CRRL Picks - Great Lives 2026 - John Hancock: Revolutionary RingmasterLike this list

9 items

• The William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series

  View on umw.edu

  Biography is the most intimate approach to history--and the most entertaining. UMW’s Great Lives lecture series reveals how extraordinary people--some born to privilege and power, others from modest backgrounds--shaped art, literature, science,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• King Hancock

  the Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father

  Barbier, Brooke

  Add King Hancock to your for later shelf

  In this spirited account of John Hancock’s life, Brooke Barbier depicts a patriot of fascinating contradictions—a child of enormous privilege, who would, nevertheless, become a voice of the common folk and a pillar of society uncomfortable with…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• 1776

  McCullough, David G.

  Add 1776 to your for later shelf

  This is a great introduction to Revolutionary War history and establishes critical information to know regarding colonial America and the lead up to the War of Independence, along with the pivotal year of 1776.

• The American Revolution

  An Intimate History

  Ward, Geoffrey C.

  Add The American Revolution to your for later shelf

  The American Revolution: An Intimate History is a foundational work that accompanies the PBS documentary of the same name. Complete with images, maps, primary sources, and more; this is a complete guide to the founding of America.

• The Annotated U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence

  Add The Annotated U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence to your for later shelf

  Learn about the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence with notes explaining the various inputs from individuals, the historical context, and the legal justifications in creating these documents.

• The British Are Coming

  the War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777

  Atkinson, Rick

  Add The British Are Coming to your for later shelf

  The first of Rick Atkinson's American Revolution trilogy, this provides the groundwork in the lead up to the War of Independence.

• John Hancock

  First to Sign, First to Invest in America's Independence

  Randall, Willard Sterne

  Add John Hancock to your for later shelf

  After reading Brooke Barbier's work on Hancock, learn more about the man behind the signature in this book.

• Signing Their Lives Away

  the Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence

  Kiernan, Denise

  Add Signing Their Lives Away to your for later shelf

  Learn about all 56 signatories who risked their lives to defy King George III in placing their names to ink on the Declaration of Independence.

• We Have Not a Government

  the Articles of Confederation and the Road to the Constitution

  Van Cleve, George, 1952-

  Add We Have Not a Government to your for later shelf

  This work is the story of one of the most contentious moments in American history, discussing the Confederation’s failures that created a political crisis and led to the 1787 Constitution.