And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz

Often I turn up surprises and of course I pass these on.' It is her penchant for making distant historical figures seem real that brings the characters to life and makes the biographies entertaining, informative, and filled with natural child appeal.Īn original and lively thinker, as well as an inspiration to children and adults, Jean Fritz is undeniably a master of her craft.

'Once my character and I have reached an understanding,' she explains, 'then I begin the detective work-reading old books, old letters, old newspapers, and visiting the places where my subject lived. In her role as biographer, Jean Fritz attempts to uncover the adventures and personalities behind each character she researches. Since then, her refreshingly informal historical biographies for children have been widely acclaimed as 'unconventional,' 'good-humored,' 'witty,' 'irrepressible,' and 'extraordinary.' Generally people don't bother to speak to me unless there's a good chance that I'll take them on.' Throughout almost four decades of writing about history, Jean Fritz has taken on plenty of people, starting with George Washington in The Cabin Faced West (1958). A character in history will suddenly step right out of the past and demand a book. 'The question I am most often asked,' Jean Fritz says, 'is how do I find my ideas? The answer is: I don't.

And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz