Boston, 1776: A Rogue Tour of Revolution City

by J.D. Dickey

In Boston, 1776, author J. D. Dickey leads us through the turbulent streets, tub-thumping taverns, and radical strongholds of a town at war with an empire. Far from the powdered wigs and genteel debates of history textbooks, this book guides us through the real Boston of the American frenzied, dangerous, and fiercely alive.

Join the crowds in taprooms where rebel plots were hatched. Stand with patriots as they sharpen bayonets on Bunker Hill, and watch as Loyalists get tarred and feathered. Drink the rum made on the town docks, sample the sinful in the city's back alleys, and gaze at John Hancock's mansion gleaming above gritty streets filled with the almshouse, workhouse, and jail.

From the harbor wharves and seedy brothels to renowned assembly halls like Old South Meetinghouse and Faneuil Hall, Boston, 1776 leads us on a vivid tour of the vital hub of the Revolutionary War. We encounter iconic names like Revere and Adams, but also the forgotten men and women who bled and brawled for freedom in every corner of Boston.

Upon America's 250th anniversary, Boston, 1776 portrays the Cradle of Liberty and the American Revolution as never raw, radical, and roaring with life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American Revolution, American Revolutionary War

320 pages, Hardcover

Published February 24, 2026

About the author

J.D. Dickey is a writer of narrative nonfiction about American history, society and culture. He has also written articles on a broad range of historical, political and travel-related topics for newspapers and magazines, and appeared in media from C-SPAN's Book TV to PBS NewsHour to Public Radio International's program The Takeaway. In support of his work, he has lectured for the New York Historical Society, the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, the Atlanta History Center, and the U.S. Army War College, among other organizations. In addition to his nonfiction work, he has penned short stories for print and the web, and has presented short films and videos at such venues as the Williamsburg Film Festival, Magnolia Film Festival, Palm Springs Film Festival and Market, and Los Angeles Festival of Film and Technology.

Reviews

[Paige Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would have learned so much more in high school if textbooks were written this way

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget the sanitized version of the era of the American Revolution we were taught in school. This is Boston, 1776, in all it's raw grit, determination, grime, shady characters in back alleys, and often seedy chaos. Small, only slightly more than a square mile at the time, by 1776 it had lost much of its status in commerce and trade while dealing with contagious diseases like smallpox, unemployment, street brawls, rabble rousers, and increasingly loud grumbling about what it saw as an unfair burden and treatment from it's British overseers. Toss in England's own increasing financial woes and it was a powder keg ready to explode.

And, explode it did. The history shared here of the goings on leading to the outburst of outright rebellion is a fascinating one. Forget any idea you have of genteel, learned gentlemen in fancy wigs having learned discussion and debate. While that certainly happened, real change came from the people. Common people just like us. It was interesting to sort of flip back and forth as I read, something the author actually recommends upfront, once you get into the guidebook of sorts to Boston's historic sites and see the mutiple, frequently interconnected events and feelings that lead them there. The Old North Church may be a familiar landmark to most of us thanks to our schooldays but this one takes us far, far deeper into the city. Into those same seedy taverns and the growing desperation that lead to the Old North Church's utilization in the first place.

Needless to say, familiar names from those same history classes pop in and out of the narrative but the focus remains the city itself. It was interesting to see some of those now familiar names in a different light, I must admit. For instance, rich John Hancock of the flashy Declaration of Independence signature a smuggler? Maybe. You'll also see various legislative acts whose names once occupied out minds at least long enough for an exam such as the Stamp and Townshend Acts, the symbolically nicknamed Intolerable Acts, and such, but you'll have a much greater grasp of what lead to them and the colonists' reactions in the first place.

Bottom line, the ol' history major thoroughly enjoyed my virtual trip not just to the Boston of 1776 but to the events that created the setting for the rebellion that has so shaped the world. It's all there with illustrations, maps, and such for you to read and digest. Change isn't pretty. Nor is it easy. I recommend this one to history teachers, of course, but it would make an excellent addition to not just your local library's shelves but your own. Thanks #DiverionBooks and #NetGalley for this intriguing look at where we came from.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Diversion Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have a category for Revolutionary War books that I read, and I really think more Americans should do so. Then, we wouldn’t have all these people saying wE aRe A cHrIsTiAn NaTiOn, or some other nonsense that the Heritage Foundation spews. Boston 1776 is a great book that examines how Boston was laid out as a city during the early years of the war; they were the heart of the American Revolution.

As the reader strolls through 1776 Boston, the author introduces the nameless people who kept the city running during this tumultuous time, the people who kept the docks and general store and the taverns running. Oh, sure, some of the big-name people that we remember in the history books appear, but they are not the focus, and that’s refreshing. The author also shows in many ways that the birth of our nation was not foretold, that it was not inevitable, and was just as violent as and confusing and messy as any other war in history.

JD Dickey has written the book in a way that brings the reader into the heart of the city in an immersive way. I highly recommend this book.

[Michael Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty interesting look at the real Boston of 1776. Author JD Dickey pulls back the curtain to reveal what Boston was really like in 1776. Sure some of the prominent figures of the time show up, but it's mostly focuses on the city itself, and the every day people that keep it running. Tense, chaotic, hopeful, worried. Those describe Boston of 1776.
A wonderful insight into how Boston actually looked and how it felt in such a pivotal moment for American history.

[Bibliohiker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was an interesting read on how life was back then; even though it was simpler, it was much harder. It tells what happened in Boston during the turbulent times that America was wanting to break free from British rule. I like how it’s an insider’s look at Boston as if he is on a walking tour. If you’re into American history, this is a good read.