First published 2016
Franklin Pierce enters the world on November 23, 1804, in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, amid a landscape that has shaped remarkable Americans. Hawthorne traces Pierce's origins in a county that produced Revolutionary War hero General Stark, the victor of Bennington, and political giants like Daniel Webster and Levi Woodbury. The narrative places Pierce within this constellation of distinguished figures, including jurist Jeremiah Smith, who served as state governor, military leaders General James Miller and General McNeil, and Senator Atherton. Through Pierce's early years, Hawthorne examines how this corner of New England forged the character of men who would leave their mark on the nation. The story reveals how geography and community shaped Pierce's development, showing the forces that molded a future president within the broader tapestry of New Hampshire's most influential sons.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, american, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, historical-figures
Setting: Hillsborough, New Hampshire, Bennington
Period: November 23, 1804, Early 19th Century
196 pages · Paperback · Createspace Independent Publishing Platform