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Next Sunday marks an important but generally
unheralded day in U.S. history. As authors Denise Kiernan
and Joseph D’Agnese explain in “Signing Their Lives Away:
The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the
Declaration of Independence,” Congress officially adopted
the document on the Fourth of July.
Only John Hancock and Charles Thomson put their
names to it immediately. A local printer then produced 200
copies, dating them July 4th. But the majority of delegates
didn’t add their signatures until Aug. 2, 1776.
We all know what happened to our then-infant nation. Yet
with few exceptions, we tend to draw blanks regarding the
signers. Obviously, several became U.S. presidents. What
about the rest?
This book fills in the gaps with behind-the-scenes
accounts of what they did before, during and after the
momentous summer of 1776, offering a flesh-and-blood
portrait of each signer.
The narrative flows with abundant fact and informal style,
for instance describing John Adams who “had bad hair,
flapping jowls, and a body like a potato dumpling” and
Roger Sherman, whose picture “makes you feel like you
should sit up straight, stop fidgeting, and do something
constructive with your hands.”
Ultimately no signers were killed for their roles in the
Declaration of Independence.
unheralded day in U.S. history. As authors Denise Kiernan
and Joseph D’Agnese explain in “Signing Their Lives Away:
The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the
Declaration of Independence,” Congress officially adopted
the document on the Fourth of July.
Only John Hancock and Charles Thomson put their
names to it immediately. A local printer then produced 200
copies, dating them July 4th. But the majority of delegates
didn’t add their signatures until Aug. 2, 1776.
We all know what happened to our then-infant nation. Yet
with few exceptions, we tend to draw blanks regarding the
signers. Obviously, several became U.S. presidents. What
about the rest?
This book fills in the gaps with behind-the-scenes
accounts of what they did before, during and after the
momentous summer of 1776, offering a flesh-and-blood
portrait of each signer.
The narrative flows with abundant fact and informal style,
for instance describing John Adams who “had bad hair,
flapping jowls, and a body like a potato dumpling” and
Roger Sherman, whose picture “makes you feel like you
should sit up straight, stop fidgeting, and do something
constructive with your hands.”
Ultimately no signers were killed for their roles in the
Declaration of Independence.
Nonetheless, when British soldiers invaded New York, they destroyed the home of Francis Lewis and
dragged his wife to jail, denying her a bed, change of clothing and decent food for weeks; Loyalist militants
imprisoned Richard Stockton; and Thomas Nelson directed American troops to fire on his own house because
British officers had moved in.
As the years rolled on, Button Gwinnett died of wounds sustained in a duel, George Wythe succumbed to
arsenic when his nephew poisoned him for an inheritance, Robert Morris – who had substantially financed the
Revolution – spent three years in debtors’ prison and Robert Treat Paine, centuries later, had a famous
descendant, actor Treat Williams.
“Signing Their Lives Away” closes with the complete text of the Declaration of Independence, a timeline and a
“Miscellany of Independence,” and the poster-weight dust jacket folds out into a full-color facsimile of the Decla-
ration.
Kiernan and D’Agnese have done a fine job of belying the myths perpetuated in junk e-mails, while honoring
real sacrifices and achievements. Get ready to celebrate a national legacy day. Happy Second of August!
dragged his wife to jail, denying her a bed, change of clothing and decent food for weeks; Loyalist militants
imprisoned Richard Stockton; and Thomas Nelson directed American troops to fire on his own house because
British officers had moved in.
As the years rolled on, Button Gwinnett died of wounds sustained in a duel, George Wythe succumbed to
arsenic when his nephew poisoned him for an inheritance, Robert Morris – who had substantially financed the
Revolution – spent three years in debtors’ prison and Robert Treat Paine, centuries later, had a famous
descendant, actor Treat Williams.
“Signing Their Lives Away” closes with the complete text of the Declaration of Independence, a timeline and a
“Miscellany of Independence,” and the poster-weight dust jacket folds out into a full-color facsimile of the Decla-
ration.
Kiernan and D’Agnese have done a fine job of belying the myths perpetuated in junk e-mails, while honoring
real sacrifices and achievements. Get ready to celebrate a national legacy day. Happy Second of August!
|
| Book Review |
| Ridge Writers on Books ‘Signing Their Lives Away’ By Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese 256 pages, hardcover Quirk Books, 2009, $19.95 |
| By DONNA McCROHAN ROSENTHAL |
Visit www.ridgenet.net/~curtdan/ridgewriters for information about upcoming programs
and membership.
and membership.
This weekly column is presented by the Ridge Writers, the East Sierra Branch of the California Writers Club.
Meetings are held the first Wednesday evening of each month at High Desert Haven and free programs are
offered throughout the year.
Meetings are held the first Wednesday evening of each month at High Desert Haven and free programs are
offered throughout the year.
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