Boston, 1776
What was Boston really like in 1776?
The history books list the famous names, the statesmen, the stirring pamphlets. But most Bostonians were not famous, yet they contributed as much to the Revolution as any gentleman in a powdered wig with a quill pen.
This is the first book in recent memory to examine the people at the heart of the uprising: the sailors and whalers, the workers on the docks and rope walks, the tavern keepers, the artisans and merchants, the radical ministers, and all the other figures who animated the town and gave it strength and purpose. The men and women who challenged an empire in a local protest that erupted into an international war.
Boston, 1776 is a history of the city as well as a street-by-street tour of its rebellious neighborhoods, exploring the urban geography from a grassroots perspective and discovering the vital roles its residents played in bringing forth the conflict with Britain. It cuts through the myths to show the actual lives of its citizens—who they were, where they worked, what they accomplished, and how they survived.
On the 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth, there’s never been a better opportunity to explore the city at the heart of the Revolution, and to meet those who gave it life and vigor. The citizens of Boston in July 1776.
ORDER NOW or check out the AUDIO BOOK read by Nick Mondelli.
NEWs MEDIA
Here are some of my recent comments on the status of DC governance and policing in history, in light of current events and in reference to my book Empire of Mud.
Or check out some of my previous writings…
Pegasus Books, March 2022
“The Republic of Violence is a page-turning history of a particularly turbulent period within the American experiment.…Dickey’s engaging tale demonstrates that many of the questions, issues, and dramas faced by the fledging abolitionists have echoes in our own time.”
—Daniel N. Gullotta, Law and Liberty
Booklist: “Renowned historian Dickey’s fascinating history reminds readers how crucial social movements take extreme courage, persistence, and adaptability.”
Kirkus Reviews: “A fascinating look at a slice of history that may be unfamiliar to many general readers.”
Washington Independent Review of Books: “A propulsive account of anti-slavery crusaders in the early 19th century…[he] brings the narrative vividly to life.”
Publishers Weekly: “An accessible and enlightening chronicle of a tumultuous period in American history.”
Previous Media
Articles
“On the Forgotten Voices of the Abolition Movement” —Literary Hub, March 3, 2022
“The Tormented Rise of Abolition in 1830s America” —TIME, March 1, 2022
“Five Best: J.D. Dickey on Books About American Preachers” —Wall Street Journal, November 5, 2019
Podcasts + presentations
“On the Republic of Violence” —Point of the Spear, April 12, 2022
“The Abolition Movement of the 1830s” —Unsung History, April 11, 2022
“The Tormented Rise of Abolition in Andrew Jackson’s America” —Age of Jackson, March 10, 2022
“J.D. Dickey on Rising in Flames” —C-SPAN, July 25, 2018
Pegasus Books, November 2019
