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The Remarkable Cause: A Novel of James Lovell and the Crucible of the Revolution Paperback – February 23, 2021

by Jean C. O'Connor (Author)
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 14 ratings
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James Lovell desperately wants to help the American cause, but alone in a cold, dark cell in the Boston Stone Jail, his dreams seem a faint illusion.

In icy March winds, pounded by the Americans’ cannon, General Howe evacuates British troops and Loyalists from Boston. James Lovell is forced into a ship bound for Halifax, while his father and family take passage for the British stronghold in the ship’s upper berth. In jail in Halifax, James can only write letters and pray for release, hoping General George Washington will hear his appeal.

In The Remarkable Cause, experience conflict and courage in the roots of the American Revolution:
  • protests over the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts
  • hanging in effigy, tar and feathering
  • tension of the Boston Massacre trials
  • troops charging Bunker Hill
  • dreadful conditions in British jails for James and his fellow prisoners
  • the strength of a friend, Ethan Allen of the Green Mountain Boys
  • James’s passion for his family, in his own words


Jean C. O’Connor, a high school English teacher for over thirty years, researched this story using letters, journals, and documents written by James Lovell and his contemporaries. Inspired by a few sentences in her grandmother’s journal, Jean discovered details of that time far away—yet still relevant. Images from early newspapers and pictures enliven the narrative’s pages.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Knox Press
  4. Publication date
    February 23, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1682619478
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1682619476
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I enjoyed the characters and historical accuracy of the story. You've made the events 'come alive' through your excellent writing. Through the descriptive language, I could see, hear, and feel the excitement and tension of the era." -- Beverly Ann Chin, Ph.D., Past President, National Council of Teachers of English, Chair, Department of English, the University of Montana

"The Remarkable Cause by Jean O'Connor is a highly readable account of Boston Latin School alumnus and teacher James Lovell. O'Connor captures the world of James Lovell, including the political turmoil; young readers will effectively experience the challenging times in which he lived." -- Malcolm Flynn, Historian, Assistant Head Master Emeritus, Boston Latin School

"A splendid book that truly brings to life our rich heritage of liberty—all the more poignant as we commemorate these historic events year-by-year on the way to celebrating the 2026 formal Semiquincentennial of these United States of America." -- Jane Lee Hamman, Montana State DAR Regent 2016-2019, sponsor of a revolutionary ancestor on Pathway of the Patriots

"The Remarkable Cause: A Novel of James Lovell and the Crucible of the American Revolution has all the makings of a classic that can stand with Johnny Tremain and The Fifth of March. Jean C. O'Connor's dramatic chronicle of the events leading to the Revolution in Boston not only shows how each event impacted the colonial society, but also demonstrates the fact that the American Revolution was very much a civil war. Sometimes families were torn apart by the events taking place around them. The story of James Lovell will entertain and inform readers of all ages. Students and teachers will also benefit from the accompanying website that contains curricular materials to delve into the history of James Lovell's world." -- Timothy Symington, Professor at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA and contributing writer for the "Journal of the American Revolution"

"In her novel, The Remarkable Cause, Jean C. O'Connor uses Boston and a true historical character (James Lovell) to explore the many layers of America's revolutionary experience. Through sympathetic, memorable characters, the book illuminates the painful conflicts among American loyalists and patriots that tore apart many families and neighbors, along with the intrigue, fighting, idealism, and suffering that comes with the well-known curse of living in 'interesting times.'" -- David O. Stewart, author of "George Washington: The Political Rise of America's Founding Father" (nonfiction), and "The Wars and Wives of the Hessian Sergeant," a forthcoming novel of 18th-century New England

"In The Remarkable Cause, Jean C. O'Connor brings to life the story of James Lovell in the tumult of revolutionary Boston. But this is more than the story of virtuous patriots confronting malevolent stories, as O'Connor shows us the nuanced and conflicted relationships among family members on different sides of the conflict. James Lovell and his father, both teachers at Boston Latin, the nation's oldest school, both left their home town with the British Evacuation on March 17, 1776—the father as an exile, James, the son, as a prisoner of war. We meet other members of the family—sister Elizabeth, who flirts with a British officer to secure an appointment for brother Benjamin, who orders the wrong sized cannon balls, and see how this remarkable cause strained family ties in the creation of a new nation. This is a well-known story told through the fresh eyes of men and women who lived through and helped to shape it." -- Robert J. Allison, Professor of History, Suffolk University, author of "The American Revolution, a Concise History"

"In descriptive, fast-paced chapters, O'Connor successfully takes readers on a journey back to colonial Boston, exploring the celebrated revolutionary events that ultimately led to American Independence, while vividly highlighting the often less remembered harrowing realities...the Siege of Boston, prisoners of war, and how the Cause divided families on both sides of the political divide." -- Christian Di Spigna, author of "Founding Martyr: Life and Death of Dr. Joseph Warren, the American Revolution's Lost Hero

"Brimming with rich historical details, and pulsing with the spirit of the Revolution, Jean O'Connor's The Remarkable Cause does justice to a forgotten American hero, while deftly portraying the years leading up to the Revolution, including tensions between loyalists and patriots, conflicts between citizens and British troops, and anxieties within families, as the path to war became inevitable. A hugely enjoyable novel." -- Nina Sankovitch, author of "American Rebels: How the Hancock, Adams, and Quincy Families Fanned the Flames of Revolution"

About the Author

Growing up in New England, Jean C. O’Connor developed a fascination with the American history evident in so many landmarks there. Her grandmother’s house in Andover, Massachusetts, has a historic plaque by the front door; the Marquis de Lafayette made a speech from its steps when he came to visit the new United States following the Revolutionary War. Her enjoyment of history as well as literature led to a teaching career of thirty-seven years in Montana, particularly in Helena, the capital. She is passionate about meaningful learning experiences for students, and about working with teachers. Her work with the state teachers’ association led to her receiving the Montana Association of Teachers of English Language Arts Distinguished Educator Award. As an educator, she received the NCTE High School Teacher of Excellence Award 2018, one of only fourteen teachers in the country. A few lines in her grandmother’s journal inspired her interest in the story that forms the basis for The Remarkable Cause: A Novel of James Lovell and the Crucible of the Revolution.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knox Press (February 23, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1682619478
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1682619476
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 14 ratings

About the author

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Jean O'Connor

Jean O'Connor

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Growing up in New England, Jean C. O’Connor developed a fascination with the American history evident in so many landmarks there. Her grandmother’s house in Andover, Massachusetts, has a historic plaque by the front door; the Marquis de Lafayette made a speech from its steps when he came to visit the new United States following the Revolutionary War. Her enjoyment of history as well as literature led to a teaching career of thirty-seven years in Montana, particularly in Helena, the capital. She is passionate about meaningful learning experiences for students and about working with teachers. Her work with the state teachers’ association led to her receiving the Montana Association of Teachers of English Language Arts Distinguished Educator Award. As an educator, she received the NCTE High School Teacher of Excellence Award 2018, one of only fourteen teachers in the country. A few lines in her grandmother’s journal inspired her interest in the story that forms the basis for The Remarkable Cause: A Novel of James Lovell and the Crucible of the Revolution.

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
14 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

GuitarPlayer
5.0 out of 5 stars Notes on The Remarkable Cause by Jean C. O’Conner
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
Jean O’Conner’ s brave foray into the Revolutionary War is a skillfully written book filled with information, details and carefully researched facts of history surrounding the Lovell family, the Boston Latin School the oldest school on the United States, and, of course vital military figures such as George Washington, Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold, General Howel and others.
But the best part is, this book is not only full of good, well-researched information, it is so well structured that you really fell that you are right there in the middle of 18 century America learning about daily life, the chores they did, the food they ate , the lack thereof and the perils of living under an empire and a king like the British and being involved in a war against such a powerful adversary on your own soil… not 3,000 or more miles away. And the Americans (Ethan Allen & Benedict Arnold with the help of Bookseller Henry Knox) moved cannon from Lake Champlain and moved them south to Dorchester Height to repel British ships sailing into Boston Harbor. No wimps here!! James Lovell survived prison to attend the First Continental Congress where he was active in founding our government.

This book I believe is a very powerful educational tool for use on schools and in libraries because it interesting, engaging and easily read by 9-year-olds on up to an adult level. Jean O’Conner has created a great, readable book which I enjoyed and I hope all of you readers will too!

Susan C. Johnston
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Monica MacAdams
5.0 out of 5 stars An instructive and fun read!
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
Speaking for myself at least, many Americans think we "know" about the causes of American Revolution, but much is buried in a combination of slogans and generalities: "No taxation without representation," etc. Jean O'Connor's book brings the underlying conflicts and events to light in a form that is instructive, without being pedantic, by focusing on the experiences of James Lovell, a teacher at the Boston Latin School (who ultimately served in the Second Continental Congress) and his family. While some of the details are fictionalized, the people and events are real, and the result is a book offering a lively and very readable "primer" for anyone interested in learning more about the Revolution. I would particularly recommend it to HS history teachers seeking to offer their students a good introduction to the subject...but it's also a perfect "summer read" for everyone before the fireworks explode on the 4th of July!
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Grenouille
5.0 out of 5 stars Breathes Life into History
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2021
Verified Purchase
The Remarkable Cause begins for me as family history I learned from my mother and grandparents, letters and book. Jean O'Connor took her own family connection and wove a story of these real people and the times to create a vivid account of a most remarkable time. For me especially, finding out more about James Lovell and what happened to his family and siblings after the war filled in the narrative. I now have a book for my children and grandchild which tells the story of our connection to the Revolution.
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Kelly S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great History Lesson
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2021
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I really enjoyed this book. I am not always the biggest fan of historical books, but the author did a great job bringing the characters to life while telling the compelling story of Mr. Lovell. I can't begin to imagine how many hundreds of hours were spent on research. I also felt that the pictures and artifacts included in the book were a nice addition. I highly recommend this book.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars amazing historical fiction
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2021
Verified Purchase
This book is extremely well-researched and paints a very realistic picture of the American Revolution. It truly brings this era to life for the reader. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about U.S. history. Jean O'Connor is a very talented writer. I hope to see more from her in the future.
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Henry Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars Could NOT put this book down!
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2021
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Historical events capture my attention! I was absorbed in this book right away and found myself returning to the book time and time again! Want a great SUMMER read? Grab it while you can! Thank you Jean for your work and attention to detail! It shows!
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Uncle Fester
5.0 out of 5 stars Not a dry history lesson!
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2021
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Governments, patriots, revolutionaries: brave men and women made decisions and took action to follow their beliefs. This story recounts early American history as it happened to one family whose members were split on opposing sides. Facts and fiction are woven together splendidly!
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JO
5.0 out of 5 stars Author reviews The Remarkable Cause
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2021
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Fascinating story, based on primary source research. Disclosure: I am the author. Recommended!
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