Noah Webster: Man of Many Words

by Catherine Reef

Noah Webster may be best remembered for the enormous and ambitious task of writing his famous dictionary, but for him, this accomplishment was a means to an end. His true goal was to streamline the language spoken in our newly formed country so that it could be used as a force to bring people together and be a source of national pride. Though people laughed at his ideas, Webster never doubted himself. In the end, his so-called foolish notions achieved just what he had hoped.
        Here, in the only account of Noah Webster for teens, the seasoned biographer Catherine Reef guides us through Webster's remarkable life, from boyhood on a Connecticut farm through the fight for American independence to his days as a writer and political activist who greatly influenced our Founding Fathers and the direction of the young United States.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Biography Memoir

224 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2015

About the author

Catherine Reef is the author of more than 35 nonfiction books for young people. Her books for Clarion include the highly acclaimed JOHN STEINBECK and SIGMUND FREUD, which was the recipient of the 2002 Sydney Taylor Award, presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries. She lives in College Park, Maryland.

Reviews

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going in I didn't know much aside from the basics of the life and work Noah Webster, but this incredibly informative and quite accessible as well.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive look at both the man Noah Webster as an individual and his contribution to the building of America by creating a streamlined English language speller, reader, and dictionary that people thought shouldn't exist or couldn't. But in line with Webster's personal story is the story of war, hardship, education, apprenticeship, religion, family, health, and living during a specific time period during the late 1800s.

There are plenty of images to place readers in the time period along with the thoughts and feelings of the time period too. It flows nicely and at times looses focus of Webster himself only to bring it back around again.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie's Picks: NOAH WEBSTER: MAN OF MANY WORDS by Catherine Reef, Clarion, August 2015, 224p., ISBN: 978-0-54412983-2

Hashtag
Selfie
Tweep
Fracking
Steampunk

-- Some of the new words added to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary in 2014

As a young man, Noah Webster did not make friends easily. He had the charm and manners of a cardboard box, and he was so full of himself that the box often seemed on the verge of bursting apart.

But Noah Webster had a potent idea and the determination to make it happen. It resulted in Webster’s having a significant impact on America’s direction.

"Webster saw that something larger...was at stake. It was a point that many people missed. The states needed to back the decisions of Congress--decisions made by their own representatives--if the nation was to function. With thirteen separate states calling the shots, the young republic would soon fall apart. Even if people hated [an enacted law], the states had to endorse it for the good of the country...Concerning a law--any law, 'no matter whether it be right or wrong, in either case it ought to be strictly obeyed, so long as it is law.’ He also said, ‘A refusal to comply with it annihilates our existence as a united body.'"

In NOAH WEBSTER: MAN OF MANY WORDS, we learn that Noah Webster was a federalist, a supporter of a strong federal government (as opposed to those favoring states’ rights). During the Revolutionary War, during the Articles of Confederation era, and then after the U.S. Constitution was ratified by the states, Noah Webster repeatedly pushed for a powerful federal government. He believed that the new nation needed the U.S. government to be strong enough to ensure that the states remained truly united through good times and bad.

The bright idea that Webster brought to the party was that the thirteen states needed to be united by a common American language. He sold this idea to educators and politicians. He spent decade upon decade developing and hawking American spelling and grammar books as he approached his magnum opus--compiling An American Dictionary of the English Language.

Author Catherine Reef makes it is clear that Noah Webster deserves his share of credit for the strong U.S federal government we have today. And this is a good thing.

Think about it. If things had gone differently in Webster's day, and we had not succeeded in creating a strong federal government, we could still see states holding onto segregation laws, anti-gay laws, and sex-based discrimination laws.

We’ve all grown up seeing the name Webster. NOAH WEBSTER: MAN OF MANY WORDS shows us why we should be thankful for the pompous and patriotic guy who lived in the days of the founding fathers and brought us that huge book of words that seems to weigh as much as a concrete block.

Richie Partington, MLIS
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[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catherine Reef's latest biography for kids is all about Noah Webster, sort of. The book is technically sound and more or less interesting while also being well researched. There is a more than adequate selection of source materials in the biography for further reading while also having notes so one knows when and where things are attributable. The real issue is that the focus of the book is as much on the events surrounding Webster's life as it is about his life. The American Revolution could have been a totally separate book based on how often if comes up compared to Webster's early-ish days. Yes, it's important for creating context, but at times Webster's masterpiece, the dictionary, is almost an afterthought even with the final chapters focusing more on how it finally was finished. Man of Many Words has an issue of focus but if you're looking to know more about Webster it's still easy to digest and works as a good starting point for middle grade readers.

Note: ARC received via Amazon Vine in exchange for review.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent biography from the always reliable Catherine Reef. An engaging, informative, and insightful portrait of the outspoken, opinionated, and occasionally imperious champion of copyright law, lexicographer, and shaper of the American English language.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography of Noah Webster, a man of all sorts of jobs including writing an iconic dictionary, aimed at the middle grades and teen crowd.

Noah Webster was a rather complex individual. In some ways, he was admirable for his perseverance and sticking to his convictions despite what others thought. In other ways, he was a bit flighty, irresponsible, and only survived through the grace of his friends and family. Everyone recognizes Webster's name for the dictionary, but I didn't know he also wrote things on yellow fever and political matters of his time. A very interesting read, regardless of how your feelings fall about the man. Also an interesting look at the young U.S. and early Yale. Reef obviously did an extensive amount of research for this book. She incorporates a lot of primary materials throughout. The illustrations are also mostly from or of that time period and are woven in just about every other page. An excellently put together biography.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Wars and deaths in them are mentioned, but the goriest descriptions are reserved to deaths from yellow fever. Even those are just a brief part of the book.

[Irenka Ni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the life of Noah Webster the founder of the Webster Dictionary,in increndible detail and it is very organized. This book talks about his early life to people thinking his ideas as crazy. In the end, it shows how much Webster accomplished. This book shows his impact on the lives on the people during his time. The people that used to insult him have now gone to praise him.His dictionary was not only for himself, it was a gift to America. Not only did he make the first dictionary, his also fixed the bible. A wonderful book about a wonderful person.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

...It is said that he who define the terms, controls the debate. Webster looked to the bible to define those things that matter most and to God to define the debate. I am grateful that Webster's 1828 has a prominent place in my home. It is an integral part of our study of the scriptures and the history of the founding of the United States.

https://loveboxes.blogspot.com/

[Haley Shumway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because my son is writing a report on Noah Webster. This book had so much information about him and just an amazing amount of history. The back of the book shows where all the research came from as well as their being pictures of his actually writing in it. Highly recommend for people interested in history

[Cala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Begins with a great overview of the American Revolutionary era with an emphasis on Noah Webster's life. Turns to focus more on his life, education, travels, writing, struggles, etc. Nicely done. I don't know the recommended age range, but I think jr. high and sr. high (and adults!) could learn a lot from this book.

[SBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this, thinking it was a picture book (in fact, it's a quite dense non-fiction for children). Really well written and researched, but I only got through the first chapter.

[Emily Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Noah Webster" is a biography of Noah Webster for teenagers. The author told about Noah Webster's life, but she also explained enough about what was going on at the time that someone unfamiliar with it can understand how Webster's actions met a need and impacted the country.

Webster had political opinions and tried to influence people to support a strong Federal government through his writings. But he also loved words, and he wrote educational material (a speller, reader, etc.) before he wrote a dictionary. It was interesting to learn the political and social backdrop behind things we take for granted today, like how spellings differ between American and British English.

There were some illustrations of people, events, and books mentioned in the text. The book moved quickly and kept things interesting, which should appeal to teens. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting biography to those interested in history and words.

I received this review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a completely fascinating book, partially because I had no idea that Noah Webster was involved in, and had written, so much more than the dictionary (although it does make sense). This biography is very well written and engaging, perfectly geared for the older elementary and middle school students it's geared towards. There are pictures included, but to be honest, I barely noticed them because I was so interested in the story of Noah Webster's life. After I finished I had to flip through again in order to look at them. I learned so much about Noah Webster that I can't help but recommend this book- especially to any child who thinks they might want to write- Noah certainly did and he didn't let any hardship get in his way.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-researched biography of Noah Webster. Gives context of the American Revolution that was going on while Noah was trying to get his degree at Yale, and then the arguments over the forming of the Constitution. Lots of black and white illustrations throughout the book. Has good sources, citations and index.

[Andréa]

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher.

[Silea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clunky presentation may work for concrete-minded youths, but Webster seemed to be the vehicle for exploring his place and time, rather than the actual topic of the book.