First of all, the book I've been reading isn't called The Life and Times of Paul Revere, it's called Paul Revere and the World He Lived In. And, man, that's a waaay better title. It's much more descriptive of the book, too. Esther Forbes does a great job of taking any historical evidence she can get her hands on, and crafting an excellent look at an amazing man.

It's not all that long for non-fiction, but Forbes' prose is a little tough to unwind sometimes. When you crack her code, though, and realize that at places she's hinting at satire, sarcasm, or silliness, it makes the read that much more engaging. (I probably should have made a General Gage pun, there. But I'll let you guys supply it.)

I read Forbes' Johnny Tremain before we went on our trip to Boston this summer, and loved how it helped me to frame the town in a light of our early country. It was exciting to read this book and get yet another perspective. Not only on Boston, but on all of New England's foray into Revolution. It was also really neat to spot the influences for JT: The schoolteacher "Master Johnny" who had a deformed hand, the knowledge about silversmithing, and the way the Paul Revere pops up in all these crazy parts of the story. These books should be read in schools as companion pieces. It's great to see how she takes the same sources, and creates two great works, one fiction, the other non-fiction. Keen.

For her efforts in the fiction, Forbes won the Newberry Award. For her non-fiction, she won the Pulitzer Prize. That's a pretty good track record! And maybe one deserving of your Life and Time, or the World you live in.

All assail!