In this non-fiction account of the famous ride of Paul Revere, the author provides more details leading up to and during the ride. It is a compelling read of the man and the events immortalized by Longfellow in his poem.

US-history, American-rev-war, American-history, nonfiction, biography, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture****
This is a well-researched look into the people and events involved before and after the later publicized event known to have been one of the stimuli to the initiation of the American Revolution. The unrest and the individuals involved are documented in the bibliography and index. Interestingly, there is no mention or allusion to the (possibly fictional) similar ride of notification performed by Sybil Ludington.
Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America
I requested and received an uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
#TheRide by Kostya Kennedy Avail Mar 25 2025 @stmartinspress
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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Almost 250 years ago, Paul Revere and William Dawes set out on their legendary ride, each rider flanking the British troop’s route. While this reads like a history book, it is still an interesting story of that night as well as the background of some of the Patriots. Revere seems to get most of the credit, perhaps because the British kept a close eye on him. He had completed at least 18 rides to deliver messages, and was a Patriot and member of the Sons of Liberty. In addition to his duties as messenger, Revere was also a silversmith, an engraver, a bell caster and a dentist.

The story is an interesting look at the history of the United States and the men who risked all for independence.

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I'm known for a few things I am not proud of, such as my geographical incompetence and my inability to remember history. This account of Paul Revere's life is so rich and interesting that I believe it will actually stick with me. This account is not just a historical timeline of the infamous ride, but is multifaceted account of the life of the colonists, the factions among the colonists, the factions amount the British forces, as well as the personalities of the primary patriots. We learn about the different ways information was gleaned and relayed, the pressures upon the colonists, even the interactions between the British forces and the patriots on a daily basis. The amount of research is evident even before you see the list of references at the end of the book. Revere became not just a character of legend but a real person with such devout convictions that he lived his beliefs, even risking his life repeatedly for the freedom of the colonists. There are so many reasons to remember him in American History - we don't have such leaders in our country anymore, those who truly want what is best for everyone and give their all in the quest for peace and what is right. I also really enjoyed the section that discussed slavery: those who disdained it, those who had slaves, especially the hypocrisy of those wanting freedom from England while withholding freedom from the slaves that they purchased. This was an incredible retelling - a true history come to life!! Oh, if only I learned all of my history like this!

I received a free copy of, The Ride, by Kostya Kennedy, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. One of the most famous rides, we have heard about is Paul Revere on April 18, 1775, Paul Revere made history. This ride of men and women will never be forgotten. This was a good read, very informative.

The Ride takes the reader back to Colonial times. It was a very interesting bird’s eye view of the times and trials of our ancestors. I loved the fact that the book didn’t just focus on Paul Revere nor his compatriots, but accounts of why they immigrated to the new world and how they managed to forge a life here. It showcased interactions of significant colonials which was really significant as they lived 250 (or more) miles apart with no modern means of communication or transportation. I’m simply awed at how they could set up a meeting with the restraints of the 1700s.

This is a very readable account of our founding fathers. I highly recommend this book for all Americans.

I was privileged to receive an early copy from NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, in exchange for an honest review.

The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America by Kostya Kennedy

On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere and several others set out to warn the colonists of Massachusetts that the British were advancing. This historic moment was immortalized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his famous poem, “Listen, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.”

Now, 250 years later, author Kostya Kennedy brings this pivotal night to life in The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America. Kennedy not only celebrates Paul Revere, but also figures like John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and the other steadfast patriots of the time. Through his compelling narrative, readers are transported back to that fateful evening, making them feel as though they are right there with these courageous men and women.

Kennedy provides a vivid portrait of Paul Revere—the man, his family, his occupation, and his deep commitment to the American cause. The book also captures the broader response of colonists—tradesmen, farmers, preachers—who acted on the urgent news that the British were advancing on Lexington and Concord.

The famous signal “One if by land, and two if by sea,” and the 20-mile journey through country roads, continue to resonate with grateful Americans to this day.

The Ride is an engaging and inspiring read, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the founding of America and the brave individuals who helped shape its future.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.

This is great historical account of the actual events leading up and including the famous ride. You got more insight about what actually transpired as well as what came next. It was very well researched. It did read like a history book but that's to be expected.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

In April 1775, Paul Revere rode a borrowed horse to spread the word that the British were advancing. The Boston-based silversmith, engraver, and anti-British political operative rode into history as he alerted American colonists to the impending threat. This was one of at least 18 rides the patriot took as an express rider. And it was his most famous ride.
In addition to detailing the Ride, the author shares details about Revere's life before and after. He also outlines the political climate of the time and discusses other riders who also spread the word that night. The book is an interesting mix of history and personal stories, including details of other prominent characters of the time, such as William Dawes, John Hancock and Joseph Warren.
I liked the flow of the book. It tells Revere's story in a way that's easy to read. The author also adds some personal commentary that supports the story. While reading, I learned new things and gained a new appreciation for Paul Revere and other patriots of the times.

This is about the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, which was actually much more complex than most people realize, and represented a wide array of preparation, planning, and execution of an event that we still remember today as a significant event of the Revolutionary War. Many more riders participated than just Paul Revere. If the British had landed unopposed and unnoticed, parts of the war would have gone very differently. The end result might not have changed, but the participants would have had a very different fight on their hands. Riding rough roads and trails through the darkness was no easy task.

Everyone knows the poem but not the real story behind Paul Reviers famous ride. This book is an interesting history and includes many other important people on that night b

I wanted to read this book in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the United States and it did not disappoint. Other than the Longfellow poem, I knew little, other than that from school history books, about Paul Revere and the intense fervor of the Colonists to be out from under British rule. A pleasant surprise was learning that the wife of British General Thomas Gage was a supporter of the Colonists. A very worthwhile read. I received an ARC from NetGalley, and the opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am a fan of historical novels and this one did not disappoint me. It is filled with details of the events leading up to the famous ride as well a bit of Paul’s early life. Also it covers William Dawes who history teachings have mostly forgotten. Highly recommend if you want to separate the facts from the myth or legends we often know about the famous ride.

The book provides an insightful overview of the early American era, focusing on the conflicts between the American colonies and their British masters, both financial and territorial. Kennedy delves into the key figures of the time, including Samuel Adams, the Sons of Liberty, General Gage and his wife, as well as the famous silversmith-turned-revolutionary, Paul Revere.

Born as the third of twelve children, Revere's early life was marked by hardship. However, circumstances soon led him to take on the role of the eldest in his family. He left school at a young age to apprentice as a silversmith under his father. Even as a child, Revere demonstrated independence, notably clashing with his father over religious beliefs and, more significantly, his growing desire for colonial freedom. This early divergence from his father would become a recurring theme in Revere's life.

A natural go-getter, Revere quickly built connections with wealthy patrons and joined the Masons, forming ties with those who shared his fervor for liberty. His skills as a silversmith were soon complemented by his abilities as a horseman, a talent that would prove essential in the years to come.

The economic turmoil caused by Britain’s policies deeply impacted Revere's trade, prompting him to diversify his skills. He became a dentist, further solidifying his commitment to the cause of independence. Alongside his growing ties with the Sons of Liberty—a group of fervent patriots determined to speak out against British oppression—Revere participated in key revolutionary events, including the Boston Tea Party.

As a trusted courier, Revere traversed the colonies, carrying vital messages from Boston to New York and even on to Philadelphia. Yet, it was his legendary midnight ride that would immortalize him in American history, forever symbolizing the spirit of resistance and the fight for freedom.

This book is about what really happened with the ride of Paul Revere. The book is well written and researched although a little repetitive in spots. It covers briefly the life of Paul Revere prior to the ride. The author does a good job in detailing the events that took place that night and the next day. He also covers William Dawes, the second rider, who is often overlooked. Overall a good read for those interested in the true history of the events and not just the legend.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

Kostya Kennedy’s The Ride reads as quickly as Paul Revere himself, while providing an easily readable and well researched accounting of events leading up to Revere’s ride itself and events after. It occasionally strays away to tell a connected story, which can drive me crazy, but here the stories are so interesting that I don’t really mind. I imagine Kennedy does take a little liberty in describing the surroundings of Revere, but doing so doesn’t take away from the factual events and makes it so much more interesting to read. I could almost put myself in 1775 Boston with his writing. Kennedy also explores Longfellow and his decision eighty-five years later to write the now famous poem about Revere’s ride, on the brink of the Civil War. In closing, he looks at Revere’s descendants and continued impact on our country today, a fitting end on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the ride itself. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such a thrilling and exciting read. To go through the history of the ride of Paul Revere was so much fun, I couldn’t put the book down, kept wanting more

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this history about the time before the start of the American Revolution and who one man, along with others squelched the plans to end this rebellion in a ride that has become more mythology, than reality.

I will be the first to say that my history education all throughout high school was not that good. And in watching where America is now, I guess that was something that many can agree with. Our history was more of print the legend, kind. A repetition of facts, without going in the whys, or the hows, or who else were involved, who else paid the cost. Now history is used by some to try and figure out how we became what we are. Some use history to justify their beliefs, and their hatreds. I like history because sometimes one still finds, not heroes, but people who did things for others, maybe in benefit of themselves, but still for others. They didn't expect a big payoff from a foreign country, or become a cult leader. They did it for the reason that is was right. Maybe they would face prison, their family made penury, their reputation ruined. Paul Revere was one of those men, a man whose many tasks in the battle for freedom have been passed over, all in favor of the one ride that made his name the subject of poets. The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America by Kostya Kennedy is a look at the man, the era, and the people on both sides of the burgeoning conflict, and how their actions gave us what we have today, if we can keep it.

The book offers an overview of the era, for the problems starting with the colony of America and its master England, both financial, and territorial. Kennedy looks at the people involved from Samuel Adams, the Sons of Liberty, General Gage and his wife, and of course that silversmith, who could also fix your teeth, Paul Revere. Revere was born the third of twelve children, but times being what they were, soon became the eldest. Revere left school young to become an apprentice silversmith with his father. Revere was even as a child his own man, parting in many ways from his father both in religion, and in thoughts of freedom for the colony, coming to blows with his father about this at one point. Revere was also a go getter, making contacts with wealthy customers in his trade, joining the Masons, and even more, making friends of those who spoke of the cause of freedom. Revere was also a very good horseman, something that would soon become important. The economic war that Britain was fighting with the colonies effected Revere silversmith trade, and so he became a dentist, and even more committed to freedom. Making friends with the Sons of Liberty, a group firebrands willing to put up and not shut up, Revere took part in the Boston Tea Party, and took to the roads sharing this information working as a courier from Boston to New York, and even onto Philadelphia. However it would be for another ride that Revere would be better, known, one that has gone down in history.

A very good look at the time and people involved in the crisis that would spark to form a revolution. This is not a biography of Revere, nor does it really get into his thinking. This looks at actions not inner voice, and does that very well. As the 250th anniversary is approaching, its important to remember what really happened, how impactful this ride, and the ride of others was to the colonists. The writing is good, a nice sense of narrative with lots of history told, but not told in a way to bog down the reading. Kennedy captures both the feeling, and something rare, the role of women in the history. From a general's wife who might be a spy, to women making bullets for minuteman, to the love Revere had for his second wife one that lasted almost forty years.

A perfect view of interest people who want to know more about American history, and get a real sense of what happened, not the myth the poetic legend, but the real history, which I think is really much more exciting. I enjoyed this quite a bit, and made me want to learn more about the era and Paul Revere.

I really enjoyed this nonfiction book! Timed perfectly to coincide with the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride, this was a very enjoyable look at not only the famous ride, but Revere himself.

The book was very easy to read and flowed nicely. The ride is focused on more towards the end of the book, but I think the author did a good job of sorting through lots of other information to include what was necessary in the beginning of the book.

I am someone that has enjoyed nonfiction, and particularly historical nonfiction, for a very long time and I enjoyed this book. However, I would also highly recommend it for folks that are interested in reading history books, but find the prospect of a 600+ page book daunting. I think this book would be a perfect introduction to the genre to them, as it is half that length and very easily read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for a review!

We are a few months away from the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride. A momentous and consequential event that is deserving of recognition and renewed appreciation. Luckily this book provides just that. The author presents a fantastic account of the events of, and leading up to, April 18, 1775, when Revere and William Dawes set out to alert the masses that the British were indeed coming. An easy and pleasant read, this book moves at the same pace of an express rider, and I found myself enjoying every page. In many ways the book feels more like a guided tour than just your typical narrative account, which I very much appreciated. I found it to be well written, very thoughtful, and quite interesting from beginning to end. I would highly recommend this book! A special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book, and I will definitely be picking up a copy for my own!