Normally we review places of interest, restaurants, hotels and give tips on what 2 do along the New England Coast however taking a different turn I will dedicate some "web space" to a book recently published by Connecticut's own M.William Phelps known more for his crime novels Phelps took on a somewhat misunderstood and unknown (other than by name) American patriot named Nathan Hale.

There has not been a serious undertaking of Nathan Hale in nearly 100 years. There have been pamphlets, footnotes and short stories but no one has evaluated and delved so much into Nathan in as mentioned 100 years. Phelps has taken this task on and has given this american the "great" and "hero" status that he truly deserves. From his childhood to affections for friends, life and the opposite sex Phelps adds a tremendous amount of "color" to the story of Nathan Hale and the fever that was rampaging through New England at the time of the American Revolution.

The story began quite "softly" not slowly but soft... in a way that I wanted and expected more. Arriving at Chapter 2 I was hooked as Phelps painted a picture of the man, his life and family that I nor many others have ever heard before. Based on letters with classmates and family members, his own diary and stories told by others Phelps is able to paint a picture giving the reader a personal view of Nathan Hale. Toward the end of his writing I felt compelled to hope for Nathan's escape to freedom, one that never came and this even though I had already known the outcome. In brief the book is a great story of one of our great hero's "just doing his job" that should receive just due and accolades and should become required reading for all students not just in history but in general education.

After having completed this book I know await the big screen adaptation which is planned for 2009-2010 and I look forward to seeing and hearing more of Nathan Hale and M.William Phelps.

In the mean time... there are places which tell of Nathan's story... the Hale Homestead in Coventry, Connecticut is one and gives the visitor a look at his family and espcially his brother Enoch (oft mentioned in the book) also Haddam where the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse is located. The New London "union" schoolhouse is being relocated to a new Nathan Hale park where a new statue of Nathan is being crafted, however one can view the schoolhouse in downtown New London as well as his friend Timothy Green's Printing Studio on State Street, The Richard Douglass House (his friend) on Green Street.

Please contact your local bookdealer or click on: http://www.mwilliamphelps.com/ 

 (Mr.Phelps)