“[Murchison] employ[s] his incomparable pen and vivid historical imagination in the cause of bringing back to life one of the most underrated and misunderstood of the Founders.â€Â—The American Conservative The Cost of Liberty offers a sorely needed reassessment of a great patriot and misunderstood Founder. It has been more than a half century since a biography of John Dickinson appeared. Author William Murchison rectifies this mistake; bringing to life one of the most influential figures of the entire Founding period; a principled man whose gifts as writer; speaker; and philosopher only Jefferson came near to matching. In the Âprocess; Murchison destroys the caricature of ÂDickinson that has emerged from such popular treatments as HBO’s John Adams miniseries and the Broadway musical 1776. Dickinson is remembered mostly for his reluctance to sign the ÂDeclaration of Independence. But that reluctance; Murchison shows; had nothing to do with a lack of patriotism. In fact; Dickinson immediately took up arms to serve the colonial cause—something only one signer of the ÂDeclaration did. He stood on principle to oppose declaring independence at that moment; even when he knew that doing so would deal the “finishing blow†to his once-great reputation. Dubbed the “Penman of the Revolution;†Dickinson was not just a scribe but also a shaper of mighty events. From the 1760s through the late 1780s he was present at; and played a significant role in; every major assemblage where the Founders charted America’s path—a claim few others could make. Author of the landmark essays Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania; delegate to the Continental Congress; key Âfigure behind the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution; chief executive of both Pennsylvania and Delaware: Dickinson was; as one esteemed Âhistorian aptly put it; “the most underrated of all the Founders.†This lively biography gives a great Founder his long-overdue measure of honor. It also broadens our understanding of the Founding period; challenging many modern assumptions about the events of 1776 and 1787.
#378058 in Books Adventures Unlimited Pr 2006-08-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.00 x 9.00 x 1.00l; 1.45 #File Name: 1931882614459 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Enjoyable book that makes you wonderBy hongdoEntertaining read equal to a good SF book. The author digs up enough disturbing evidence to sure seem like there is something going on. But I have read alternative explanations of the device that make more sense than anti-gravity generated by ether torsion. In a large totalitarian bureaucracy there are struggles for power and money where large exaggerations and outright lies are told up the chain to superiors who do not understand what they supervise but demand results that they can claim to get funding. In my own opinion I think everyone in Nazi Germany is threatening their subordinates with getting shot and getting time stalling lies in return. Hence a program that works only on paper and may have some flashing lights and impressive noises demos. Otherwise after 70 years we would have heard something more.But then again .....0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Although I was somewhat familiar with the lore of this incredible subject - as it remains like the Montauk Project and Roswell - a meme that ...By Timothy KindleThis is a well articulated and researched book. There is much in this book and it's subject that was relatively new to me. Although I was somewhat familiar with the lore of this incredible subject - as it remains like the Montauk Project and Roswell - a meme that simply just won't go away on its own. Facsimiles of supporting evidential documents are provided. Chapter notes are copious. When the author is forced to speculate due to a lack of direct evidence; it is proffered reasonably; logically and clearly defined as being in lieu of actual evidence. In my opinion;his speculation is both reasonable and sober and is a genuine attempt to assist the reader rather than to indoctrinate them towards any "camp". Readers are asked to seek for themselves further information should there be any forthcoming.I would recommend this book to anyone who is somewhat familiar with the subject that is announced in the title; as well as anyone who might be curious as to what aspects in our true technological inheritance due to invention and conquest.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Engrossing readBy CustomerIn the same vein as previous books. Fascinating if you take it as pseudo history or real hidden history they are an interesting read.The exhaustive detail is very impressive and it hall hangs together rather convincingly. You don't have to get them in order but it is better if you do since each successive book builds to the next one. Well written.
