According to Triber, Revere epitomizes the development of republicanism in postcolonial America. What does this mean, you ask? Revere believed in the "American Dream," and tried to create a country in which individuals could achieve economic and social prosperity, and even political office, as long as they possessed the qualities of virtue, merit, and ambition. If this sounds trite to you, please realize that it was a novel concept in Colonial America, a land of hierarchy and inflexible social classes.

Revere's life as a silversmith, patriot, and would-be merchant illustrate his devotion to republicanism. The son of an immigrant, he had to depend upon his own skill and drive in order to succeed, but he possessed these traits in abundance. His life took many twists and turns, and he failed to achieve many of his goals, but at the end of his life he was a successful businessman and patriarch of a huge and fairly prominent family.

One quibble: I wish the book had focused a bit more on the last 20 or so years of his life. Many of Revere's later technological achievements are covered in less than thorough detail, unlike the earlier chapters. No book can cover every angle of a subject, of course, but I personally disagree with this aspect of Triber's emphasis.

Whether you want a great biography, a study of early American social mobility, or just a great read, please give "A True Republican" a try!