Themes
Last Updated on June 19, 2019, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 175
Paul Revere's Ride is a nonfiction history book by David Hackett Fischer. Unlike the famous poem of the same title by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Fischer's book traces the historical event by analyzing documented sources. The first theme of the book is the examination of Paul Revere himself and the differences between the mythological figure who became a symbol of the American Revolution and the actual man. The second theme of the book is a chronological examination of the events that led to Revere's famous "ride."
In this regard, the book's other theme is the social and political background of the American independence movement, which led to full-blown revolution. Another theme is the examination of British general Thomas Gage, who was a member of the Whigs, just like Paul Revere. This section of the book leads to another theme of the book: the underground revolutionary circle in Boston during that time period. Paul Revere as a political activist is portrayed accurately in Fischer's book, which adds a new dimension to Paul Revere's historical image and biography.
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