How do you tell the story of the American Revolution in six lives?

Russell's Shorta will join us to discuss his latest book, Revolution Song, a story of

American Freedom.

What distinguished Arthur Slesinger Jr. among 20th century historians?

Richard Aldous will be here to talk about his new biography, Slesinger, the Imperial

historian.

Plus, we'll talk about what we and the wider world are reading.

This is Inside the New York Times Book Review.

I'm Pamela Paul.

Russell's Shorta joins us now.

He is the best-selling author of the island at the center of the world, among other books

and his latest book is called Revolution Song, a story of American Freedom.

Russell, thanks for being here.

Thank you, Pamela, for having me here.

So this is a book about the American Revolution, but as told through the lives of six people,

and I'm curious, did you know that you wanted to write with that approach first, or was

it that you wanted to write about the American Revolution and this is how you thought best

to do it?

A confession.

The American Revolution never really grabbed me, which I guess if I want to blame someone

won't blame my junior high school history teachers.

I wrote a book 13 years ago, the island at the center of the world, about Dutch New York.

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