What do you think?
Rate this book
The Crossing #1
The Crossing
Nobody has written more passionately or more vividly about the American Revolution than Howard Fast. The legendary living author of Freedom Road and Citizen Tom Paine, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Spartacus and the triumphant survivor of Hollywood's notorious blacklist of the fifties, Howard Fast is a part of American history.
It is an amazing testament to Washington's leadership of the young volunteer army fighting in summer clothes against the bitter cold, the snow and the almost impassable Delaware River.
Criss-crossing through Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut and New York, this is also the tale of Colonel John Glover, the leader of a band of New England fishermen, of Tom Paine, the first American war correspondent; and the dreaded German Hessians themselves
Dispelling the myths of history, Howard Fast has written an unforgettable and true account of a key event in America's struggle for independence that all Americans should know and understand.
It is an amazing testament to Washington's leadership of the young volunteer army fighting in summer clothes against the bitter cold, the snow and the almost impassable Delaware River.
Criss-crossing through Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut and New York, this is also the tale of Colonel John Glover, the leader of a band of New England fishermen, of Tom Paine, the first American war correspondent; and the dreaded German Hessians themselves
Dispelling the myths of history, Howard Fast has written an unforgettable and true account of a key event in America's struggle for independence that all Americans should know and understand.
213 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
48 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Howard Fast
303 books253 followersHoward Fast was one of the most prolific American writers of the twentieth century. He was a bestselling author of more than eighty works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenplays. The son of immigrants, Fast grew up in New York City and published his first novel upon finishing high school in 1933. In 1950, his refusal to provide the United States Congress with a list of possible Communist associates earned him a three-month prison sentence. During his incarceration, Fast wrote one of his best-known novels, Spartacus (1951). Throughout his long career, Fast matched his commitment to championing social justice in his writing with a deft, lively storytelling style.
Pseudonyms: Walter Ericson, E.V. Cunningham
Pseudonyms: Walter Ericson, E.V. Cunningham
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 25, 2025
Howard Fast’s The Crossing is a dramatic narrative history of the Revolutionary War. It begins with the ignominious defeat of Washington and his troops in Brooklyn and New York, and climaxes with Washington’s unlikely surprise attack and victory on a Hessian outpost in Trenton, New Jersey. The crossing of the title refers to not one, but two dramatic crossings of the Delaware River. The first was Washington’s dramatic escape, when it appeared that his battered and much diminished army was trapped between the British forces and the Delaware River. The second, even more unlikely, was his army’s midnight crossing of that same river, now full of floating ice, on December 25, 1776, to execute a desperate surprise attack on Trenton the next day.
Fast casts this period of the war, particularly the twenty days between the two crossings of the Delaware, as a time when ultimate defeat or victory balanced on a knife’s edge. Washington’s army was defeated and dispirited. They were ill clothed, ill fed, and ill. Most of the soldier’s enlistments ended at years end, and there seemed little reason to battle on. Washington had to make a desperate attempt to prove to his troops, his country, and the world that the Continentals could fight and win, which brought about that desperate midnight winter crossing we all know from the famous painting.
While this book is sometimes called a novel, I believe it is more accurate to consider it history. While Fast sparingly used the device of creating dialogue, he far more often directly quotes from letters, diaries, and other historical documents. It reads as an exciting narrative, but is painstakingly researched and accurate in detail.
Fast casts this period of the war, particularly the twenty days between the two crossings of the Delaware, as a time when ultimate defeat or victory balanced on a knife’s edge. Washington’s army was defeated and dispirited. They were ill clothed, ill fed, and ill. Most of the soldier’s enlistments ended at years end, and there seemed little reason to battle on. Washington had to make a desperate attempt to prove to his troops, his country, and the world that the Continentals could fight and win, which brought about that desperate midnight winter crossing we all know from the famous painting.
While this book is sometimes called a novel, I believe it is more accurate to consider it history. While Fast sparingly used the device of creating dialogue, he far more often directly quotes from letters, diaries, and other historical documents. It reads as an exciting narrative, but is painstakingly researched and accurate in detail.
March 17, 2017
The Crossing is peppered equally with contemporaneous letters, commentary and fictional verbatim, intimate conversations. It is a blend of historical fiction, reenactment, and history. The original 1971 edition from my local library was cataloged as a work of history in the DDC number 973.332. Later, in the 1999 edition, the title page had the added subtitle "A Novel". It was cataloged as Fiction. The later edition also has a Preface by the author. The A&E movie of the same title starring Jeff Daniels was based on the novel.
The unfortunate dilution of the celebration of George Washington's birthday to become President's Day doesn't do justice to the single most important American President. Though he was a man of great failure - see Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar (2017), he was and remains the pivotal figure in United States history. An exemplar for presidents now and those to come, Washington's courage and persistence of will remain an inspiring example of leadership.
Don't miss out on the brief but wonderful Bibliiography. For a more thorough examination of Washington and his raid on Trenton, read biographers like Ron Chernow and Joseph Ellis. All in all, this was an enjoyable read.
The unfortunate dilution of the celebration of George Washington's birthday to become President's Day doesn't do justice to the single most important American President. Though he was a man of great failure - see Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar (2017), he was and remains the pivotal figure in United States history. An exemplar for presidents now and those to come, Washington's courage and persistence of will remain an inspiring example of leadership.
Don't miss out on the brief but wonderful Bibliiography. For a more thorough examination of Washington and his raid on Trenton, read biographers like Ron Chernow and Joseph Ellis. All in all, this was an enjoyable read.
November 8, 2018
Quotable:
Most of the army was very young, but in the weeks that followed the 22nd of August in 1776, their youth passed away. They became old with the aging that only the intimate knowledge of death brings. They learned that when a soldier retreats before an invader in his own land, he leaves a little bit of himself behind every step of the way.
For Washington, New Jersey was a land of spies, most of them double agents, hundreds of them moving freely, in and out of the American and British encampments.
Most of the army was very young, but in the weeks that followed the 22nd of August in 1776, their youth passed away. They became old with the aging that only the intimate knowledge of death brings. They learned that when a soldier retreats before an invader in his own land, he leaves a little bit of himself behind every step of the way.
For Washington, New Jersey was a land of spies, most of them double agents, hundreds of them moving freely, in and out of the American and British encampments.
March 10, 2025
An account of the limited portion of the American Revolution between the Battle of Brooklyn and the Battle of Trenton, The Crossing (as its name suggests) focuses on Washington’s crossing of the Delaware. The book is divided into two sections, the first detailing the retreat of the Continental Army and the crossing of the river from east to west, and the second pertaining to the famous, overnight crossing prior to the surprise victory at Trenton. The author seems to take a lot of liberty with dialogue and certain events, which I guess is understandable as the book is listed as a historical novel instead of a nonfiction account.
Personally, I got more out of reading books like Washington: A Life by Chernow or 1776 by McCullough, both of which utilize quotes from primary sources throughout and feel more realistic. One thing I did appreciate about The Crossing is that Fast goes into more detail on certain military aspects of the period, including the weapons used and the organization of troops, although in my opinion his writing is a bit all over the place. Overall, it’s an okay read and Fast makes a good argument for the short prior of time he highlights as being the critical portion of the revolution, but there are certainly more in-depth accounts you can find.
Personally, I got more out of reading books like Washington: A Life by Chernow or 1776 by McCullough, both of which utilize quotes from primary sources throughout and feel more realistic. One thing I did appreciate about The Crossing is that Fast goes into more detail on certain military aspects of the period, including the weapons used and the organization of troops, although in my opinion his writing is a bit all over the place. Overall, it’s an okay read and Fast makes a good argument for the short prior of time he highlights as being the critical portion of the revolution, but there are certainly more in-depth accounts you can find.
August 2, 2021
I couldn't believe how quickly I read this book. Howard Fast portrays the trials and travails that Washington faced from the British, Hessians, his own subordinates and closest allies. He (Washington) pursued his quest to defeat the invading army despite not having enough food, clothes, guns, ammunition or shelter for his own troops. Yet he was able to convince the troops - many who were shoeless, scantily clothed, starving, injured, and sleep deprived (to say the least) - to cross the icy Delaware on Christmas night to plan a sneak attack on the Hessians in Trenton, NJ. After six months of retreating, losing troops due to capture, killing, starvation, illness and desertion, the game changing battle of the Revolutionary War was won by the renegade militia - in a mere 45 minutes. This is a must read for ALL Americans to learn what true bravery and hardship is, particularly in today's world where Americans are openly criticizing the greatest country that has ever existed.
May 30, 2018
Either write a history book or write a novel. This book tried to fall somewhere in between and was not successful. I was so disappointed. April Morning is a classic and I hoped this would be good as well.
October 13, 2018
Lots of historical detail. A little slow.
July 1, 2020
Excellent. This version of Washington and his famous crossing the Delaware River is concise, compelling, and well written. Highly recommended.
January 19, 2021
Sure, the author is a bit of a cheerleader but it's such a beautiful story.
January 28, 2023
The movie is great too.
December 30, 2025
A history book that reads like a novel.
September 5, 2020
Great narrative on such a pivotal moment in American history. The brevity that Fast used to write about tense situations was appreciated. I have read other books about the crossing and, although they were historically accurate, they did not take any liberty with filling in the dialogue. This book did a great job of staying true to history while inserting witty commentary.
July 16, 2010
The book is described as a "re-creation" of the events of George Washington crossing the Delaware. I take it to mean that it isn't pure history but a fictional look at that history with a striving for accuracy.
It's been a long time since I read it so I don't remember how accurate it is, but I do remember enjoying the book as an intersting story. Still, it must not have lit my fire too much because I never deliberately sought out any other Howard Fast novels.
It's been a long time since I read it so I don't remember how accurate it is, but I do remember enjoying the book as an intersting story. Still, it must not have lit my fire too much because I never deliberately sought out any other Howard Fast novels.
February 18, 2008
Historical fiction (or maybe not so much fiction) about George Washington's crossing of the Delaware. Howard Fast (of Spartacus fame), an (ex-?)communist paints ole George in a surprisingly reverent light.
October 31, 2013
Loved it! Brings to life the gamble that Washington played in endeavoring this battle and how the victory was a true miracle when the new nation needed one the most! Not at all what the post-modern history books (and my history teachers) taught me in school!
January 8, 2024
There were no other reviews, so i knew this book was a major gamble...the writing wasn't terrible, but it was fairly hard to follow events at certain times are there were ALOT of facts. If you like a historical book that is basically a timeline, then this is the book for you 👍
October 13, 2010
Mostly liked it because I am familiar with all the places mentioned in the book. Not a bad book, but I am not sure if I would have liked it as much if I didn't live in the area.
January 16, 2013
Compelling read and makes the characters human rather than mythic.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews