John Hancock: First to Sign, First to Invest in America's Independence
Randall also effectively conveys the real affection that bonded Hancock and his fellow Bostonians, whom he helped with purchases of firewood during particularly cold winters and fireworks displays when there was happier news to celebrate ... Randall handles the arc of Hancock’s life efficiently, but there remain unasked questions relating to slavery ... The author does not investigate these subjects, nor does he linger over the way the peculiar institution might have helped bolster Hancock’s inherited fortune ... It is unlikely Hancock will be restored to the top tier of the founders, but remembering him better could reap dividends.
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You do get a sense of the man and his general nature, but the detail necessary for a truly good biography just isn’t present ... Randall goes far in this thin but well-researched volume to give a fuller understanding of the contributions of Hancock to the Revolution ... Randall does a good job of portraying exactly how chaotic and dysfunctional the United States national and regional governments were during the initial years of nationhood.
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With clear, vivid writing, prolific historian Randall (The Founders’ Fortunes, 2022) brings alive the life and times of Boston patriot John Hancock ... Randall offers excellent accounts of the events of the time, especially of the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.
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