Boston, 1776
COMING FEBRUARY 24, 2026
from Diversion Books
What was Boston really like in 1776? In this all-access tour of the hometown of the American Revolution, you can experience the chaos, courage, and color of the uprising while meeting those who led the fight in the War of Independence. But it’s no conventional history or dry textbook—instead, it’s a travel guide to the revolution that puts you face to face with the statesmen and the militants, the taverns and battlefields, and the docks and streets where the conflict with Great Britain started in the 1760s and developed into war just a decade later. Published in honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary, this is an unexpected view of American history and an essential guide to help you explore our nation’s tumultuous origins.
Check out my recent comments on the status of DC governance and policing in history, in light of current events and in reference to my book Empire of Mud.
Pegasus Books, March 2022
“The Republic of Violence is a page-turning history of a particularly turbulent period within the American experiment.…Dickey’s engaging tale demonstrates that many of the questions, issues, and dramas faced by the fledging abolitionists have echoes in our own time.”
—Daniel N. Gullotta, Law and Liberty
Booklist: “Renowned historian Dickey’s fascinating history reminds readers how crucial social movements take extreme courage, persistence, and adaptability.”
Kirkus Reviews: “A fascinating look at a slice of history that may be unfamiliar to many general readers.”
Washington Independent Review of Books: “A propulsive account of anti-slavery crusaders in the early 19th century…[he] brings the narrative vividly to life.”
Publishers Weekly: “An accessible and enlightening chronicle of a tumultuous period in American history.”
Previous Media
Articles
“On the Forgotten Voices of the Abolition Movement” —Literary Hub, March 3, 2022
“The Tormented Rise of Abolition in 1830s America” —TIME, March 1, 2022
“Five Best: J.D. Dickey on Books About American Preachers” —Wall Street Journal, November 5, 2019
Podcasts + presentations
“On the Republic of Violence” —Point of the Spear, April 12, 2022
“The Abolition Movement of the 1830s” —Unsung History, April 11, 2022
“The Tormented Rise of Abolition in Andrew Jackson’s America” —Age of Jackson, March 10, 2022
“J.D. Dickey on Rising in Flames” —C-SPAN, July 25, 2018
Pegasus Books, November 2019
