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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Recommend the most accurate book on the American Revolution.

Posted: 10/29/2012 10:34:18 PM EDT

Any recommendations for a good book on the Revolution?

Thanks

Posted: 10/29/2012 11:07:37 PM EDT

[#1]

Well, to cover the beginning of it, Paul Revere's Ride by David Hackett Fischer

Posted: 10/30/2012 12:28:05 AM EDT

[#2]

Anything by David McCullough. The man writes a hell of a book.

Posted: 10/31/2012 8:05:36 AM EDT

[#3]

American Insurgents, American Patriots: The Revolution of the People

It's an insightful history, but very dry.

Posted: 10/31/2012 8:09:51 AM EDT

[#4]

I enjoyed this one . . .

http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-Men-Started-American-Revolution/dp/B001GVJBZC

Posted: 10/31/2012 8:22:09 AM EDT

[#5]

First post n all blah blah blah......

If your looking for something with a more of a first hand account, "Raise To Rebellion" ( everything leading up to the signing of the Deceleration of Independence) and "The Glorious Cause" ( everything from post signing to Independence) both written by Jeff Shaara.

Posted: 11/4/2012 2:59:14 PM EDT

[#6]

Diary of the American War by Johann von Ewald. Von Ewald led a jaeger company and his is one of the best books I've ever come across. You can find used copies on Amazon. Snatch it up. It's been out of print for years.

Posted: 11/8/2012 11:19:18 PM EDT

[#7]

I have a book I'll try to locate. Written by an Englishman and while you may not agree with his conclusions it did make interesting reading.

Posted: 11/10/2012 8:18:44 AM EDT

[#8]

To All Sportsman by George Hanger?
Simcoe's book?
Tarleton's book?

Posted: 11/17/2012 8:05:42 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Anything by David McCullough. The man writes a hell of a book.

1776 is a great book by the guy. I have the Illustrated edition full of maps, letters and other cool odds and ends.

Posted: 11/17/2012 10:08:36 PM EDT

[#10]

Thanks for the replies.

I'll check them out.

Posted: 11/25/2012 7:23:31 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Anything by David McCullough. The man writes a hell of a book.

+1

and

A History Of The American Revolution

Posted: 11/29/2012 12:09:33 AM EDT

[#12]

I enjoyed Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis. Very good compilation.

Posted: 1/11/2013 8:41:45 PM EDT

[#13]

"Almost a Miracle" by Ferling is really good. True to the title, we came so close to losing it's frightening.

Posted: 1/25/2013 6:30:19 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Anything by David McCullough. The man writes a hell of a book.

I agree, can't go wrong with McCullough. I just finished reading his book: "1776"

Very good reading; McCullough's writing style plays out like a movie in your mind's eye as you're reading it.

Posted: 1/25/2013 6:32:41 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Anything by David McCullough. The man writes a hell of a book.

I agree, can't go wrong with McCullough. I just finished reading his book: "1776"

Very good reading; McCullough's writing style plays out like a movie in your mind's eye as you're reading it.

Posted: 1/25/2013 8:55:56 PM EDT

[#16]

I would like to ask a somewhat self-serving clarifying question. Do any of these books deal with the CAUSES of the Revolution, or are they primarily the war itself?

I have a paper to write, and I want it to be flag wavin' and gun totin', but don't have time to read as much as I would like/admittedly should.

Posted: 1/26/2013 9:00:05 PM EDT

[#17]

Hackett Fischer goes into some detail about the Stamp Act, Tea tax, coercive acts, Boston Massacre, martial law, etc.

The Americans played a masterful game regards to public opinion. The rule on April 19, 1775 was "Do not fire first," and after April 19, they dispatched a fast schooner to London, so their version of the events of April 19 were printed and shaping public opinion in London long before General/Governor Gage's official report made it to London.

One of my favorite quotes from Paul Revere's Ride:

"Young man, what we meant in going for those Redcoats was this: we had
always governed ourselves and we always meant to. They didn't mean we
should."

Capt Levi Preston, 91 years old, interviewed many years later about why he fought the Redcoats on April 19, 1775

Quoted:

I would like to ask a somewhat self-serving clarifying question. Do any of these books deal with the CAUSES of the Revolution, or are they primarily the war itself?

I have a paper to write, and I want it to be flag wavin' and gun totin', but don't have time to read as much as I would like/admittedly should.

Posted: 2/5/2013 5:20:07 PM EDT

[#18]

I'll be getting this one soon: A narrative of a revolutionary soldier

Posted: 2/5/2013 8:23:43 PM EDT

[#19]

Thanks for the responses.

Posted: 4/18/2014 8:02:28 PM EDT

[#20]

Some older readings can be of value:

First, volume 1, of many, of the actual diplomatic notes sent during the revolution:

Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol 1

A British perspective, volume 1 of 6:

The American Revolution, by Sir George Trevelyan

From 1822, volume 1:

A History of the American Revolution

Naval history of the revolution, vol 1, from 1913:

A Naval History of the American Revolution

1891 view of the revolution:

The American Revolution, by Fiske

Posted: 4/23/2014 7:05:56 AM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:

I would like to ask a somewhat self-serving clarifying question. Do any of these books deal with the CAUSES of the Revolution, or are they primarily the war itself?

I have a paper to write, and I want it to be flag wavin' and gun totin', but don't have time to read as much as I would like/admittedly should.

View Quote

Patriots, deals with what led up to the war..

Almost a Miracle is a good one on the military aspects.

First Salute does a good job dealing with the dutch who were the first nation to recognize the US as a country and helped (loans) finance the war. But does not go into great detail on the root causes.

Unlike others I am not a big fan of 1776 or the author.

Posted: 4/24/2014 12:44:02 AM EDT

[#22]

If you want a very good but hardly read/known book, Diary of the American War by Johann von Ewald. von Ewald was a jager captain who fought throughout the war. He was later made a general in Europe.

The translator did make one mistake when he wrote of the American riflemen, "they can easily bring a folded bayonet off their feet." It took me years to figure out what it meant and I had to get the original diary entry. Even then, I had to find a German who can understand it as it is archaic German. Simply, what it was suppose to read is, "a bayonet charge brings them quickly to their feet."

Posted: 5/7/2014 4:01:59 PM EDT

[#23]

"George Washington's War" by Leitke

I enjoyed it. I read "1776" after Leitke and found for the most part that it was superficial. Almost like McCullough sourced Leitke.