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Nathan Hale: The Life and Death of America's First Spy
The first biography in nearly a century of the legendary Revolutionary War patriot and our country’s first spy.
Few Americans know much more about Nathan Hale than his famous last words: “I only regret that I have one life left to give for my country.” But who was the real Nathan Hale?
M. William Phelps charts the life of this famed patriot and Connecticut’s state hero, fol...more
Few Americans know much more about Nathan Hale than his famous last words: “I only regret that I have one life left to give for my country.” But who was the real Nathan Hale?
M. William Phelps charts the life of this famed patriot and Connecticut’s state hero, fol...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
September 16th 2008
by Thomas Dunne Books
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Nathan Hale: The First American Spy, by M. William Phelps, narrated by Phil Gigante, produced by Brilliance Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
A very interesting brief book.
Publisher’s note:
Few Americans know much more about Nathan Hale than his famous last words: "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." But who was
the real Nathan Hale?M. William Phelps charts the life of this famed patriot and Connecticut's state hero, following Hale's rural childhood, his education
at Ya...more
A very interesting brief book.
Publisher’s note:
Few Americans know much more about Nathan Hale than his famous last words: "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." But who was
the real Nathan Hale?M. William Phelps charts the life of this famed patriot and Connecticut's state hero, following Hale's rural childhood, his education
at Ya...more
A good story worth about half the pages in the book. Somewhat meandering and unfocused, not sure what the author was attempting to do. With that said, I learned much more than the minimal, inaccurate phrase, "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country."
Spies were considered the lowest of the low, and summarily executed by most countries in hostilities. So there was some interesting conjecture and discussion of what effort Nathan Hale had to work through to leave a respected, patrio...more
Spies were considered the lowest of the low, and summarily executed by most countries in hostilities. So there was some interesting conjecture and discussion of what effort Nathan Hale had to work through to leave a respected, patrio...more
The only reason this book received two stars from me was because in the end, it did have some information in it that I didn't previously know. Otherwise, the book was poorly researched (he quotes more historians than primary sources it seems) and poorly written. Full names were used over and over again (Washington is well known enough to go by his last name), and extensive background was given for even the most minor of characters. Every British soldier was apparently a terrible, godless person,...more
A well researched book. Phelps avoids passing off legend as fact as much as possible, which I am grateful for.
Nathan Hale went to Yale. He became a school teacher. When the Revolutionary War began, he joined the Continental army. He eventually volunteered to go on a mission of espionage. He was close to finishing his mission when he was captured, and hung as a spy. But wild folk tales fly around, such as he was turned in by a relative, Samuel Hale.
Phelps goes on fact and establishes the truth...more
Nathan Hale went to Yale. He became a school teacher. When the Revolutionary War began, he joined the Continental army. He eventually volunteered to go on a mission of espionage. He was close to finishing his mission when he was captured, and hung as a spy. But wild folk tales fly around, such as he was turned in by a relative, Samuel Hale.
Phelps goes on fact and establishes the truth...more
I only got half way through this book before I needed to give it back to the library, but it was really good. I really liked the use of religion, and other references in this book. I find it the best biography of Nathan Hale at least that I've read, but I have a sneeking suspision that it's the best anywhere.
I read this to prepare for the upcoming Nathan Hale symposium... I was expecting much more. Hale's story is fascinating, and certainly deserves a decent contemporary biography. Phelps' book misses the mark by a wide margin. Phelps did a decent job of summarizing and rehashing others' work on Hale, but Phelps is certainly no historian. His books biggest failings come when trying to impart the larger situation of Revolutionary New England, and the time period in general. Some of his most egregious...more
Jan 08, 2012
Brian
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
american-history-revolution
M. William Phelps provides an updated biography on the life of Nathan Hale America's first spy to be executed. Washington was well known for his desire to gather intelligence on the enemy and set up several spy rings throughout the revolution (See Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring for that history). Nathan Hale was the first attempt at spying on the British in the days leading up to the invasion of New York. Nathan was not a successful spy and was caught and hung by one o...more
Enjoyed this book, but I think I would have liked it better had Phelps not included so much other info on the American Revolution. Much of it is relevant, in a way, to Hale's life, but I could have done without it. Phelps draws from Hale's correspondence, army journal and other sources. When it comes to Hale's discovery as a spy, Phelps draws mainly from a journal kept by a Tory to tell Hale's tale. Overall a good read.
Enjoyed this short little book about the equally short life of Nathan Hale. The author tries to tell the true story of Nathan from letters, diaries, etc. and clear up the myth aspect.
One of my favorite books.
I just cannot get into this book. I cannot make it past the first few chapters. I have been "reading" it since it came out and yet I can't get interested in it enough to ever pick it up. Having done more than a little research on Hale myself, I didn't like Phelps's interpretation/depiction of events. As for the Hale scholars I know, they say the same thing. I think it's a shame that the only recent biography to come out on Nathan Hale isn't highly recommended by the researchers who know most abo...more
Nathan Hale: The Life and Death of America's First Spy is a fascinating read, although some of the ends were certainly not tied together. I personally think it was good read, but not as good as George D. Seymour's. I think it would be more legit if it had Nathans letters, his diary, etc, that Seymour's does.
Nicely researched book. It adds some good info into the personality of a legendary figure. There are also interesting details about the beginnings of the Revolution in New England and New York. It was very intersting.
I gave up reading this - it was interesting at times, but took forever getting to the point.
a new bio of Nathan Hale, the first in several decades.
May 19, 2013
Mark Moeller
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M. William Phelps lives in Connecticut with his wife and three children.
He is the author of 14 true crime books.
More about M. William Phelps...
He is the author of 14 true crime books.
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