1776 by David McCullough
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.47 You Save: $8.53 (47%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.00 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of 1776
Book Review: 1776 Indeed
Summary: 4 Stars
David McCullough's book is a very readable account of the military campaigns of that fateful year in American history. He describes rebel soldiers dressed in rags and British soldiers looking sharp and well-rested. British generals are seen as capable but arrogant, not even bothering to learn about General Washington or solicit intelligence about the rebel plans. The portraits of the commanding American generals; Washington, Green, Knox and Lee are also persuasive. In particular, McCullough does a real service to Washington making him come alive as a person; capable of errors of judgment and impulsive behavior but much more frequently a man of natural command, great heart and perseverance.
Unlike McCullough's massive biographies of Adams and Truman, this book is limited in scope. It doesn't deal with the Revolutionary war just the battles from the fateful year. It also doesn't deal with the political issues raging during 1776. McCullough mentions how King George had pushed the notion that the Americans were fighting for independence before that was accepted by the Americans and then mentions almost in passing the Declaration of Independence signed months later. What happened in those months to shift opinion from fighting within the British system for British rights towards fighting for a completely distinct set of rights as American citizens? This is outside the scope of the book. But for me, why choose 1776 as the year to track the military battles if it is not because of the significance of the break between the colonies and Britain? While there were stirring, important battles, I'm not convinced after reading the book that any of them marked a true turning point in the war. The Americans and British didn't sign a treaty until 1783, seven years later.
The other issue that gets raised in passing but never dealt with directly is that of the social context. One question I had was whether loyalists became British troop or whether the soldiers all came from Britain. Along those same lines, how did the colonialists breakdown in terms of their loyalties? Were New Englanders more devoted to the rebel cause? Virginia? Was it not a question of colonies but of status that determined one's loyalties? How did that aspect of the struggle play out? Both in terms of Boston and New York, McCullough mentions significant number of loyalists. In Boston many of them returned by ship with the British army. In New York, while the rebels were fortifying the town, many of the citizens were loyalists. So the British when they took it over, were surrounded by sympathizers. How did the civilian population so naturally torn by their sympathies to both sides, play into the military campaigns?
Finally, I was looking for a book that defined the year more broadly than just by its military actions but by the political and social events that transformed the American cause from one of a rebellion against onerous taxation to one of fighting for liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I think McCullough missed an opportunity by not delving deeper into the political and social currents of that fateful year that did so much to forge our American identity.
Book Review: More, please.
Summary: 4 Stars
I found the book a let down, it didn't have the detail I needed for such a short period of the war. Then it didn't go any where, just stopped at what he thought was a convenient place I guess. The material was fascinating and presented well it just left me with a big let down. I find McCullough's books rather on again off again, some of them a fine read and some hard to get through, not sure what that is. I really wanted to read John Adams but couldn't get very far after several attempts. Adams being the one person for which this country has the most to thank. He hand picked both Washington and Jefferson for their respective rolls and gave up a lucrative law practice to serve his country or what would be his country and ours. 1776 really should have been a trilogy with more content than 1776 in each volume. Having said all of that I did enjoy the book and found it well written but for the afore mentioned draw backs.
Now I am not sure where to got next. If you have some ideas on how to finish out the war and add to this work please email me at barrym@tds.net.
Thanks,
Barry
Book Review: Incredible!!! Bestseller!!! Award Winner!!! Need I say more!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
1776 is one great read,one of the greatest books ever!!! A bestselling award winning classic!!! Truly recommended!!! A+Book Review: Must have
Summary: 5 Stars
Excellent book. For a guy who has a tough time following American Revolution material, this one kept my attention for the duration. Very interesting take on a true David vs. Goliath tale that I think much of our country's population really knows little about. Haven't read much about the Revolution since school but this served as a bit of a refresher and much more. Looking forward to moving on to McCullough's John Adams....Book Review: A master historian
Summary: 5 Stars
"Real" historians likely have their noses in the air about Mr. McCullough, and this may be a good indication to recommend it to readers - "1776" is readable and enjoyable as a story in itself!
Buy or borrow this book. David McCullough takes information from many references, especially various letters written by participants of the American Revolution in the year 1776, and blends them into a sequence that would befit a movie. Maybe it will be someday, and it should be at least as engrossing as the book. The reader will notice that almost all of the action and narrative turn out to be depressingly bad times for the young American pre-republic. Nevertheless, you keep reading, knowing that SOMETHING good is going to happen to all those long-suffering patriots. Indeed it does. The year 1776 proves to be a good choice of year to write about. Not only was that the year of the Declaration of Independence, but militarily it was "bookended" with two favorable events accomplished by the rebel army: the taking of Dorchester Heights, then Boston by default in early 1776; then the defeat of the Hessian brigade at Trenton in December 1776. In that long, agonizing middle between these events the army suffered bitter defeats and horrendous suffering.
The author very skillfully describes these sufferings, but always points out the near-miraculous things that seem to bridge the army temporarily from bad to bad, keeping them around to fight another day. More important, he demonstrates that these "bridge" events would have been meaningless had not the army, and specifically George Washington and other leaders, not had the insight and the perseverance to immediately take advantage of them. The hauling of cannon by Henry Knox's men to Boston is one example. The freakish weather in the retreat from Long Island, and for the attack at Trenton are others. These are fabulous models of character by many, many people.
At the end, McCullough hints that the rebel army at last began looking like what would soon be called the Continental Army. Very appropriate, very optimistic and satisfying conclusion to the book. Pick up a copy.