
audiobook
by John Clark Ridpath, G. Mercer (Graeme Mercer) Adam, Charles K. (Charles Keyser) Edmunds
Great Americans of History
TOGETHER WITH ANECDOTES, CHARACTERISTICS, AND CHRONOLOGY
THE CHARACTER OF JAMES OTIS BY CHARLES K. EDMUNDS, PH. D.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT A TOWN MEETING IN BOSTON, MAY 8, 1770.
JOSEPH WARREN'S OPINION OF GOVERNOR BERNARD, OTIS'S PRINCIPAL ENEMY.
OTIS AS A PROPHET.
ANECDOTES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF OTIS, ETC. OTIS AND HIS FELLOW PATRIOTS.
OTIS AND ADAMS.
OTIS AS AN AUTHOR.
THE TOWN MEETING.
In the shadow of Boston’s historic Granary Burying Ground, the story of James Otis unfolds like a forgotten monument to early American liberty. The narrator guides listeners through the tangled lore of his elusive tomb, the rust‑covered slabs, and the elm that seemed to drink the very spirit of the man who first warned his fellow colonists against tyranny. As the mystery of his final resting place is revealed, the listener is introduced to Otis’s fierce oratory that sparked a collective awakening long before the shots at Lexington.
The book blends scholarly essays, vivid anecdotes, and a detailed chronology to paint a portrait of a man whose ideas rippled through the colonies like thunder. It examines his passionate defense of natural rights, his charismatic presence in Boston’s salons, and the way his “pre‑revolutionary” fervor set the stage for the later fight for independence. Listeners will come away with a deeper appreciation of the intellectual fire‑starter who helped shape the very notion of American freedom.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (258K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Nov 1, 1996
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1840–1900
A prolific 19th-century historian and educator, he helped bring world history to a broad American readership through ambitious, accessible reference works. His books blended scholarship with a strong storyteller’s instinct, making big subjects feel vivid and readable.
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1830–1912
A Scottish-born editor and publisher who became one of the energetic early champions of Canadian writing, he helped shape literary culture in 19th-century Canada while also producing biographies, histories, and novels of his own.
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1876–1949
An American physicist, engineer, and educator, he spent his career moving between science and academic leadership, including major roles in China and at Pomona College. His life brings together scholarship, international education, and the growth of modern universities.
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