The Muse of the Revolution

Nancy Rubin Stuart talked about her book The Muse of the Revolution: The Secret Pen of Mercy Otis Warren and the Founding of a Nation (Beacon Press; July 15, 2008). The book is a recount of the life of Mercy Otis Warren (1728-1814), the first female historian of the American Revolution and author of History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution, which was published in 1805. Mercy Otis Warren was the wife of James Warren, the Speaker of the Massachusetts House, and worked as her husband’s secretary where she was privy to exclusive information about the Revolution. Following the release of her three-volume history, her friendship with John Adams, who encouraged her to write the book, came to an end because he felt she disparaged his role in the Revolution. Ms. Stuart responded to questions from the audience after her remarks.

Nancy Rubin Stuart is the author of several books, including Isabella of Castile: The First Renaissance Queen. close