St. Martin's Press

The Escapes of David George: Slavery, Freedom & The American Revolution

May 27, 2026 by Dr. Liz Covart Leave a Comment

When most Americans think of slavery, they do not picture the colonial or revolutionary eras. Yet, in fact, one of six inhabitants of the thirteen original colonies was enslaved.

The Escapes of David George: an Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution (St. Martin’s Press, 2026) reveals a remarkable, untold experience of the American revolutionary period ― a Black man’s quest for the freedom espoused by our Founders, but denied him and other enslaved people. [Read more…] about The Escapes of David George: Slavery, Freedom & The American Revolution

Tom Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation

February 1, 2026 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Declaration of Independence marked the birth of the United States. But two essays of that era appealed even more directly to Americans’ feelings.

In January 1776, Thomas Paine ― a recent immigrant to America ― published Common Sense. His straightforward argument upended the fraud of monarchy and dismantled the idea of aristocratic privilege that had dominated the world for centuries. [Read more…] about Tom Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation

How Fiorello La Guardia Became America’s Mayor, and Why He Still Matters

February 23, 2024 by Bob Cudmore 1 Comment

Fiorello La Guardia was one of the twentieth century’s most colorful politicians ― on the New York and national stage. He was also quintessentially American: the son of Italian immigrants (his mother was also Jewish), who rose in society through sheer will and chutzpah.

Almost one hundred years later, America is once again grappling with issues that would have been familiar to the Little Flower, as he was affectionately known. [Read more…] about How Fiorello La Guardia Became America’s Mayor, and Why He Still Matters

Benedict Arnold in New York

November 15, 2023 by Jack Kelly 12 Comments

Researching my new book God Save Benedict Arnold, I came to appreciate the central role that New York State played in Arnold’s career and in the Revolutionary War itself.

The first shots of the American Revolution rang out early on the morning of April 19, 1775 in Lexington, Massachusetts. Only three weeks later, on May 10, Benedict Arnold managed to capture the most strategic fortification in the colonies at Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. [Read more…] about Benedict Arnold in New York

Henry Knox: Myth and History

September 18, 2010 by Editorial Staff 3 Comments

Don’t tell the folks at Knox’s Headquarters State Historic Site where he held court as the Revolutionary War came to an end, but no one really cares about Henry Knox. It’s not that we shouldn’t, it’s just that we don’t – don’t have the stomach for it.

It’s mostly Knox’s own fault, he was kind of a jerk who lived opulently after his retirement in Maine where he hoped to exploit a retinue of labors and craftsmen in shipbuilding, brick-making, and cattle-raising.

His neighbors came to despise him, rejected his leadership, threatened to burn him out, and tore down his mansion after his death. [Read more…] about Henry Knox: Myth and History

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