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No leader of the American Revolution is more of a mystery than James Otis Jr. If you don't know his impact, then the story of the American Revolution and democracy is incomplete.
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Introducing The Unforgettable Forgotten Patriot
James Otis Jr. and the real start to the American Revolution
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Unforgettable Forgotten Patriot is a compelling book that delves into the events of the pre-American Revolution, offering a fresh and unique perspective on the historical narrative. With a dedication to authenticity and detail, the book transports readers to a pivotal time in American history, emphasizing the relevance of the pre war's impact on the nation's foundation.
Most Americans have not heard of James Otis Jr. but they should. Debut author Alan Henry DeLisle, through painstaking research, has finally raised the curtain on Otis's riveting, unpredictable, and transformational life story. James Otis Jr., a brilliant and eccentric Boston lawyer, was the first to challenge the rule of Great Britain, the first to convene a congress of the colonies, and the first to put the reasons for opposition in writing for all to see. He defined and ignited the early revolutionary manifesto. Most of the other famous patriots came later after James had built the foundation and laid the framework for the democracy, yet he is forgotten.
Why?
His brilliance was sometimes interrupted by his flamboyance, overzealousness and , on occasion, self-doubt until one day a blow to his head changed everything. Ten years of leadership was suddenly sidelined. James was never the same. And it is hard to believe that his mental struggles may have been harder than independence itself.
He went from commanding the highest court room in colonial Massachusetts where he dismantled illegal search and siezures to being isolated on a country farmhouse, taking lonely walks with the birds and the animals. While James reflected on his life, uncovering mysteries of his past, America inched toward independence by grasping James's Bill of Rights principles, including his famous quote that "taxation without representation is tyranny" and his belief in the natural rights of man.
As America was blessed with victory, James's life ended as mysteriously as it unfolded. No one could believe that he clairvoyantly predicted how he would die.
Alan H. DeLisle's historical fiction is a must read as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and we face questions about our form of government. It adds a refreshing perspective to the story of the American experiment.
It is not the usual story about the American Revolution or the usual patriots. Finally something new about that topic.
Author's Background
The author writes from experience. He received a Master's degree in political science from SUNY at Albany. He was then selected as a New York State Senate Fellow before being employed by a state senator from Buffalo, NY, his hometown. He worked as a Legislative Director for seven years.
Alan later worked for four different cities---Buffalo, Durham, Louisville and St. Petersburg---for 27 years in executive economic development positions. He negotiated hundreds of high profile public-private projects including the Durham Performing Arts Center, the Louisville Whiskey Row and the St. Petersburg Pier. He dealt with high powered business people, developers, governors, senators, and mayors---power in action.
He understands the inner-workings of government and politics from several unique perspectives. He received the Outstanding Downtown Visionary award for his work in Durham. Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo appointed him to the Task Force on the Implementation of the American with Disability Act for his work with the Buffalo disability community. He served in many local boards and commissions.
This experience serves him well in his writing. He has seen power and wealth, severe poverty, and the struggles of the middle class.
And he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications/journalism where he won an award for demonstrated proficiency and outstanding contributions to the program.
Alan first wrote this book as a non-fiction, researching the book for about 30 years during his career. His bibliography is included in the book to call attention to his source material. He decided to switch to an historical fiction to better capture the human elements and to fill in the gaps in James's incredible story.
Alan has written two books since retirement. This is his first. His second is based on his career.
He loves history, plays the drums, and is a huge Buffalo Bills fan. He has been married to his smart and beautiful wife Kim for 35 years and has two amazing daughters, Alexa and Alaina.
With a Master's degree in Political Science and 35 years in high level government positions, he knows what happens behind closed government and political doors.
Book's Uniqueness
James Otis Jr. was brilliant and insane
Bold but loyal
Bizarre but philosophical
Principled but cagey
Messy like democracy
Two quotes say it all. One from John Adams and the other from Thomas Jefferson:
"I have never known a man whose love of his country was more ardent or sincere; never one who suffered so much; never one whose services for any ten years of his life were so important and essential to the cause of this country as those of Mr. Otis from 1760-1770."
John Adams.
". . . he announced two maximums which lay the foundation of all the subsequent war; one was 'taxation without representation was tyranny,' the other, 'that expenditures of public money without appropriations by the representatives of the people, were arbitrary, and therefore, unconstitutional.'"
Thomas Jefferson.
Some believe that if James Otis Jr. was healthy in 1776, he would have written the Declaration of Independence. In fact, some also believe that Thomas Jefferson used much of James's material to write it, although Jefferson denied it.
The Bill of Rights was written in 1789 in New York City where the federal government was operating at the time. No one was more of a champion for the articulation of these rights than James. He captured the essence of these rights back in the early 1760's.
There is no other book that needs to be read more today than this one. It answers the question why democracy must survive under any circumstances; and it also shows the pain and agony that went into its creation, so we never forget.
This book is long overdue. While stories about the usual patriots like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Samual Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere and John Hancock are well deserved, missing James Otis all these years has been a grave mistake. This book corrects this mistake once and for all.
Purchasing Information
Now is the time to revisit the beginning of the Great Experiment!!
Acquire your own copy of The Unforgettable Forgotten Patriot and embark on a journey that led up to the American Revolution. From personal insights to historical analyses, this book evokes warmth, authenticity, and a deep appreciation for this significant period in American history.
Reader Reviews
“I truly enjoyed learning about James Otis and what an important patriot he was! It's hard to imagine that he has not received all the recognition he deserves for his contributions to history. Your story is well written. The way you brought James to life drew me into that time period. I like how you described the difficulties facing the colonists and what a brave, principled, and trailblazing man James was. At times, I found myself wishing I could have met him and thanked him for all he did for our country."
Anne
“In these times of momentous change in the U.S., it is especially important to understand the intentions of our nation's founding fathers in creating our great democracy. In The Unforgettable Forgotten Patriot, the characters come alive, not only allowing us to understand how they were shaped by the times, but how their passions propelled them to change the times. In this historical fiction portrait of James Otis, sometimes thought of as the forgotten founding father, he is finally given the spotlight he has deserved for so long. DeLisle has expertly woven the character of the man and the events of history into a historical novel that is pleasurable to read while at the same time encourages us to all be patriots for democracy.
Helene
“The Unforgettable Forgotten Patriot is a great read. It's the fascinating, untold story of James Otis Jr., a historically important American Revolutionary Patriot. If you like history, or just a great story, you will love this book. I couldn't put it down."
Bill
AN IMPORTANT LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR
JAMES OTIS JR. WAS THE FIRST TO PUBLICLY STATE THE CASE AGAINST GREAT
BRITAIN'S RULE. HE WAS THE FIRST TO APPLY THE ENLIGHTENMENT PRINCIPLES AGAINST THE CROWN AND IN FAVOR OF THE COLONY. HE WAS THE FIRST TO CALL INTO QUESTION PARLIAMENTS
AUTHORITY.
HE WAS THE FIRST TO PUT HIS ARGUMENTS IN WRITING FOR ALL TO SEE, INCLUDING THE KING. HE WAS THE FIRST TO SAY, "TAXATIONS WITHOUT REPRESENTATION IS TYRANNY" AND "A MAN'S HOUSE IS HIS CASTLE." HE WAS THE FIRST TO FORMULATE WHAT BECAME THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
JAMES OTIS JR. WAS THE FIRST TO CONVENE A COLONIAL CONGRESS. HE WAS THE FIRST TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC GALLERY SO THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE COULD LISTEN TO LEGISLATIVE DIALOGUE. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO OPPOSE BOTH SLAVERY AND WOMEN SUBJUGATION. HE FOUGHT FOR SEPARATION OF POWERS, LEGISLATIVE SPENDING APPROVALS AND AGAINST MULTIPLE OFFICE HOLDINGS.
HE WAS THE FIRST BOSTON PATRIOT TO BE BOTH BRILLIANT AND INSANE, A WRITER, LAWYER, PHILOSOPHER, AND PUBLIC OFFICIAL. NO ONE WAS MORE POTENT, UNPREDICTABLE, COMPLEX, OR AROUSING. HE WAS LOVED AND HATED. HE ELICITED BOTH COLONIAL DOCK WORKERS AND ENGLISH SPIES.
WHO WAS THIS MAN, AND WHY IS HE NOT EXTOLLED LIKE THE OTHER FAMOUS REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOTS? IT WAS THIS QUESTION THAT KEPT ME UP AT NIGHT AND DROVE ME TO WRITE THIS BOOK ABOUT THE UNFORGETTABLE FORGOTTEN PATRIOT.
ON THE EVE OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO BETTER CAPTURE OTIS'S DAZZLING, ASTONISHING, PROVOCATIVE STORY.
IT IS BASED ON EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND YEARS OF CAREFUL ANALYSIS.
I OFTEN HAVE WONDERED WHY HIS NAME IS NOT MORE REGULARLY PLACED ALONGSIDE THE LIKES OF JOHN AND SAMUEL ADAMS, JOHN HANCOCK, PAUL REVERE, THOMAS JEFFERSON, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, AND EVEN GEORGE WASHINGTON WHEN THE REVOLUTIONARY STORY IS TOLD.
YES, HE DID GO INSAME. HE DID BURN MANY OF HIS DOCUMENTS IN FITS OF INDECISION. HIS TORY WIFE AND STRICT FATHER MADE HIS HOME LIFE UNSETTLING, AND HE HAD TO STEP ASIDE PRIOR TO THE MAJOR REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS THAT WE CELEBRATE TODAY.
BUT HE DEFINED THE "CAUSE," STORMED THE BEACHHEAD, TOOK THE EARLY BULLETS, AND CRACKED THE FRONT LINE OF DEFENSE FOR THE BIRTH OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. YOU NEED ONLY READ WHAT JOHN ADAMS AND THOMAS JEFFERSON WROTE ABOUT HIM TO GRASP HIS VAST IMPACT.
THE GOAL OF THIS BOOK IS SIMPLE: TO MAKE IT MORE CLEAR HOW THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BEGAN; TO BETTER DEFINE THE PROTAGONIST---OTIS---OF THAT STORY; TO UNDERSCORE THE UNRELENTING BATTERING HE WITHSTOOD; AND TO REMIND US HOW COMBUSTIBLE AND COURAGEOUS THE BIRTH OF DEMOCRACY WAS AND STILL IS. I HOPE IT SERVES US WELL IN TODAY'S GOVERNANCE TIMES.
I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.
