1776: America and Britain at War

I feel that I should start with this disclaimer, I bought this book because I knew very little about America’s revolution and war of independence, and so wanted a primer in order to fill in a somewhat embarrassing knowledge gap. So with that out of the way, as someone who knew very little about 1776, this book is exceptional. It has to be one of the most accessible and interesting history books that I have ever read, and is done so in a story like style, so it is very easy to hold your interest. Most of the book centres around George Washington, however, not to a limiting degree and it provides insights into a wide range of key players around the conflict and realities of 1776 life. This book I would say is very much a generalist one, it doesn’t really specialise in any one aspect of 1776 and goes just enough depth to get you to know a little about a lot. I would say, if you are looking for a general book on the American Revolution and a good, easy read this book is definitely for you as a primer to the subject. That said, if you are more of a history buff and know the subject in more detail, I feel this book may be too general (if still a fantastic read).

This is an easy to read account of the events of one year in the American War of Independence and as such it fulfils its aims quite admirably. McCullough is well-known as a narrator on numerous historical television documentaries and he brings that ease of storytelling and description to bear in his own writing; this is an unfussy narrative occasionally quoting letters, personal accounts and other relevant sources in order to provide a pretty vivid snapshot of a fairly momentous year which saw Washington's first efforts as military leader, the British strategic withdrawal from Boston - only to reappear off New York in greater numbers, and the Declaration of Independence, which effectively meant there was no going back for those engaged in the rebellion. McCullough is refreshingly even-handed in his approach, neither demonising the British nor adopting the over-reverential treatment of Washington some American historians can/have be guilty of; it provides a much more human perspective and a more considered, better balanced viewpoint of events; patiently revealing the rather complex social and political positions of both the Americans and the British; a context often distorted or misrepresented by more partisan historical commentators. A little knowledge of the period is advisable, but on the whole I consider this to be a book almost anyone could pick up, read and enjoy, providing an instructive and rewarding portal into this period and topic of history.

I loved this book. Due to my ignorance of this period of history I had very little idea of how the major engagements would play out. As a result I was thoroughly gripped by the action and it's affect on the people involved. It was well researched, well paced and contained many first-hand accounts from the diseased and filthy soldier right up to the slightly less diseased and filthy Generals. This all adds up to a book that reads more like a novel than a dry, historical text. I would also say that it seems like a balanced account of both the events and notable characters. It was so good that I have just purchased two more from Mr McCullough.

Brilliantly written, bringing to life the reality of the war. The book shows what a close call the war really was and what a huge effort the crown made, especially from the naval perspective. Washington was lucky, he had a rag bag army but he did have unity of command. It was a riveting read, competing with any work of fiction. One of the best historical accounts of warfare I have ever read. 1776 was an epic year in the history of the western world and the book is a work of genius. This is how history should be told - a masterpiece.

Bought from used items. Perfect

This is not a history of the entire course of the Revolutionary War between Britain and America - as the title suggests, it's the history of one year in that war, 1776, the year of the Declaration of Independence. I must confess that I know very little about the American Revolution - it's never been a period I've paid much attention to. But this book is exceptionally well-written, lively and interesting, and it really brings to light just how close the whole Revolution came to failure. It's an especially good portrayal of George Washington - stripping away the myth and the hagiography, portraying him 'warts and all'. Even though the war itself went on for another six years it was in 1776 that it could all have ended, had it not been for Washington and his small army, and what could be considered the turning point of the whole war, the Crossing of the Delaware and the battle at Trenton. An excellent book, well-worth reading.

You cannot get better than this. Historical story-telling at it's superlative best - if every bit of our past were to be told as well, then historical books would dominate the best seller lists. Alas not many historians have this ability resulting in most works being so colourless and 'dry' and really only suitable for student dissertations, that they remain gathering dust in reference libraries everywhere. David McCullough has the amazing gift of placing his reader in a comfortable armchair amidst the events unfolding in his books thus creating almost a 3D view of great historical events. I only wish he would write about the other years of the War of Independence.

The books is written as a historical novel and is entirely focused on a series of events in 1776. No broader setting is given (a thorough introduction on the histories leading up to 1776 would be nice). The book in my view lacks true and comprehensive historical frame and is more an entertaining writing on the way the 'Americans' under the lead of George Washington went through hardships etc. Definitely biased. As for the physical quality of the book: not great, my version in the end fell apart.

Quelle aventure : une armée qui n’en est pas une victorieuse à deux reprises d’un adversaire puissant et bien organisé. Et un chef qui, malgré quelques indécisions, remporte les victoires décisives. Dommage que le livre s’arrête avant la bataille de Yorktown.

With these haunting words of Thomas Paine, the author begins a chapter on the darkest moments of the Revolution, the freezing and shattered Continental Army falling back toward Philadelphia, the obvious next step in the British re conquest of its errant colonies. The reader is drawn in by the masterful story telling, almost suspending memory about the ultimate outcome to fully plumb the gravity of the impending failure. It is particularly startling when that rarest of authors has you hanging on every turn of the page while reading about events whose outcome you already know. Mr McCullough is indeed one if these one-in-a-generation historians. In the US, we all read about George Washington, more a caricature than a flesh and bones man. What you don't get (and what McCullough so eloquently conveys), is that he and his rebels, far from being desperate men and women living deprived lives and driven to revolution out of few options, were instead people who were for the most part living very comfortable existences but nonetheless risked absolutely everything in this mad, quixotic venture. The acute awareness of this greater Cause pervaded the thoughts and writings of its leaders, and they thus fought a battle for the posterity of all humanity, not just themselves. It is refreshing in our jaded, post-religious age of the West to see people thoroughly convinced of their Providential role in improving Mankind's lot. It is also stunning to read how the entire venture might have turned on small events such as freak weather (fog in August shrouding all of Brooklyn as the bulk of the Continental Army retreated across the East River back to Manhattan in daylight but out of sight of the British--living in NY City, I've experienced this perhaps twice in half a century) or the inspiration for an unheard of winter attack across a frozen river against war-hardened professional Hessian mercenaries at Trenton, conceived of as the army was on the brink of collapse but an action which abruptly halted the perpetual retreat against overwhelmingly superior forces. You get a complex picture of Washington who, while expressing terrible misgivings to family back home, never, ever let on about such doubts to those around him. In spite of the back-stabbing amongst his subordinates (always at the worst possible moments), the utter absence of experienced soldiery and perpetual shortages of everything, Washington's cool, undaunting persistence drives others around him. His boldest moves were often conceived of at the darkest hours. He also comes across as a commander who actually learned from errors, sought advice regularly and deferred to it when the compelling argument was made. He seems indifferent to personal dangers; on horseback in the thick of battles, personally reconnoitering the front or with the rear of the column as the enemy is in hot pursuit). Not surprising then is the hagiography arising after his death and despite being possessed of a remote persona (? by design). I recommend it to anyone who needs reminding what exceptional people founded the US on the enduring principles of individual liberty, freedom of conscience, the redeeming virtue of personal merit and inviolability of constitutional rule of Law. And despite its founding flaws, America thus inspired much of humanity across three centuries.

Es historia pero se lee como una novela. El autor consigue mantener un ritmo narrativo que no desfallece a lo largo de la exposición de los sucesos históricos del año crucial de la Revolución Americana.

Gran libro relacionado con la Historia de EUA. Llegó rápido y en excelente estado. gracias

Lots of interesting facts about first year of American Revolution. Very readable.