Our readers are avid consumers of history, continually hunting for the next great book about the Revolutionary War. And there’s no shortage of options. Amazon alone sells more than 12,000 books categorized as “Revolution and Founding.” With so many choices, where does any student of the Revolution begin? Which tomes are the most credible for their impeccable research and unbiased scrutiny of the era?
As editors of Journal of the American Revolution, we read and sample a lot of history books. We also schmooze with many early American historians and subject matter experts, who have strong book opinions and recommendations. From our years of publishing, writing, reading, researching, interviewing and gabbing, we’ve compiled a list of what we consider to be the best American Revolution books of all time. Ok, maybe not of all time, but certainly our time. And this is arguably the most exciting time in history for history.
Modern technology has made an unprecedented amount of primary source material conveniently available to researchers, thus improving the depth, breadth and accuracy of information being published. So, it’s no surprise that many books on this list were published in the last two decades.
While we originally set out to identify the top 100 American Revolution books, we will undoubtedly add more to this list over time. Groundbreaking work is being published with greater frequency than ever and there may be titles that we missed (let us know which ones you think we missed in the comments). That said, while the headline will remain the same, you will count more than 100 books and that tally will certainly grow in the years ahead.
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To make the list more manageable, we split the books into five broad categories, which we’ve sorted by our recommended reading order:
- Start with some all-in-one books to gain a broad-brush understanding of the era, its timeline, its challenges and its characters. You’ll also pick up a strong synthesis of cultural, economic and political analysis.
- Learn the origins and causes of the Revolution. How did a small regional rebellion escalate into a widespread revolution? What were the key inputs and influences?
- Next, meet the people—individuals and groups—who made the Revolution; what were their motivations, their inspirations and so forth. It’s important to observe the Revolution from many perspectives.
- Fully understand the politics of the revolution, locally, nationally and globally. A lot of political ground is covered in the other four categories and volumes dedicated to this topic are not as prevalent as biographies or battle books, so naturally this section is lighter than others. If you want, save the post-war political books for later. We’ve highlighted a few of those below, but there are many other excellent Constitution and Federal period books to consider beyond this list.
- Finally, more than just strategy and tactics, appreciate what all participants sacrificed by understanding the conflict and war, from small skirmishes and large campaigns to bloody massacres and epic battle scenes.
Reading through our book list will inevitably invite a variety of curiosities. We encourage you to keep a tablet or computer close by with allthingsliberty.com pre-loaded on your browser so you can quickly search our archives for additional background and narratives on newly discovered people, places and events. With more than 1000 articles published since 2013, Journal of the American Revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the era. Plus, our content is conveniently categorized in similar buckets of people, politics, culture, economics, conflict & war and critical thinking.
The best books under each sub-section below are listed alphabetically by title. And in most cases we’ve included the original publisher and publication year even though a more recent paperback or reprint edition is available. Be sure to leave a comment with your favorite American Revolution history book as well as anything you think we missed or got right. Cheers to fascinating American Revolution history and happy reading!
All-in-one
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- Almost a Miracle: The American Victory in the War of Independence by John Ferling (Oxford University Press, 2007)
- The American Revolution: A History by Gordon S. Wood (Modern Library, 2002)
- The American Revolution in Its Political and Military Aspects, 1763-1783 by Eric Robson (W. W. Norton, 1966)
- American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750-1804 by Alan Taylor (W. W. Norton, 2016)
- Angel in the Whirlwind: The Triumph of the American Revolution by Benson Bobrick (Simon & Schuster, 1997)
- The Birth of the Republic, 1763-89 by Edmund Morgan (University of Chicago Press, 1956)
- Founders: The People Who Brought You a Nation by Ray Raphael (The New Press, 2009)
- A History of the American Revolution by John R. Alden (Knopf, 1969)
- Journal of the American Revolution, Annual Volume 2015, 2016, 2017 by Various (Westholme Publishing)
- The Radicalism of the American Revolution by Gordon S. Wood (Knopf, 1991)
- Rebels and Redcoats: The American Revolution Through the Eyes of Those That Fought and Lived It by George F. Scheer and Hugh F. Rankin (Da Capo Press, 1987)
- Reporting the Revolutionary War: Before It Was History, It Was News by Todd Andrlik (Sourcebooks, 2012)
- Spirit of Seventy-six: The Story of the American Revolution as told by Participants by Henry Commanger and Richard Morris (The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1958)
- The War for America, 1775-1783 by Piers Mackesy (Harvard University Press, 1964)
Origins
- The Colonial Merchants and the American Revolution, 1763-1776 by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr. (Columbia University, 1917)
- An Empire on the Edge: How Britain Came to Fight America by Nick Bunker (Knopf, 2014)
- First American Revolution: Before Lexington and Concord by Ray Raphael (The New Press, 2002)
- From Resistance to Revolution: Colonial Radicals and the Development of American Opposition to Britain, 1765-1776 by Pauline Maier (Knopf, 1973)
- Ideological Origins of the American Revolution by Bernard Bailyn (Harvard University Press, 1967)
- The Marketplace of Revolution: How Consumer Politics Shaped American Independence by T. H. Breen (Oxford University Press, 2004)
- Prelude to Independence: The Newspaper War on Britain, 1764-1776 by Arthur M. Schlesinger (Knopf, 1958)
- The Spirit of ’74: How the American Revolution Began by Ray Raphael and Marie Raphael (The New Press, 2015)
- The Stamp Act Crisis: Prologue to Revolution by Edmund Morgan and Helen Morgan (The University of North Carolina Press, 1953)
- The Urban Crucible: The Northern Seaports and the Origins of the American Revolution by Gary B. Nash (Harvard University Press, 1979)
People
- Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (The Penguin Press, 2004)
- American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph Ellis (Knopf, 1996)
- The American Revolution in Indian Country: Crisis and Diversity in Native American Communities by Colin G. Calloway (Cambridge University Press, 1995)
- Becoming Men of Consequence: Youth and Military Service in the Revolutionary War by John A. Ruddiman (University of Virginia Press, 2014)
- Belonging to the Army: Camp Followers and Community During the American Revolution by Holly Mayer (University of South Carolina Press, 1996)
- Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary Hero: An American Warrior Reconsidered by James Kirby Martin (NYU Press, 1997)
- Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson (Simon & Schuster, 2004)
- Black Patriots and Loyalists: Fighting for Emancipation in the War for Independence by Alan Gilbert (University of Chicago Press, 2012)
- British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution by Don N. Hagist (Westholme Publishing, 2012)
- Brothers at Arms: American Independence and the Men of France and Spain Who Saved It by Larrie D. Ferreiro (Knopf, 2016)
- Dangerous Guests: Enemy Captives and Revolutionary Communities During the War for Independence by Ken Miller (Cornell University Press, 2014)
- The Drillmaster of Valley Forge: The Baron de Steuben and the Making of the American Army by Paul Lockhart (Smithsonian Books, 2008)
- A Few Bloody Noses: The Realities and Mythologies of the American Revolution by Robert Harvey (The Overlook Press, 2002)
- The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by H. W. Brands (Doubleday, 2000)
- First Entrepreneur: How George Washington Built His—and the Nation’s—Prosperity by Edward G. Lengel (De Capo Press, 2016)
- Forgotten Allies: The Oneida Indians and the American Revolution by Joseph T. Glatthaar and James Kirby Martin (Hill and Wang, 2006)
- Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph Ellis (Knopf, 2000)
- The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed (W. W. Norton, 2009)
- Independence Lost: Lives on the Edge of the American Revolution by Kathleen DuVal (Random House, 2015)
- Inventing Ethan Allen by John J. Duffy and H. Nicholas Muller III (UPNE, 2014)
- The Iroquois in the American Revolution by Barbara Graymont (Syracuse University Press, 1972)
- John Adams by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster, 2002)
- Liberty’s Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World by Maya Jasanoff (Alfred A. Knopf, 2011)
- Masquerade: The Life and Times of Deborah Sampson, Continental Soldier by Alfred F. Young (Knopf, 2004)
- Memoir of Joseph Plumb Martin (1830; since republished by many)
- The Men Who Lost America: British Leadership, the American Revolution, and the Fate of the Empire by Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy (Yale University Press, 2014)
- The Minutemen and Their World by Robert A. Gross (Hill and Wang, 2001, originally 1981)
- The Minute Men: The First Fight: Myths and Realities of the American Revolution by John R. Galvin (Brassey’s, 1989)
- The Negro in the American Revolution by Benjamin Quarles (The University of North Carolina Press, 1961)
- The Ordeal of Thomas Hutchinson by Bernard Bailyn (Harvard University Press, 1976)
- Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution by A. J. Langguth (Simon & Schuster, 1988)
- Paul Revere and the World He Lived In by Esther Forbes (Houghton Mifflin, 1943; now Mariner Books, 1999)
- Revolutionary Founders: Rebels, Radicals, and Reformers in the Making of the Nation by Alfred F. Young, Gary B. Nash and Ray Raphael (Vintage, 2012)
- Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence by Carol Berkin (Knopf, 2005)
- Rochambeau: America’s Neglected Founding Father by Arnold Whitridge (Collier Books, 1974)
- The Shoemaker and the Tea Party: Memory and the American Revolution by Alfred F. Young (Beacon Press, 1999)
- Washington—A Life by Ron Chernow (Penguin Press, 2010)
- Washington and Hamilton: The Alliance that Forged America by Stephen F. Knott and Tony Williams (Sourcebooks, 2015)
- Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner (Little, Brown and Company, 1974)
- Women of the Republic: Intellect and Ideology in Revolutionary America by Linda K. Kerber (The University of North Carolina Press, 1980)
Politics
- American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence by Pauline Maier (Vintage Books, 1998)
- The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787 by Gordon S. Wood (University of North Carolina Press, 1969)
- An Empire Divided: The American Revolution and the British Caribbean by Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2000)
- The First Congress: How James Madison, George Washington, and a Group of Extraordinary Men Invented the Government by Fergus M. Bordewich (Simon & Schuster, 2016)
- The Founding of a Nation: A History of the American Revolution by Merrill Jensen (Oxford University Press, 1968)
- From Revolution to Reunion: The Reintegration of the South Carolina Loyalists by Rebecca Brannon (University of South Carolina Press, 2016)
- Independence: The Struggle to Set America Free by John Ferling (Bloomsbury Press, 2011)
- The Perils of Peace: America’s Struggle for Survival After Yorktown by Thomas Fleming (Harper Perennial, 2008)
- Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787-1788 by Pauline Maier (Simon & Schuster, 2010)
- Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of Independence by Joseph Ellis (Knopf, 2013)
- The Unknown American Revolution: The Unruly Birth of Democracy and the Struggle to Create America by Gary B. Nash (Viking, 2005)
Conflict & War
- 1776 by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster, 2005)
- 1777: Tipping Point at Saratoga by Dean Snow (Oxford University Press, 2016)
- After Yorktown: The Final Struggle for American Independence by Don Glickstein (Westholme Publishing, 2015)
- The Battle for New York: The City at the Heart of the American Revolution by Barnet Schecter (Penguin Books, 2003)
- The Battle of Hubbardton: The Rear Guard Action that Saved America by Bruce M. Venter (Arcadia Publishing, 2015)
- The Battles of Saratoga by John Elting (Philip Freneau Press, 1977)
- The Burning of His Majesty’s Schooner Gaspee: An Attack on Crown Rule Before the American Revolution by Steven Park (Westholme Publishing, 2016)
- Decisive Day: The Battle for Bunker Hill by Richard M. Ketchum (Doubleday, 1974)
- Defiance of the Patriots: The Boston Tea Party and the Making of America by Benjamin L. Carp (Yale University Press, 2010)
- Devil of a Whipping: The Battle of Cowpens by Lawrence Babit (The University of North Carolina Press, 1998)
- Fatal Sunday: George Washington, the Monmouth Campaign, and the Politics of Battle by Mark Edward Lender and Garry Wheeler Stone (University of Oklahoma Press, 2016)
- George Washington’s Great Gamble: And the Sea Battle that Won the American Revolution by James Nelson (Ragged Mountain Press, 2010)
- Grand Forage 1778: The Battleground Around New York City by Todd W. Braisted (Westholme Publishing, 2016)
- Guns of Independence: The Siege of Yorktown, 1781 by Jerome Green (Savas Beatie, 2009)
- Igniting the American Revolution, 1773-1775 by Derek W. Beck (Sourcebooks, 2016)
- A Naval History of the American Revolution by Gardner Allen (Houghton Mifflin, 1913)
- Paul Revere’s Ride by David Hackett Fischer (Oxford University Press, 1994)
- The Philadelphia Campaign: Volume One and Two by Thomas J. McGuire (Stackpole Books, 2006/2007)
- Revolution on the Hudson: New York City and the Hudson River Valley in the War of American Independence by George C. Daughan (W. W. Norton, 2016)
- The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War by J. L. Bell (Westholme Publishing, 2016)
- The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas by John Buchanan (Wiley, 1999)
- Saratoga: Turning Point of America’s Revolutionary War by Richard M. Ketchum (Henry Holt and Co., 1997)
- Sea of Glory: A Naval History of the American Revolution by Nathan Miller (Naval Institute Press, 1992)
- Secret History of the American Revolution: An Account of the Conspiracies of Benedict Arnold and Numerous Others Drawn from the Secret Service Paper by Carl Van Doren (Viking, 1941)
- The Southern Strategy: Britain’s Conquest of South Carolina and Georgia, 1775-1780 by David Wilson (University of South Carolina Press, 2008)
- The Struggle for Sea Power: A Naval History of the American Revolution by Sam Willis (W. W. Norton, 2016)
- Victory at Yorktown: The Campaign that Won the Revolution by Richard M. Ketchum (Henry Holt and Co., 2004)
- War of American Independence: Military Attitudes, Policies, and Practice, 1763-1789 by Don Higginbotham (Macmilian, 1971)
- Washington’s Crossing by David Hackett Fischer (Oxford University Press, 2004)
- Washington’s Immortals: The Untold Story of an Elite Regiment Who Changed the Course of the Revolution by Patrick K. O’Donnell (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2016)
- Washington’s Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge by Thomas Fleming (Smithsonian Press, 2005)
- Way of the Fox: American Strategy in the War for America, 1775-1783 by Dave Palmer (Praeger, 1975)
- The Winter Soldiers: The Battles for Trenton and Princeton by Richard M. Ketchum (Doubleday, 1973)
- With Musket and Tomahawk, Volume II: The Mohawk Valley Campaign in the Wilderness War of 1777 by Michael O. Logusz (Casemate, 2012)
- With Zeal and With Bayonets Only: The British Army on Campaign in North America, 1775-1783 by Matthew H. Spring (University of Oklahoma Press, 2008)
- Year of the Hangman: George Washington’s Campaign Against the Iroquois by Glenn F. Williams (Westholme Publishing, 2005)
92 Comments
I’d add “The War of American Independence” by Highinbotham 1971.
Fred Anderson, Crucible of War: The Seven Years’ War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766. The Rev War was a direct extension of the 7YW (1754-1763), which was itself a continuation of King George’s War (1740-1748). So, there is at least a twenty year period pre-1775 of scholarship ripe for further inclusion.
So encouraging to find Ferling’s “Almost a Miracle” as the first book listed. I Have been reading this from my local public library.
Fantastic list. I would also include “1775” by Kevin Phillips.
This is excellent, thanks! I’ve been jumping around in my reading and appreciate the recommendations. Just picked up Taylor’s “American Revolutions” – so excited to dig in.
This is a great resource! Saving for my History 111 students who are required to do book reports!
I like the list but what are your thought’s on Barbara Tuchman’s “The First Salute”?
I agree completely. Thank you for mentioning it.
PICTORIAL FIELD BOOK OF THE REVOLUTION, in 2 volumes, by BENSON J. LOSSING. 1850.
This is a great list! For all-in-one though, I really like Robert Middlekauff’s, The Glorious Cause. It’s a well-written, readable–and exhaustive–synthesis. I’ve never found a better one. Thanks for the list!
We love Middlekauff’s Glorious Cause, too, and there is definitely a strong case for it to be included. Have you tried Ferling, Taylor or Bobrick?
I tried Ferling but didn’t find it as engaging as others. Curious what others thought.
To be clear, I mean his “Whirlwind” released recently.
I really like Ferling’s A Leap in the Dark. Good one volume overview. I looked at Whirlwind in the bookstore–it seemed to me like a Reader’s Digest abridged version of his other works.
I have not tried the others. After 20 years, I have finally landed in a school where I can teach a class on the Revolution. I’m really enjoying it and am using Middlekauff to refresh my memory about details I have not been able to teach in survey classes. I’m anxious to do more reading on the subject again so I’ll look forward to reading these books.
Rebels and Redcoats. Not listed. This was my first book at age 12 that gave me a comprehensive view of the American revolution.
Great list! – thanks. I second Mr. Shattuck’s nominations of Fred Anderson’s great books, and would add his The War That Made America (which is a condensed version of Crucible of War). I also want to mention the book that got me “hooked” on American Revolution history at age ten: The American Heritage Book of the Revolution by Bruce Lancaster (used hardcover copies sell for $5.99 via amazon).
I’m surprised Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose didn’t make the list!
More great Am Rev reads specifically about women:
-Defiant Brides: The Untold Story of Two Revolutionary-Era Women and the Radical Men They Married by Nancy Rubin Stuart
-Treacherous Beauty: Peggy Shippen, The Woman Behind Benedict Arnold’s Plot To Betray America by Stephen Case
-Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence by Carol Berkin
Nichole, sorry to ask you but I don’t know how to log into this site to ‘make a comment’. Seems like you have read “Washington’s Spies”. My question is, (if you know) is the accuracy of this book pretty much spot on? I just picked this book from library and I’m watching AMC’s ‘Washington’s Spies, again. I love it.
My next book will be ‘Abraham Woodhull’ ‘The spy named Samuel Culper’ By; Michael Schellhammer. George Washington’s spy ring just fascinates the ‘Ba-Geebees’ out of me. Thank you for your time. I will keep trying to figure out how to log in for comments. Thanks Don Sterner; Hayden lake Idaho…
You can’t do much better than to have this reference list for yourself, teachers, friends and family! It’s excellent!
I would add Michael Harris Brandywine and Saratoga by luzader. Also it is important to have books about what other countries did to help America win independence so I also recommend Spain and the independence of the United states by chavez.
You’re absolutely right, John. Coincidentally, Larrie Ferreiro’s Brothers at Arms, which looks closely at the French and Spanish impact, won our most recent book of the year award. It’s on the list under People, but could easily fit under other categories, too. Thanks for your input!
Surprised to see that John Shy isn’t on here. I would recommend two by him-
Toward Lexington: The Role of the British Army in the Coming of the American Revolution
and A People Numerous and Armed.
Also John Dann The Revolution Remembered: Eyewitness Accounts of the War for Independence
Very surprised that Robert Middlekauff’s “The Glorious Cause” was left off the list!
I’m also disappointed that Middlekauff is not included.
Greetings:
You stipulated that in most cases you included the original publication year even though a more recent reprint was available. That was a major blunder in the case of Benjamin Quarles, The Negro in the American Revolution, 1961, and betrayed the compiler’s lack of familiarity with this subject.
Professor Quarles, an African-American did not think it prudent, in 1961, to discuss the aid given to the British by escaped slaves and refused, later, to revise his book.
But he did agree to a reprint edition in 1996 which included a new Foreword (4 pp.) byThad W. Tate, and a new Introduction (14 pp.) by Gary Nash who did discuss the significant number of slaves who did aid the British.
This 1996 edition was issued by UNC Press, ISBN 0-8078-4603-1.
Sincerely,
William E. Davidson
Potsdam, NY
That is a very interesting backstory, William! Thanks for sharing. I imagine most folks (like us) have the 1996 edition.
Nothing on the Hessians, there are several one volume studies out there. Other authors- Ira Gruber on the Howe Brothers, and his editing of the Peebles diary; Charles Royster’s A Revolutionary People at War.
So, the following are very good.
Almost a Miracle, by John Feeling, Oxford University Press 2009
Liberty’s Exiles by Maya Jasanoff, Knopf, 2011,
The Battle for the Fourteenth Colony, by Mark R. Anderson, University Press of New England 2013,
Tories, Thomas B. Allen, HarperCollins, 2010,
Divided Loyalties, Richard M. Ketchem, Henry Holt 2002
I would humbly suggest Joseph Fischer’s A Well-Executed Failure: the Sullivan Campaign Against the Iroquois by University of South Carolina Press as a good account of what is changing in the Continental Army.
Excellent list. Parallel to Gary Shattuck’s comment about the pre-Revolutionary period (and I would agree with him that Anderson’s book is the best single volume out there on that period), I would add that you could also look the other way and extend the list to the immediate post-revolutionary period Maybe call it the “Constitutional Period” or something similar. I know this gets to be “scope creep”, and the focus of this site is the Revolution itself, but there are some interesting books covering that period that clarify the meaning of the revolution and illustrate the differing interpretations of what it really meant. The period running up to the 1800 election is one of the most contentious periods in our history (almost makes today look tame! Almost.)
Off the top of my head two good ones are “The Age of Federalism” by Stanley Elkins and Eric McKittrick and “American Aurora”, an alternative history by Richard Rosenfeld. I probably have a few others I’d add once I scan my bookshelves. It’s hard to fully understand the Revolution without looking at what happened after, especially immediately after. The popular perception is that “The Founders” were of one mind, though anyone interested enough in the Revolution to be a reader of this site knows that was far from the case. I find those differing interpretations, which still echo through our politics today, to be of as much interest if not more than the Revolution itself.
Great job again and looking forward to see what you add to the list, whether you choose to extend it or not.
Great points, Richard. And I thoroughly endorse your reference to Elkins and McKittrick.
You are also on point with looking forward as well as backwards from the Rev War itself. In historical archaeology, the perspective you refer to is called “bi-directional temporization” – in other words, the rejection of “periodization,” or, the focus on the immediate. Context is everything and events taking place both before and after the war are crucial to gaining a full understanding.
Gary – Thanks for the kind words and for putting a name (“bi-directional temporization”) to the process I was attempting to describe. Being a retired CPA with no formal training in history, I would not have known that one! Putting things in their full context just sounded logical. My only training is from the many shelves of books I’ve read over the years about early America and the Revolution and its aftermath. Despite this, I dream of writing a history book myself about this period. Maybe one of these days! A shorter article on this site would seem like a good place to start, though the people here come up with such good and well-researched articles, it’s a little intimidating to even get started.
Richard,
This is a pretty forgiving group and there is need to feel intimidated. We all started somewhere, so pitch an idea to the editors and they will provide you with helpful suggestions to guide you through the process.
Unless you have had the experience, it is a wonderful thing to get dirty in the archives, to find something that nobody else has thought of and to then let the words flow through your pen (or computer) as you tell the story. The war itself and the years before and after offer many opportunities for study that have never been touched. In fact, just a few weeks ago the NY Supreme Court sent 1,000 boxes of archives dating back to the 1600s from its building in downtown Manhattan to Albany for processing and virtually nobody has ever seen them until now. Crazy to think of that and I cannot wait until they get inventoried and opened up to researchers.
Looking forward to your first article!
Oops, I meant “there is NO need to feel intimidated”
Just got back from the eye guy and am having trouble seeing through dilated pupils.
Gary – Appreciate the encouragement. I’ve got to strike on a good idea to research and then I’ll give it a shot. I’m kind of new to the site – are contributors generally active or retired academics, or is it people from all different sorts of backgrounds? With me being a CPA, maybe my topic can be something to do with Robert Morris and the financing of the Revolution. There had to be some major book juggling going on there!! And Morris ended up on the short end.
Richard,
I’ve asked the editors to give you my email address and we can talk further. Tx.
What about Dr. David Ramsay’s history of the American Revolution? He lived through it and wrote an exhaustive history.
I’m interested in reading about the period right before Lexington & Concord.I specifically want to read personal accounts of the mood and prevailing “air” that undergirded this volatile time. Any recommendations, historians?
Jane,
If you want a raw, blow-by-blow daily account from an important primary source, then I would suggest starting with the Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775: https://archive.org/details/journalsofeachprma00mass
I cannot recommend Robert Gross’ “The Minutemen and Their World” enough. Captures the time and the crisis exceedingly well. Every page seems to shed light on a new facet that led to the outbreak of the war. Good to see it listed here. I also highly recommend David Hackett Fischer’s “Paul Revere’s Ride,” also listed here.
“The Fate of a Nation The American Revolution through contemporary eyes” by William P. Cumming and Hugh Rankin, is a combination of first person accounts and illustrations from the era. Published in 1975, hardcover copies are available from Alibris and Amazon starting at $2.96. The book is 352 pages in length.
Not sure how Charles Royster’s A Revolutionary People at War didn’t make the list. It’s a superlative combination of the social and economic with military history. Readable and solid on every topic.
I’ll second the nomination of John Shy’s A People Numerous and Armed.
While I can’t say that older works are not represented, there are some pretty big gaps in the historiography. Royster, Shy, Ira Gruber, William B. Wilcox, David Syrett, all produced work still worth reading. Royster and Shy in particular helped transform the study of the conflict back in the 1970s and 80s. The list is tilted toward what is still in print, I suppose, which makes sense for a popular audience.
The lovely reality of publishing in the 21st century is that old, even out of print, doesn’t mean searching for Royster, Shy or Gruber in the backs of used bookstores and estate sales, hoping to get lucky. All are available on Amazon, perhaps even on other on-line outlets.
Perhaps a list of solid, timeless classics, or a ‘grab it if you find it’ list?
Thanks for this, absolutely, thanks – it’s a handy, reliable list for reference or referrals.
I’m surprised you think American Sphinx is the best book on Thomas Jefferson. I wonder how many (or how few) Jefferson scholars would agree. Ellis is a fine writer, but even his title suggests he doesn’t really understand Jefferson. What about Dumas Malone and Merrill Peterson?
In addition to Malone or Peterson, I would suggest Jon Meacham’s more recent “Thomas Jefferson – The Art of Power”. Also a favorite for me, though it’s not a straight biography, is Jack Mclaughlin’s “Jefferson and Monticello – The Biography of a Builder”. It looks at Jefferson through the prism of Monticello and I thought offered a lot of interesting insights.
Valiant Ambition is a superb book!!!!
I really loved that one. Evidently Philbrick is writing a trilogy with Bunker Hill, Valiant Ambition and his next book about Yorktown.
Read that recently and would agree it was outstanding. I wasn’t expecting a whole lot new as I was familiar with the basic story, but it was really well-told. I’ve read a lot of Philbrick’s stuff and to me this was his best. I’ll be anxious to see his upcoming Yorktown book.
Agree 100%
Interesting list, I think articles like these are more useful for the conversations they create than an actual status as a “definitive” list. That said, I feel there are a few books that warrant mentioning:
Mark Lender and James Martin’s “A Respectable Army” is a great short volume that provides a clear, concise, academic overview of the war, and its extensive bibliographic essay is truly a definitive list of relevant scholarship.
The social history of the Continental Army has been a major focus of historians in recent decades. Works such as Charles Neimeyer, “America Goes to War,” Caroline Cox, “A Proper Sense of Honor;” or Holly Mayer, “Belonging to the Army;” are all important works. Also, works on war and society, such as Judith van Buskirk, “Generous Enemies;” Sylvia R. Frey “Water From a Rock;” or Wayne Bodle “The Valley Forge Winter,” are also great works in their subfield.
Curiously, there are very few books about women, or by women on the list.
We couldn’t agree more, Steve. The best part about these lists is that they bring out a larger universe of recommendations. In fact, we encourage disagreement and asked our readers to tell us what they think we got right and where they think we missed the target.
This list is our opinion with books that our editorial staff hears mentioned the most, in conversations, in citations, in recommendations, and other contacts that we have. Bear in mind that we don’t keep a strict tabulation on such things, but in our nearly five years of operation we’ve heard a lot of buzz about a lot of books and are simply trying to help readers find new/great material. So, this list reflects those books about which we hear frequent and consistently positive commentary from a wide variety of people. Plus, we gave preference to books that support our mission of approachable, impeccable research advancing the study of the Revolution. There are many excellent books on the fringe of our scope of concentration or pertaining to the time period, but not the specific issues of the Revolution. It’s a fine line, but in order to limit the list, we needed to draw that line.
In terms of diversity, we find it odd that any person would look at a list like this and key in on the gender of the authors. Each person or website, as Ruth shared below, has their own agenda, but we certainly did not compile this list with any gender bias. In fact, now that we look at it, we’d venture to say that our list accurately represents the proportion of books on the subject (and within our selection criteria scope) written by men and women. The pool of books by women to choose from is simply much smaller, and our goal isn’t to include or exclude authors based on gender or any other factor. The same criticism could be given that there are not enough black authors, not enough European authors, not enough Native American authors, not enough young authors, etc. If we tailored the list to represent any aspect of the authors, we’d lose the focus on the actual content of the books.
Thanks again, Steve, for weighing in! And to all our readers, we say tell us more! Your recommendations are just as valid and insightful, and our community is always eager to learn about new books!
As Eastjersey Steve says, “Curiously, there are very few books about women, or by women on the list.”
Food for thought on this blog:
https://historiann.com/2017/03/10/marcia-marcia-marcia-a-member-of-a-monstrous-regiment-of-women-pipes-up-a-tune-smokes-it/
Hi Ruth! Thanks for stopping by and bringing the Historiann article to our attention. It’s strange to be in the crosshairs of such a gender diversity analysis. While we didn’t tailor the list to represent certain author criteria, our quick count shows the list presently features 19 titles that are authored, co-authored or featuring content authored by women. There are several additional books that feature stories about and perspectives of women. I don’t know how one defines “very few,” but this seems like more than a few to us. In fact, as we pointed out in the above response to Eastjersey Steve, we believe our list accurately represents the proportion of books on the subject (and certainly within our selection scope criteria) written by men and women. There are simply fewer books about the Revolution authored by women. But again, our goal was not to include or exclude authors based on gender, or age, race, religion, etc.
Interestingly, the proportion of female authors in our book list is similar to that in our list of contributors. Of 147 JAR writers, 22 are women. Clearly the majority of people writing about this subject are men, but we could easily find other subjects where the majority of authors are women.
Lastly, keep in mind the scope of this list is intended to mirror the scope of our journal, predominantly featuring books that deal with the political and military aspects of the American Revolution, rather than on the time period in general. We love and value the numerous cultural and social histories, but they often extend beyond our scope, such as the three books by women that Historiann suggested.
Bottom line, we love American Revolution books and so does our audience, so we just wanted to help introduce our readers to an exciting library of options based on feedback we’ve been hearing for years. No harm intended. Thanks again for stopping by and we hope you’ll be back!
Thank you for your thoughtful response. I really wasn’t making a value judgement myself but rather was calling your attention to the feedback/criticism of your book list that I had just read on the other blog.
If this list indeed does reflect a close percentage of the available books on the topic of your focus, then I would agree that calling foul by way of gender bias is not appropriate.
I would, however, say that it’s important to think about these things and try to move outside of your comfort zone sometimes. I don’t think anyone would say that you purposefully left female authors and subjects out. You might consider, for instance, expanding your focus to include social history. I admit that when I first encountered your site, I immediately noticed that the vast majority of your contributors are male and I wondered why. Not necessarily a criticism, but an observation.
As part of the growing movement to include women and their very real activities during Am Rev era living history events, it becomes increasingly clear that there’s a lot more to be said and learned about this era than politics and military actions, both of which lean so heavily toward the male experience.
Thanks for listening.
You’re absolutely right, Ruth. We’d love a more diverse roster of writers and enthusiastically welcome all to submit for publication. We don’t recruit authors so our make-up is almost entirely determined by those who discover our site and submit articles for consideration. We reject submissions if they fall too far outside our editorial scope or don’t meet our high research/narrative standards.
That said, if you’re interested in contributing or know any exceptional writers, please send them our way. We’d gladly accept social or cultural histories as long as the primary focus is the American Revolution.
Thanks again for commenting! One of the most rewarding parts of this journal is the conversations that take place after the article. Oh, and if you’re interested, here are a few of our favorite past articles that deal more with the social/cultural side of the Revolution.
+ “Major Andre Popularizes Revolutionary Events” by Michelle Porter
+ “Revolutionary War Olympics: The Games Our Founders Played” by Joshua Shepherd
+ “Society at Auction: Coffee-house Culture in Occupied New York” by Jonathan Bayer
+ “Fever” by Kim Burdick
+ “Domestic Disputes: Public Announcements of Private Affairs” by Don N. Hagist
+ “Top 10 Revolutionary War Newspapers” by Carol Sue Humphrey
+ “How Paul Revere’s Ride was Published and Censored in 1775” by Todd Andrlik
+ “An Elegant Dinner with General Washington at Valley Forge HQ by Nancy K. Loane
+ “Peggy Left the Party, and You Won’t Believe What Happened Next” by Don N. Hagist
+ “Washington’s Five Books” by J. L. Bell
+ “Top 10 Marriages Gone Bad” by Don N. Hagist
+ “William Lee & Oney Judge: A Look at George Washington & Slavery by Mary V. Thompson
+ “Feeding the Slaves” and “Family Dinner” by Lars D. H. Hedbor
+ “The Role of Dancing” by Pamela Murrow
It’s important to note that the Historiann blog’s author said that she isn’t particularly engaged in the Revolution and made few suggestions of her own about how a list like this would be constructed to accommodate historiography. It’s also important to point out that she’s done this before on her blog: pushing all-female book lists and syllabi while publicly attacking other historians when they make their own judgments and choices. She has an ongoing project to solicit syllabi which she can then publicly shame.
There are people who are constructively and generously engaged in this field, and then there are people who are building their personal brands by attacking those scholars. The distinction is worth observing here.
Add COMMON SENSE by Tom Paine and, The Federalist Papers.
I would definitely recommend:
Partisans and Redcoats by Walter Edgar – succinct yet relatively complete history of the war in South Carolina.
Long, Bloody and Obstinate, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse
Hi,,,
One book that I found so enjoyable was this one back in 86 which I have read a couple of times and thought it would be on somebody’s list. It takes place in Boston and other towns from 1773 – 1776 .
Red Dawn at Lexington “If They Mean to Have a War, Let It Begin Here!” by Louis Birmbaum
Hi To All
Not sure if this a “classic” in a way but one book that I found very informative and enjoyable to read (Since I am a New Englander) is one by Lous Birmbaum from 1986 and its
Red Dawn At Lexington “If They Mean to Have a War, Let It Begin Here”
I have read this a few times because it is a great read !!!
Far be it for me to crowd out my own book (After Yorktown) from the list, but in addition to Tuchman’s The First Salute (as a reader mentioned), I’d nominate the only biography ever written about Caty Greene (Nathanael’s wife), “Caty: A Biography of Catharine Littlefield Greene” by John F. Stegeman and Janet A. Stegeman (University of Georgia Press, 1977).
Plus, although it’s not a book, it is the best website about the Revolution, Founders Online, by the National Archives and the University of Virginia Press. Maybe websites are a topic for another article.
How about “The Eyewitness Accounts of the American Revolution.”
While I am impressed with the list of 100 books I was sad to see only a few books on nautical themes. I believe the importance of the Continental navy, the French navy and our 2000 privateers to win the Revolution is overlooked and underappreciated.
Also The Sea of Glory: a Naval history of the American Revolution was placed in “conflict and war” but I believe it deserves to be in “all-in-one”.
What is the difference between John Ferling’s ‘Almost a Miracle’ and ‘Whirlwind’? I’m re-reading ‘Angel in the Whirlwind’ by Bobrick. Thank you.
“Braddock’s Defeat” by David Preston is an excellent book that a good deal about the origins of the Revolutionary War.
Another classic that got me interested in the Revolutionary period is “Johnny Tremain” by Esther Hoskins Forbes. Must have read it ten times when I was in elementary school
When did the war of independence first get described as a revolution? Was it so considered by the people who were engaged in it? Are there any modern students of the period who deny that it was a revolution?
OK, I’ll take a stab at this. Not easy questions to answer holistically.
European political philosophers had discussed the aspects of “revolutionary” governmental change for decades, if not centuries, prior to the American War for Independence (AWI).
The term “revolution” was notably used 80 years before the AWI. The ousting of catholic King James II in 1688-1689, replacing him with the joint protestant monarchy of his daughter Mary and her Dutch husband William of Orange via the method of Dutch military conquering of Scotland, Ireland, followed by key English leadership defections, desertions, capitulations and surrender of the Lords of Parliament (a house stacked by King James II), was called “the Glorious Revolution”. While this action was primarily a regime change– the replacement of one monarch (catholic) with a pair of monarchs (protestant) by military force — as a condition of assuming the throne William and Mary were forced to sign a document called the “Declaration of Rights” (subsequently known as the “Bill of Rights”), which asserted several principles such as the illegality of prerogative suspending and dispensing powers, the prohibition of taxation without parliamentary consent, and the principle of holding regular parliaments. In reality, the “Bill of Rights” placed few real restrictions on the crown. It was not until 1694 that the call for regular parliaments was backed up by the Triennial Act. Following the Triennial Act, Parliament gained powers over taxation, over the royal succession, over appointments and over the right of the crown to wage war independently. However, the “Glorious Revolution” fails in the enlightenment definition of “revolution” because it wasn’t a fundamental change of government: monarchs replaced monarchs. Plus, it failed to limit the power of monarch or parliament through a body of law or enact a constitution applicable to the rights of citizens; no draft of a constitution adopted by the citizens who would be ruled by it. Last, it wasn’t a rising by the people to affect change, but rather a conquest by a foreign military alliance to impose a favorable crown succession. Because of these flaws, the Septennial Act of 1716 was able to effectively undermine the terms of the 1694 Triennial Act, and subsequent abuses of both monarchial and parliamentary power required further adaptations throughout the next centuries.
In the late 17th and early 18th century the political meaning of the term “revolution” began to be more definitively shaped by enlightenment philosophers. The revolutionary nature of the AWI was not simply a regime change, but rather the creation of an entirely new nation and the adoption of a new form of government by that nation. Though the sprawling nature of the American “continental” governate and slow communication made the form of direct democracy envisioned by enlightenment philosophers impractical (Rousseau’s theory of direct democracy), the American republican (representative) democracy met the enlightenment era philosophical definition of “democracy” and was substantively different in both form and execution from the former monarchial-based government; and it was backed by a constitution and code of law at both the state and federal levels.
Though the term “revolution” was better defined by the time of the outbreak of the AWI in 1775, it was not an appropriate term for the AWI until the point at which the colonists determined to change the nature of the conflict from one which sought to preserve their rights as Englishmen to one which sought to establish a new nation under new principles of government. We might argue that an effective “revolution” had already taken place in Massachusetts; since the colonists had created a democratic government which controlled the instruments of power (legislative, legal, executive) throughout the colony to supplant the previous governmental structures which had been suspended (disbanded) by the Crown. Arguably, after the Boston Port Act Massachusetts could have been described as fighting to preserve this newly adopted governmental structure already in place. The same argument arguably applied to Connecticut for an even greater period, since Connecticut had been governed virtually autonomously by a locally elected legislative, executive, and judicial establishment since 24 January 1639; when the delegates from assembled colonial towns adopted the first written constitution in the world composed by those it governed, known as “Fundamental Orders”. However, these two colonies were unique until Crown-appointed governors closed the offices of administration in other colonies and fled the land, being replaced by locally elected legislators, judiciary, and legal officers. The bright line might be considered the Declaration of Independence. Until that time correspondence between the Continental Congress and Britain’s ruler had focused on hope of reconciliation. Thus, the Declaration of Independence serves as that unique moment when the stated intent of the united colonies changed from reconciliation under the British monarch to independent governance of a new nation under democratic principles.
With that as background, you ask whether the American colonists recognized the AWI as “revolutionary” in its own time. The answer is an unqualified “yes”. Many of those we consider “founding fathers” were students of the enlightenment and studied the political and social philosophy espoused by Voltaire, Locke, Rousseau, etc. They were aware of the elements of revolution and used the term in private correspondence long before the advent of open warfare with Britain. But, if we consider the advent of true “revolution” to have occurred at about the time that colonists determined to fight for self rule, then acknowledgement of the AWI as a “revolution” would have had to occur after that moment. It absolutely did, on both sides of the Atlantic and Europe. These are but a very few applicable examples:
– April 1776, William Henry Drayton’s charge to a South Carolina Grand Jury: Carolinians: heretofore you were bound – by the American Revolution you are now free. The change is most important, most honorable, most beneficial… Unexpected, wonderful and rapid Movements, character the British and American Revolutions – They do not appear to have been premeditated by Man.
– 21 March 1778, Thomas Paine, “American Crisis”: “… this distinguished era is blotted by no one misanthropical vice. In short, if the principle on which the cause is founded, the universal blessings that are to arise from it, the difficulties that accompanied it, the wisdom with which it has been debated, the fortitude by which it has been supported, the strength of the power which we had to oppose, and the condition in which we undertook it, be all taken in one view, we may justly style it the most virtuous and illustrious revolution that ever graced the history of mankind.”
– 1779, Congress ordered the publication of a book titled, “Observations on the American Revolution” written by Governor Morris in Philadelphia (“Observations on the American Revolution”)
Last, as to whether any serious historians disagree with calling the AWI a “revolution”: There is probably some discussion regarding the theoretical meaning of “revolution”, but I’ve not read anything from a serious historian disputing the AWI as “revolutionary” (let them speak now or forever hold their peace). Even Marxist theorists agree that the AWI was “revolutionary” because it determined the forms of bourgeois political form, as well as capitalism and the free market economy that altered empire-colony subsidiary relationships.
Some modern scholars have started describing the AWI as a “civil” war based on the type of fighting that occurred, which is worthy of comment. A “revolutionary” war is by definition fought amongst people of the same country; that does not make it “civil”. That is the nature of all “revolutions”: some citizens will support change, others will oppose it. While the broad object and effect of the AWI was politically “revolutionary”, at least in the sense of the enlightenment era term, the conduct of the war in some areas became partisan in nature; or even a “feud”. In many areas of the country there was a decided preference for independence and self-governance, but in others the balance was more narrow, and the causal factors of strife more local and more personal. In colonies like Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Virginia the fight for principles of individual rights versus submission to demands of an unrepresentative Parliament may have been clear; in other areas of the country, especially the southern frontiers where government had little real effect on daily life and neither side had the resources necessary to exert military control over a vast region, the grand revolutionary principles often faded against personal realities. In those areas differences in religion, affiliation of preachers, economic status, recency of migration, and family ties (both regional and trans-Atlantic) affected allegiances. Differences were also based on a variety of local issues such as prior land disputes, previous legal and familial alliances, or the latest outrage or atrocity committed by either side. Whenever the instruments of government break down, mob rule takes over, and principled advocacy isn’t as important as protecting kin, clan, and hearth. For various reasons, the AWI in the southern regions, particularly in the southern “back country” 1780-1782, became a partisan fight for survival rather than for revolutionary principle.
That is not sufficient region to brand the entire AWI as a “civil” war. When a population fights among itself, whether for revolutionary or civil issues, the fighting can be vicious and the broader purpose becomes indistinguishable. Though in some places at times the AWI fighting took on this partisan aspect, the overall purpose and effect of the AWI, taken broadly, remained “revolutionary” in nature: throwing off the mantle of old government to create a new form of government; and a new nation where none previously existed. For that reason the AWI parallels, and even exceeds, the French, Russian, and Iranian revolutions. All of these featured bitter neighbor-on-neighbor partisan fighting and vicious purges of opponents, yet the political goal and end results of substantive changes in form of government define all of these, including the AWI, as “revolutionary”, not “civil” wars.
I was happy to see A. J. Langguth’s “Patriots” on the list. It has remained my favorite for this era. I’ll be checking out others on the list, so thanks.
This is a great list. I recognize that choices must be made but my own opinion is that Harris’s excellent study of Brandywine should be here – if necessary, instead of McGuire’s vol. 1. I echo the commenter who would add Babits/Howard’s study of Guilford. Last, regarding “people”, Billias’s collection of essays on “Washington’s Generals and Opponents” merits consideration, as well.
Does anyone know of any books about Joseph Plumb Martin besides his own memoirs? What a great soldier who after the war was forced into poverty by none other than Gen. Knox in a vicious land grab.
Hi Tony, No such book exists, however, I highly recommend Bruce Chadwick’s The First American Army https://www.amazon.com/First-American-Army-Washington-Americas/dp/1402207530 You’ll also enjoy reading my feature here on JAR about General Huntington, who knew Knox and fortunately cared for his CT soldiers. Yes, that’s a sad, true story about Knox and Martin. https://allthingsliberty.com/2018/04/jedediah-huntington-of-connecticut/
I am surprised there is no The War of the Revolution by Christopher Ward? Published 1952. The Two Volumes is indispensable and unsurpassed single volume on the war. Omitting this book is like omitting David M. Glantz in the conversation about best books on Stalingrad.
“Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution” by B. J. Lossing? Lossing traveled the country before the Civil War talking to surviving participants and their close descendants and neighbors, reading their handwritten materials, and drawing scenes to engrave for the book. (He did the same for the War of 1812 and the Civil War.) Preserves a fair bit of original source material, and gives a non-modern perspective.
Oliver Wiswell by Kenneth Roberts….excellent.
A great list! For my contributions, two worthy candidates would be “The Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies 1760-1785” by Don Cook and “King George III and the Politicians” by Richard Pares. Both books really get into the mechanisms behind Parliament’s plotting and planning, and Cook spends time unraveling the motives behind Benjamin Franklin’s turn from wannabe-Parliamentarian to staunch American Patriot that really drives home how vital his involvement was to achieving our lasting independence.
“John Adams” by McCullough (listed) is a very good book. But I’m finishing up the two-volume biography of Adams by Page Smith (published 1962 and 1963), and I think Smith delves so much more deeply into his subject than does McCullough. Additionally, Smith’s treatment of Adams in the time leading up to, not to mention during, the Revolution makes for some fascinating reading. It is intellectually difficult to treat Adams separately from the Revolution (and vice-versa). He was, in so many ways, such an important actor throughout the entirety of the struggle.
Does anyone have any comments on Christopher Ward’s two-volume history, The War of the Revolution?
I would add: The Golden Voyage: The Life and Times of William Bingham 1752–1804. By Robert C. Alberts. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1969. xvii + 570 pp. Map, illustrations, notes, appendixes, bibliography, and index.
Revolutionary Brothers by Tom Chaffin. “Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, and the Friendship that Helped Forge Two Nationa.”
Thank you for the excellent list. I would add another vote for Robert Middlekauff’s The Glorious Cause. Rick Atkinson’s The British Are Coming was also outstanding. I am really looking forward to his subsequent volumes. Glad to see Mark Lender’s and Garry Stone’s Fatal Sunday make the list, fantastic book.
I need a recommendation for the best book about the Philadelphia campaign
Thomas Maguire wrote a two volume work titled “The Philadelphia Campaign,” (2006) and a one volume book on the Battle of Paoli, (2000), both by Stackpole publishing.
Any recommendations for a good bio on King George the 3rd? I was hoping to find a volume that adequately covered his personal and political life in an engaging manner. While I have found some books, my search has been surprisingly difficult. I saw the book you had on British perspectives of the War, but would welcome more suggestions. Thank you!
Jeremy Black has a couple recent ones: “King George III: America’s Last King” and a much shorter one titled “King George III”; but I have not yet had the chance to read either one to make further recommendation
The Last King of America by Roberts is a recent bio in George III & it’s an exceptional read. Not only is it a thorough understanding of who George was, but it explains the complicated politics of the period like no other book has done. Finished it yesterday, and cannot recommend it enough.
May want to add Atkinson’s poignant and supremely engaging The British are Coming
which may be too recent to have made your list. Vol. I of a forthcoming trilogy on the conflict.
Atkinson’s portraits are fresh and illuminating.
I wholeheartedly agree. One of my favorites.
add Unger, American Tempest; Lawrence, Storm Over Savannah; Hoock, Scars of Liberty; Bicheno, Rebels & redcoats; and Calhoon, Tory Insurgents.
Germantown by Michael Harris is very good
Also 1776 by David McCullough and George Washington’s Nemesis by Christian McBurney