GREENFIELD — Residents are invited to the Greenfield Public Library to learn about the legend of Paul Revere and his 1775 ride warning Massachusetts colonists that the British were coming.

The library will welcome author Kostya Kennedy to discuss his book, “The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America” on Monday, April 7, at 6 p.m.

The book marks the 250th anniversary of Revere’s ride and explores the lesser-known details of the historic event. For example, many may not know that Revere had completed 18 rides across the New England colonies to spread awareness of British movements, or that Revere actually worked with a team of riders who faced near-disasters and capture by the British in their efforts to spark a revolution.

“It was incredibly dangerous. They were trying to pull off this incredibly audacious feat of resistance and pushing out the British,” Kennedy said. “If he hadn’t done what he did, the whole shape of the [American] Revolution would have been different. I doubt July 4, 1776 would still be our Independence Day.”

Kennedy said his book does not explore the entire life of Revere, or the American Revolution as a whole. Rather, it looks specifically at Revere’s rides and the impact those actions had on Revere and the war for independence.

“It’s not meant to be a holistic picture of Paul Revere,” Kennedy clarified. “I’m a journalist, so I approached it journalistically.”

Kennedy has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, and has written for The New York Times, TIME, FiveThirtyEight and The New Yorker. He has also written several books exploring the lives and careers of baseball players Jackie Robinson, Pete Rose and Joe DiMaggio.

“I love baseball, but it’s also about the social contexts of the time,” Kennedy said. “I’ve never viewed my books as sports books; they’re about human beings.”

Kennedy said his books draw on his background as a journalist, as he investigates not only an event or person, but the social context of the time period and locations that would have impacted that individual. He added that pivoting from athletes to historical figures such as Revere felt natural, and that much of his research process was the same.

While conducting research for “The Ride,” Kennedy reviewed historical documents including newspapers, letters and diaries, not only belonging to Revere and those close to him, but of everyday citizens who lived in the colonies in the years leading up to the American Revolution.

He also met with Revere’s descendants, traveled along the route Revere took on his ride and even climbed to the top of the Old North Church belfry in Boston, where lanterns were hung to alert the community that the British were on the move.

“It was terrifying for me. I’m afraid of heights,” Kennedy joked.

Kennedy said he may read from some sections of his book at the library event, but he prefers interactive sessions with engaged audiences.

“I could talk for a long time, but I think it’s better when people ask questions and challenge what I write,” he said.

The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, Colrain’s Griswold Memorial Library and Montague Public Libraries.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.