Released: July 4, 2024
Explore the Critical Year Leading to Independence with Mary Beth Norton’s 1774:The Long Year of Revolution
Each year through 2026, the Revolutionary Reads Committee is selecting a title examining the lead up to the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence to be that year’s 'Community Read.' This year the committee has chosen 1774: The Long Year of Revolution by Mary Beth Norton.
Dr. Norton’s 2020 book take a fascinating look at the critical, and often overlooked, period when colonists traditionally loyal to King George III began their discordant “discussions” that led them to their acceptance of the inevitability of war against the British Empire.
Norton is a past president of the American Historical Society, as well as a Pulitzer Prize finalist. She is the Mary Donlon Alger Professor Emerita of American History at Cornell University. In this book, Norton traces the critical “long year” of 1774 and the revolutionary change that took place from the Boston Tea Party and the First Continental Congress to the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
Revolutionary Reads will culminate with a visit from the author on Sunday, November 17 at 1:00 pm hosted by Widener University.
This event is free and open to the public.
“Widener is delighted to partner with Revolutionary Reads and host Dr. Norton on campus for her book discussion,” said Widener University President Stacey Robertson. “As a U.S. historian myself, I value Revolutionary Reads’ commitment to highlighting vital pieces of history through community and discussion as we approach the semiquincentennial of our nation’s founding in 2026. I am also a big fan of Dr. Norton and her influential and important contributions to U.S. history.”
Revolutionary Reads will also include Book Club in a Bag totes for checkout at Delaware County Libraries (DCL) locations, book clubs hosted at libraries and other organizations across Delaware County, and more. Check out a copy of the book today from your local library.
The title is also available in Libby, DCL’s eBook and audiobook library.
“We are thrilled to again be joining with Widener University and Radnor Historical Society for the third year of Revolutionary Reads,” said Anny Laepple, Director of Delaware County Libraries. “We hope to bring history alive for Delaware County residents through this author visit as well as book clubs and other events focusing on this important title by acclaimed historian Mary Beth Norton.”
The Revolutionary Reads Community Read is presented by Widener University, Delaware County Libraries, and Radnor Historical Society in partnership with America250PADelco, available online at https://www.america250padelco.org.
More information can be found on the DCL Revolutionary Reads web page at https://www.delcolibraries.org/Revolutionary-Reads.