What do you think?
Rate this book
The American Revolution
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1891
132 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
John Fiske
210 books8 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
John Fiske was an American philosopher and historian.
John Fiske was an American philosopher and historian.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 9, 2020
Author John Fiske, a genius polymath once praised by Charles Darwin for the lucidity of his writing, died from overwork in 1901.
His many works are now mostly in the public domain, as are many of the versions of his “American Revolution,” some abbreviated, some full length, some added to with other important American and British documents, and some along with his works on other subjects.
While I’ve read many books on the American Revolution, I’ve encountered none such as this one. This version’s Kindle locations total 7543. On a regular Kindle-to-hard-copy comparison of 20 to 1, that’s equivalent to 377 hard-copy pages. When you “look inside” the Amazon hard-copies (paperback and hardcover), you’ll note that the book is around 306-392 pages. But look at how tiny the print is. And the Kindle price is better than next to nothing, it is nothing! On a relative comparison, what a deal on just quantity of writing alone, not even counting the Kindle’s digital search capability!*
Then, read the book. Even with some digital conversion problems, you’ll find high-quality narrative and wonderful character analysis. For me, I especially enjoyed Fiske’s characterizations of George Washington and King George III. If you believe that organizations are shadows of the men at the top, you’ll find no surprise in how George III’s mother’s continuation admonitions to “be a king” led him to reassert royal "divine right" prerogatives thought lost with William & Mary’s Glorious Revolution, and to bend Parliament to his will, leading to the charges against him in America’s Declaration of Independence: “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.” While some later historians dispute both Fiske’s and early America's label of George III as a tyrant, aiming to first fully subjugate American and then England itself, you’ll find Fiske’s evidence quite intriguing.
Overall, a mostly forgotten but extremely well-done book. Highly recommended by a fellow author!
His many works are now mostly in the public domain, as are many of the versions of his “American Revolution,” some abbreviated, some full length, some added to with other important American and British documents, and some along with his works on other subjects.
While I’ve read many books on the American Revolution, I’ve encountered none such as this one. This version’s Kindle locations total 7543. On a regular Kindle-to-hard-copy comparison of 20 to 1, that’s equivalent to 377 hard-copy pages. When you “look inside” the Amazon hard-copies (paperback and hardcover), you’ll note that the book is around 306-392 pages. But look at how tiny the print is. And the Kindle price is better than next to nothing, it is nothing! On a relative comparison, what a deal on just quantity of writing alone, not even counting the Kindle’s digital search capability!*
Then, read the book. Even with some digital conversion problems, you’ll find high-quality narrative and wonderful character analysis. For me, I especially enjoyed Fiske’s characterizations of George Washington and King George III. If you believe that organizations are shadows of the men at the top, you’ll find no surprise in how George III’s mother’s continuation admonitions to “be a king” led him to reassert royal "divine right" prerogatives thought lost with William & Mary’s Glorious Revolution, and to bend Parliament to his will, leading to the charges against him in America’s Declaration of Independence: “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.” While some later historians dispute both Fiske’s and early America's label of George III as a tyrant, aiming to first fully subjugate American and then England itself, you’ll find Fiske’s evidence quite intriguing.
Overall, a mostly forgotten but extremely well-done book. Highly recommended by a fellow author!
June 4, 2020
A good book to read. I've been consumed with reading a ton of literature surrounding the American Revolution, and this book certainly tops the textbooks I read in college on the subject. I didn't really favor the tangents that occurred, but I put up with some tolerance for it.
May 26, 2022
Comprehensive Look
A comprehensive look at the American Revolution from pre-1775 to the battle of Yorktown. The read is easy, interesting and has some great commentary as well. A good book as a basic overview of a decade of war and change in America.
A comprehensive look at the American Revolution from pre-1775 to the battle of Yorktown. The read is easy, interesting and has some great commentary as well. A good book as a basic overview of a decade of war and change in America.
Read
November 21, 2019Very detailed history of entires war on all fronts.
March 19, 2023
A good summarization of main events of the war and a comprehensive view of different aspects of it from different people and different sides
March 23, 2017
Great book
Really good read. Written in 19th century language and takes you all the way through the Revolution, not just the war.
Really good read. Written in 19th century language and takes you all the way through the Revolution, not just the war.
February 8, 2015
A fresh look written many years earlier
Any serious student of the American revolution must study Fiske for a refreshing vacation from the accepted version that the revolutionary army was composed of a motley gang of incompetent fighters led by well-meaning but ineffective officers. That the opposite is true is brilliantly shown and the inclusion of such a rich bibliography motivates the reader to a fresh assault on this exciting chapter of American history.
Any serious student of the American revolution must study Fiske for a refreshing vacation from the accepted version that the revolutionary army was composed of a motley gang of incompetent fighters led by well-meaning but ineffective officers. That the opposite is true is brilliantly shown and the inclusion of such a rich bibliography motivates the reader to a fresh assault on this exciting chapter of American history.
February 10, 2016
This is a history of the American Revolution was written right after the Civil War, and this author had some very interesting insghts. The history was fairly strong, by the author went on some rabbit trails. In some ways, it was interesting to see the effect on the rest of the world, but at other times felt like the author was rambling.
May 18, 2015
Complete work
Although a much older book it gives great time and detail to not only the theatre in the USA but also all that was occurring in Great Britain, especially as it relates to politics. Finke also takes the time to peek into the relationships and ramifications around the globe at the time of the Revolution.
Although a much older book it gives great time and detail to not only the theatre in the USA but also all that was occurring in Great Britain, especially as it relates to politics. Finke also takes the time to peek into the relationships and ramifications around the globe at the time of the Revolution.
February 3, 2014
Praises for the American revolution
a very good read. very informative, and a refresher course of American history.
i highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys history.
Donald R Travis
a very good read. very informative, and a refresher course of American history.
i highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys history.
Donald R Travis
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews