Ben Edwards is the author of One April in Boston: The Gift of the Spyglass. The children’s book, written for ages 10-13, teaches American history, the power of imagination, and the value of goal setting. Set in Colonial Boston, the story follows Ben’s actual ancestors as they experience the events of Paul Revere’s Ride and the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Shortly after the Declaration of Independence is read in Boston on July 18, 1776, the story transports readers into the future with fascinating and moving connections to the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and World War I.
The newly revised second edition (2015) eBook contains 46 original pen and ink illustrations created by Cortney Skinner and additional content not found in the earlier print edition. It is available for Free at the iTunes Store and will be available at the Amazon Kindle Store soon.
Ben Edwards has been a private tour guide in Boston since 2004. He has taught the American Revolution to thousands of students through school author visits and private guided walking tours of Boston’s Freedom Trail. Over the past decade, hundreds of groups from across the United States and visitors from around the globe have taken Ben Edwards’ Walking Boston private tour. Ben founded Teach History in 2015 with the goal of developing new and exciting products for educators across the country that would help them engage and inspire their students. These products not only make learning fun but help students focus more on what is being taught and increase retention.
Ben’s passion for history comes from a very personal connection. Four generations of his Edwards ancestors lived in Boston from 1700 to 1852. In April 1775 his fourth great grandfather, Benjamin Edwards, was a 10-year-old orphan living just down the street from Christ Church (Old North Church) when two signal lanterns were shown from its steeple and Paul Revere made his midnight ride. Ben lived with his uncle, a member of the Sons of Liberty, and toward the end of the American Revolution his older sister Sally Edwards married silversmith Paul Revere Jr., firstborn son of the famous patriot.
Ben Edwards has been a resident of Boston for 15 years. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Paul Revere Memorial Association since 1999. When he’s not giving tours or developing products for Teach History, Ben is busy following the goal setting advice outlined in his children’s book as he pitches One April in Boston: The Gift of the Spyglass as a feature film or made-for-TV movie. You can learn more about that project here.
Note: The photo at the top of this page shows Ben at Copp’s Hill Burying Ground in Boston’s North End next to the marker of his Edwards ancestors. This is a replacement marker the family installed in 1998. This photo shows a young Ben and his father at this same location next to the original marker.
Ben Edwards can be reached by email with questions and inquiries.