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As a child, Michael Gorton was the poor kid next door who had a dream and was willing to work to achieve that dream. He grew up in a lower middle class family but his parents and four siblings taught him to set goals and stay persistent. While working full time, he earned degrees in Physics, Engineering and Law. After working 12 yrs in corporate America, he is now an entrepreneur who has founded 8 companies. Most prominently: TelaDoc, now the world’s largest telemedicine company.
Forefathers & Founding Fathers is Michael’s 5th novel. The first four: USSA, Lex Talionis, Tachyon Tunnel, and Born Again American were all written for fun with the intent of giving to a small group of friends and family, although Born Again American took on a life of its own. The initial goal with Forefathers, was similar - to just give to friends & family, but while researching, Gorton realized this was an important and unknown story that needed to be told. Forefathers has begun with remarkable success and positive feedback.
Michael is a runner who has completed 18 marathons, a black belt in Kenpo karate, and mountain climber. He and his family are currently climbing the highest points of elevation in the fifty states. They have 38 done.
Michael is an 11th generation descendant of one of the founders of the Rhode Island colony: Samuel Gorton. His lineage is: Michael, Everett (dad), DeForest, Dayton, Guy, Oliver, Amos, Benjamin, Samuel, Samuel, Samuel.
Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite
Forefathers & Founding Fathers by Michael Gorton takes us back in time to the early days of the colonies, but first the story starts in London. Samuel meets Mary, a woman who is highly educated, and they go through a life that is nothing short of a grand adventure. A couple who went to the fledgling colonies and suggested to the people there the basic rights and freedoms that we now all hold dear. However, they were not met with smiling, happy, patriotic faces, but were beaten and even sentenced to death for trying to change the way things were. Change and democracy did not come easy to this great nation, and it did not start with the wonderful founding fathers like Jefferson - the seed was planted much earlier in unfriendly soil.
Diving into this book was like diving into a favorite time period for me. I love everything to do with the American Revolution and that includes the many years before our founding to what happened in the early colonies. This book may be a work of fiction, but it is rich with true historical detail. I found it the perfect blend of fiction and real history, and loved every page of it. Samuel and Mary are characters you can't help but feel drawn to. They believe in the democracy that we, as Americans, have come to hold dear in the modern age. You may even find yourself getting angry at how they are treated, if you are like me and passionate about our history. The bottom line is: whether you know the history or whether you just want an entertaining read, this book ticks all the right boxes. It is enjoyable, rich, well paced, and historical. I would highly recommend it.
