's founder responsible for the National Bank and a secure monetary system in this country.

A Newbery Honor book of 1958, that is no longer in print, but worth locating through a used-book search is Leo Gurko's, Tom Paine: Freedom's Apostle.  A fast-paced biography of the life of the author of Common Sense, this work also introduces middle and upper-grade readers to the Enlightenment philosophy that was so fundamental to many of the founders.

The story of John and Abigail Adams has received much deserved attention in the past decade for the critical and seminal role they played in America's founding. Due in large part to David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography John Adams, the nearly forgotten story of one of America's most passionate founders has been introduced to a new generation.  This is a must-read for any home schooling high school student studying American history and for the adults mentoring him or her. The PBS series of the same name, based upon McCullough's work, is sure to delight and provides a golden opportunity to enjoy some family entertainment that will prompt discussion and reflection on the providential forces responsible for the American experiment.  Abigail Adams, Witness to a Revolution by Natalie Bober will make a great companion study testifying to the tremendous power and influence a strong, supportive, and intelligent woman can make, not only in her husband's life, but in the life of an entire nation. 

 

Works Cited

1. Meigs, Cornelia et al.  A Critical History of Children's Literature.  New York: The Macmillan

Company, 1969. pg. 516.

2. Mahoney, Bertha Miller & Elinor Whitney Field.  Newbery Medal Books: 1922-1955 with the

                Author's Acceptance Papers & Related Material chiefly from the Horn Book Magazine.

                Boston: The Horn Book, Inc. 1955. Vol. 1. p.253-254.

3. Higonnet, Margaret R., "Time Out: Trauma and Play in Johnny Tremain and Alan and Naomi."

Children's Literature 33, Hollins University, 2005. p.168.

4.  Holbrook, Stuart.  America's Ethan Allen. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1949. p.74.