Review: Sons of Liberty

I couldn't help myself. Just when I thought I was done with the American Revolution, I helped myself to one more 1770s miniseries. I set aside a few hours for Sons of Liberty, a three-episode offering currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. I'm glad that I did.

Though the series, which debuted on the History Channel in 2015, takes some liberties with the historical record, it is compelling. Ben Barnes, who plays the Yankee firebrand Samuel Adams, stars in the production, which covers the turbulent years between 1765 and 1776, when America's festering dispute with Britain turned into a bloody war.

To be sure, Sons of Liberty does not rise to the level of TURN: Washington's Spies or John Adams, which I reviewed on this blog and consider television treasures, but it does entertain. It captures the uncertainty, tension, and nervous energy that ran through both Boston and Philadelphia on the eve of the lengthy rebellion.

I liked the story, the special effects, and especially the acting. Barnes is superb as the daring Sam Adams, while Henry Thomas and Rafe Spall are solid as the more cautious John Adams and John Hancock. Marton Csokas is a believably cruel British General Thomas Gage.

The series drifts at times. It suggests that the Boston Tea Party occurred in full view of the British and that Margaret Gage, the general's wife, had a fling with Dr. Joseph Warren and warned patriots of the march on Concord and Lexington. The record is much less clear.

Even so, I enjoyed the production. I would recommend it to any television viewer who loves suspense, action, and history, particularly the period leading up to the American Revolution. Rating: 4/5.

Credit: The public domain image of "The Boston Massacre," an event portrayed in Sons of Liberty, is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

In search of snow and surf

Everyone has a happy place. For some, it is a cabin in the country. For others, it is a beach or a mountain trail or a tranquil lake. For all, it is a venue that lends itself to relaxation, reflection, and enjoyment.

I have two happy places: Chico Hot Springs, Montana, and Coronado, California. By coincidence, I visited both during the holiday break.

I went to Chico first. Five months after visiting the Montana retreat on a nine-state vacation last summer, I made good on a vow to spend my 64th birthday at the alpine getaway. I got the notion after hearing "When I'm Sixty-Four" by the Beatles play on a radio. When my wife, Cheryl, agreed to the idea, we immediately booked a return trip.

For those who don't know, Chico is a full-service resort built around a historic 125-year-old lodge in the Paradise Valley, the one of Yellowstone fame. I've been smitten with the place since I attended library conferences there every October in the early 2000s.

Last week, I visited Chico for the first time in winter. And though I missed the fall foliage, the crisp autumn air, and working with peers, I didn't miss out on much else. Chico, unlike much of the rapidly changing state of Montana, has retained its Old West charm. It is as appealing as ever.

Some come for the scenic setting, 30 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. Others come for the locally sourced cuisine, the walkable grounds, or the lively saloon. Most, if not all, come for the thermal pools, which sit exactly a mile above sea level. I came for all of them.

Coronado was just as enjoyable. Though it was night-and-day different with sea breezes, palm trees, and long, sandy beaches, it was still a perfect place to relax and recharge. It was also a last chance to see my Marine officer son, daughter-in-law, and one-year-old granddaughter before they shipped out to Hawaii for a three-year assignment.

As visitors to San Diego know, Coronado is a Navy town. It is home to Naval Air Station North Island and five thousand active duty military personnel. It is also home to art galleries, quirky shops, parks, and the Hotel del Coronado, a gabled, turreted colossus built in 1888.

For those reasons and more, I used Coronado as the primary setting in Crown City and a secondary setting in The Memory Tree and Caitlin's Song. It is a venue that lends itself to endless possibilities.

Chico and Coronado gave me the opportunity to see things I rarely see anymore — snow and surf. Both places offered a pleasant change of pace for someone who lives in the middle of the Mojave Desert.

I don't know when I will return to either escape. Chico is nearly 900 miles from Las Vegas, Coronado more than 300. Other destinations are higher on my travel priority list. But I will inevitably return to both. That's the thing about happy places. They keep calling you back.