1812: The War Nobody Won

by Albert Marrin

Describes the causes and leading events of the early nineteenth-century conflict between Great Britain and the United States.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction

175 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1985

About the author

Albert Marrin is a historian and the author of more than twenty nonfiction books for young people. He has won various awards for his writing, including the 2005 James Madison Book Award and the 2008 National Endowment for Humanities Medal. In 2011, his book Flesh and Blood So Cheap was a National Book Award Finalist. Marrin is the Chairman of the History Department at New York's Yeshiva University.

Reviews

[Greg Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very concise and accurate representation of the war of 1812. Albeit, this is one of the wars not many people enjoy learning about I have enjoyed this book and the information within it.
It contains a lot of interesting details I did not know before, Like when a British soldier would be the last to leave the cabin within the ship they would then be tied up and flogged, beaten and many other cruels deeds done. Then they would be untied and have salt water poured into their wounds which would make it a lot more painful.
A few facts I already knew about were how british soldiers were cruel and the impressment of American sailors which was a driving factor for us to get into another war with Britain. Once the war was started, we fought in the atlantic and the pacific in order to keep Britain away from us and to keep their cruelness at bay.
In the end, though there was no territorial gain by either the U.S. or Britain, the war proved to the British that the American Revolution was no mistake that the U.S. was and would remain an independent country and no matter what Britain would try they would never control us again. As time progressed countries all over the world realized that We are a powerful country especially after the Spanish American war.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short survey of the War Nobody Won. This book is high on anecdote and low on detail. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sorry I read it. In a way, it was good because the major effect it had on me is a desire to know more about the War of 1812, and so . . . on to "The War of 1812" by John K. Mahon. That book looks more academic.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readable and gripping, this is the history for young adults I was looking for—less detailed and more narrow than any other book but probably should be your first stop

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and more introductory tier but unexpectedly good on presenting image breakdowns of technology and tactics.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are 'at' this time period in history, so I read this book to be prepared to discuss it with Parker next week. Marrin is an excellent author, and I really learned a lot from this book! (Such as the meaning of 'hot shot'!!) Although I wouldn't have thought this was an important era in history, it truly was, for a variety of reasons!

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I expected to like this because it's local history to me, but the lifeless and dull prose made it boring. Couldn't wait to finish it!

[Josh Liller · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introductory book about the War Of 1812, especially for younger readers interested in history. I read this in middle school.

[Inna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for school. Good info, but a little dry.

[Steven Raszewski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, short, concise history of the war.