John Hancock

Merchant King and American Patriot

By: Harlow Giles Unger

Narrated by: David Stifel

Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

He was a rich, powerful aristocrat, a merchant king who loved English culture and fashion, and, above all, he was a loyal British subject with ambitions of a lordship and a grand retirement estate in England. There simply was no doubt about it: John Hancock was the least likely man in Boston to start a rebellion. How, then, did this Tory patrician become one of the staunchest supporters of the American Revolution?

John Hancock's overnight transformation from British loyalist to fiery rebel and first governor of the independent state of Massachusetts is one of the least known stories of the American Revolution. Acclaimed author Harlow Giles Unger introduces us to the Founding Father whose name is as recognizable as George Washington's, but whose thrilling life story is all but untold. Applying his historical expertise and storytelling gift, Unger details the fascinating life of one of our most extraordinary business and political leaders—the first signer of the Declaration of Independence.

As Unger reveals in this unflinching portrait, Hancock was one of the most paradoxical figures of his time. A brilliant orator, he combines his wealth and political skills to unite Boston's merchant and working classes into an armed might that forced Britain's vaunted professional army to evacuate Boston, assuring the success of the Revolution.

©2000 Harlow Giles Unger (P)2022 Tantor

Wonderful

Wish it could have lasted longer. Riveting informative loved the narration. I learned so much about a man whose name I just knew.

Evan's Review

Being an American History person this book brings new information into how important John Hedcock was in keeping the American Revolution going from an Administration stand point. Not even college level courses do you get the depth how he shaped American History.

Hancock: More Than A Signature

Harlow Giles Unger presents Hancock in such a way that the legend behind his signing the Declaration of Independence takes a back seat to the multiple reasons he should be considered a Founder of the United States. From merchant, to revolutionary, to President, and to Governor - John Hancock played a key role in every aspect of the Revolution and the Founding.

The author does a fantastic job of drawing the listener/reader in and writes in such a way that places you in the events being written about. The greatest critique I have is the authors portrayal of the Adams family - particularly Samuel Adams, as essentially villains of the story. Unger may in fact have a spot on portrayal of Samuel Adams, but it begins to come off as personal hostility towards him, even more so since the Epilogue of the book focuses in on Adams instead of Hancock one last time.

Overall, this portrayal of John Hancock is fantastic and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about a Founder who deserves to be recognized just as many times in his own right as the other major figures of the beginning years of the United States.

An easy read

I found Harlow Giles Unger’s biography of John Hancock most interesting. Unger did an excellent job of weaving facts acquired from various sources into a fairly fast-moving story. The research was meticulous and Unger’s storytelling was superb. My only complaint is Unger’s approach to Samuel Adams and John Quincy Adams. I think he overdid the disagreement between Sam Adams and John Hancock and went on to paint Sam Adams in a negative manner.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is thirteen hours and seventeen minutes. David Stifel does a great job narrating the book.

Great read

Good story, well written tale of a less celebrated founding father. Stifel's narration was outstanding. His voice and style really brought the story to life. Looking forward to his next narration.

John Hancock, more than a signature

Im an immigrant so never knew American history indepth from my school we had a broad general understanding for it and our general knowledge was high, in last 10 years the Rev. War period and its individual players have intrigued me. As my FBI agent at naturalization said in 96 most Americans today wont know the answers to the questions we ask. Sad because people in history are interesting and can teach us alot both bad and good. I think its far worse today with ignorance of native born Americans.
Hancock was someone I knew nothing about expect the signature attribute when I arrived. I am so glad I got this title. I was dubious at first about the narrative.i thought its going to be one sided and I wont really learn anything. I like multifaceted biographies from authors who want to learn along with the reader. I get bashing people from 200 yeats ago is in but like 200 years from now we all have good and bad parts to us and want to be judged in a fair light as individuals. I grew to admire and respect him and how he treated others esp. those in need and also amazingly to who were petty and backbiting like John Adams for years. Even in Mc Culloghs book he demonstrates Adams as constantly in pulling others down in order to try to look better (never works) or out of sheer obvious jealousy.
In his short life and through constant pain Hancock reached out and time and again helped others and risked his safety and much or his personal fortune for other Americans and his new country while others like Jefferson and Adams did not.

Adams bashing

though a fascinating tale, and filled with golden nuggets about the man and his time the authors unfiltered animosity towards both Sam and John Adams detracts greatly. Some half truths and outright falsehoods about these two great American patriots make me question the sincerity of the authors commitment to telling the entire truth.