Signing Their Rights Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the United States Constitution

(Paperback)

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With their book Signing Their Lives Away, Denise Kiernan and Joseph D'Agnese introduced readers to the 56 statesmen (and occasional scoundrels!) who signed the Declaration of Independence. Now they've turned their attention to the 39 men who met in the summer of 1787 and put their names to the U.S. Constitution. An entertaining and essential collection of stories about the surprising and strange fates of the thirty-nine statesmen who created the U.S. Constitution. Remember when our elected officials knew how to compromise Here are short, irreverent, fun, and fact-filled biographies of the 39 men who set aside their differences and signed their names to the U.S. Constitution-the oldest written constitution of any nation in the world. You'll meet- . The Signer Who Believed in Aliens . The Signer Who Was Shot in the Stomach . The Signer Who Went Bankrupt . The Peg-Legged Signer . And many more colorful colonists! Complete with portraits of every signatory,Signing Their Rights Awayprovides an entertaining and enlightening narrativefor students, history buffs, politicos, andHamiltonfans alike.

Reviews

[The authors]...maintain a refreshing reverence for the Constitution itself. Rather than ask readers to believe that an assembly of demigods (Jefferson's words) wrote the Constitution, Ms. Kiernan and Mr. DAgnese challenge the notion that the group that crafted this document of enduring genius was uniquely brilliant or visionary. If this raises the question of how exactly the miracle was accomplished, it should at least give readers some hope for our own seemingly uninspired political era.The Wall Street Journal

This is both educational and entertaining.Booklist

Kiernan and D'Agnese, who also wroteSigning their Lives Away, have provided another volume that should appeal to all political and history buffs.McClatchy Newspapers

This little book is entertaining, easy to read, and above all, informative. Its a brilliant piece of work and a must-have for any history-buffs library...PoliticusUSA

An extraordinarily fascinating study of America's lesser-known founding fathers alongside the more well-known ones.Midwest Book Review(Reviewers Choice)

Its no secret that I love reading history and occasionally a book comes along that provides an unusual insight beyond the standard telling of a given event.Signing Their Rights Away....is a truly fascinating story that puts their achievement in perspective.Bookviews

Kiernan and DAgnese make boththis period and the men who pulledoff this incredible achievementexciting and entertaining...This isexceptional historical reportingthat is informative, enlightening,and accessible. Anyone with even aremote interest in our richnational history should purchase this highlyrecommended book.Larry Cox,King Features Syndicate

Entertainingly written.School Library Journal, starred review

Author Bio

Denise Kiernanis a journalist, producer, and theNew York Timesbest-selling author of the narrative nonfiction books,The Last CastleandThe Girls of Atomic City.Joseph D'Agneseis a journalist, author and ghostwriter who has written for both adults and children. With his wife, Denise Kiernan, he has authored several books on U.S. history, includingSigning Their Lives Away,Signing Their Rights Away, andStuff Every American Should Know. They live in North Carolina.