book review - Elaine Reiche Book Review Ray Raphael in his...

Elaine Reiche
Book Review
Ray Raphael in his book, Founding Myths: Stories that Hide our Patriotic Past , attempts
to uncover the truth about events during the American Revolution. He covers many of the
legendary stories that have now been considered factual and he traces their roots back to their
beginning. Though these stories were an important foundation in the development of American
patriotism, Raphael stresses that the facts of these legends might have changed throughout the
years after they occurred. His book offers an original perspective of these legends, and
thoroughly highlights the importance of culture in the American society.
Raphael separates his stories under the thematic topics of Heroes and Heroines, David
and Goliath, Wise Men, Doing Battle, Good and Evil, and Happy Endings . He attempts to
uncover the truth about stories that concern the heroes and heroines of the United States, such as
Paul Revere, Molly Pitcher, and Samuel Adams. These influential people are believed to have
lived different lives in reality and played roles in history different from the ones that have been
passed down through generations. In Good and Evil , Raphael draws attention to some stories that
portrayed the reputation of Americans as false. As well, Raphael explains that such stories like
the Battle at Yorktown and the March of the American People were given a more approved
ending in historical records than was actually the case in Happy Endings .