The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams

This biography by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stacy Schiff examines Samuel Adams, a central figure in the American Revolution. Thomas Jefferson identified Adams as the Revolution's leader. Using both idealistic principles and aggressive tactics, Adams orchestrated what is considered one of the greatest campaigns of civil resistance in American history. Adams amplified the Boston Massacre and helped plan the Boston Tea Party. He mobilized Boston, his colony, and eventually the colonies collectively to support the revolutionary cause. His efforts made him the most wanted man in America—Paul Revere's 1775 ride to Lexington warned Adams of his impending arrest for treason. Schiff traces Adams' journey from an aimless member of a wealthy family to a determined radical who mobilized the colonies toward independence. The biography was selected as one of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2022 and named a best book of the year by The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The New Yorker, TIME, USA Today, and other publications.