Description: Historian Thomas S. Kidd shows how the fiery Patrick Henry cherished a vision of America as a virtuous republic with a clearly circumscribed central government. These ideals brought him into bitter conflict with other Founders and were crystallized in his vociferous opposition to the U.S. Constitution.
Review Quotes: Daniel L. Dreisbach, American University and author of Thomas Jefferson and the Wall of Separation Between Church and State
"Few characters of the American Revolution are more celebrated and, yet, less understood than Patrick Henry. In this vivid portrait of the firebrand orator, Thomas S. Kidd scrapes away the myths and misconceptions that have long obscured our understanding of Henry, revealing a patriot of uncommon conviction, vision, and, yes, contradictions. This engaging biography offers rich insights into not only Henry's controversial life but also the tumultuous age and fractured society in which he lived - a world turned upside down by the cruel institution of slavery, religious revivals and disestablishment, a bitter separation from Great Britain, and the creation of a new nation."