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13 days and 01:31:24
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The British Are Coming: The Graphic Edition, Volume 1
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26Win a free print copy of this book!
13 days and 01:31:24
28 copies available
U.S. only
272 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
About the author
Rick Atkinson
37 books1,879 followersRick Atkinson is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of seven works of history, including The Long Gray Line, the Liberation Trilogy (An Army at Dawn, The Day of Battle, and The Guns at Last Light), and The British Are Coming, the first volume of the Revolution Trilogy. His work as a historian and journalist has won numerous awards, including three Pulitzer Prizes.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for an advance copy of this graphic novel that looks at the American Revolution from the small events that lead to a large scale rebellion, the people involved and the legends and myths that still linger to this day, a day in which many of the freedoms fought over are slowly being eroded.
I loved comics when I was a young reader. I have to admit I was a huge Marvel zombie, so I still have a soft spot for those heroes in capes. Though for some reason, reasons even my Mom can't remember I loved history. Irish history, American history, stories of War, and stories of exploration. I read everything I could find, and even books that were probably above my weight class. There were a few history comics, but they have not stayed in my brain, so I gather they were pure propaganda, or just bad. I do remember wishing there were more. I loved Sgt. Fury, Sgt. Rock and really any sergeants who fought, but I wanted facts with my tales, not just action and adventure. Reading through this comic, I know that I would have loved it as a child, as much as I enjoyed it today. The British Are Coming: The Graphic Edition, Volume 1 is a sequential art version of the book by noted historian Rick Atkinson adapted by Nora Neus and illustrated by Federico Pietrobon, which tells of the early days of the American Revolution, and the events that led up to it.
The book begins in the early days, telling of the little things, the taxes, Stamp Acts, tea taxes and the distance that was both geographical and in many ways philosophically different between England and its American colonies. The book looks at the Boston Tea Party, the major players involved in that, and the escalation of events leading to British troops occupying Boston, and the violent events at Lexington and Concord. The books looks at events from all sides, the English, the American revolutionaries, the loyalists who wanted to stay with England, and the people caught between the sides. Even the issues of slavery are looked at. The book looks at Bunker Hill, the invasion of Canada, the many mistakes and problems the Americans had, as well as the rise of people like John Adams, Benedict Arnold, and George Washington.
The graphic novel is more a primer than anything. Looking at events but not going into deep reasons for why certain things happened, or even what happened to many of these people later. As there is much to cover some thing get a short shrift, where other things seem to go on. The writing it good, careful to balance views and explanations, though as there is much to cover and look at sometimes it can seem a little jumpy in spots. I liked the art, a nice color scheme with big panels, and lots of detail. The art helps move the story along, and with larger panels I can see where younger readers won't be afraid to read.
As a primer this does a good job. For more information one can either read the books that this was based on, or do their own research. There is a little glossing over of things, but all in all this is a good start, something to at least get people started in knowing something about the origin of their country, and how not to let it slip away. I look forward to more books in the series.
I loved comics when I was a young reader. I have to admit I was a huge Marvel zombie, so I still have a soft spot for those heroes in capes. Though for some reason, reasons even my Mom can't remember I loved history. Irish history, American history, stories of War, and stories of exploration. I read everything I could find, and even books that were probably above my weight class. There were a few history comics, but they have not stayed in my brain, so I gather they were pure propaganda, or just bad. I do remember wishing there were more. I loved Sgt. Fury, Sgt. Rock and really any sergeants who fought, but I wanted facts with my tales, not just action and adventure. Reading through this comic, I know that I would have loved it as a child, as much as I enjoyed it today. The British Are Coming: The Graphic Edition, Volume 1 is a sequential art version of the book by noted historian Rick Atkinson adapted by Nora Neus and illustrated by Federico Pietrobon, which tells of the early days of the American Revolution, and the events that led up to it.
The book begins in the early days, telling of the little things, the taxes, Stamp Acts, tea taxes and the distance that was both geographical and in many ways philosophically different between England and its American colonies. The book looks at the Boston Tea Party, the major players involved in that, and the escalation of events leading to British troops occupying Boston, and the violent events at Lexington and Concord. The books looks at events from all sides, the English, the American revolutionaries, the loyalists who wanted to stay with England, and the people caught between the sides. Even the issues of slavery are looked at. The book looks at Bunker Hill, the invasion of Canada, the many mistakes and problems the Americans had, as well as the rise of people like John Adams, Benedict Arnold, and George Washington.
The graphic novel is more a primer than anything. Looking at events but not going into deep reasons for why certain things happened, or even what happened to many of these people later. As there is much to cover some thing get a short shrift, where other things seem to go on. The writing it good, careful to balance views and explanations, though as there is much to cover and look at sometimes it can seem a little jumpy in spots. I liked the art, a nice color scheme with big panels, and lots of detail. The art helps move the story along, and with larger panels I can see where younger readers won't be afraid to read.
As a primer this does a good job. For more information one can either read the books that this was based on, or do their own research. There is a little glossing over of things, but all in all this is a good start, something to at least get people started in knowing something about the origin of their country, and how not to let it slip away. I look forward to more books in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, NetGalley, for granting me a free digital copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
It’s been a minute since I listened to Rick Atkinson’s YA adaptation of The British Are Coming, and most of the books about this period that I’ve read in recent years have focused on the cultural and ideological side of the American Revolution. It was refreshing then to see a detailed timeline (as detailed as any graphic novel can be, anyway) about the early years of the war, when the odds were stocked against the Americans and defeat was only a heartbeat away. Atkinson regales many intense and unsavory moments often forgotten in our retellings, including the torching of villages (both loyalist and patriot), the doomed, grueling campaign to capture Quebec, and the 1776 liberation of Boston by Washington’s Continental Army. This first installment ends months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and therefore doesn’t cover major moments like the Battle of Yorktown or the crossing of the Delaware River. Atkinson makes up for this with a focus on logistics (including maps), and by adding some shades of gray to the black-white narrative young people are often presented about the Revolution, including the refusal by many colonists to question slavery, and the early leadership of famed traitor Benedict Arnold.
What’s less clear is how The British Are Coming works as a graphic novel. The illustrations are fine, and they go a long way in conveying how arduous and miserable war can be, but the storytelling itself is somewhat scatterbrained and at times hard to follow. Most of the characters look alike, and often lines that should be written as narration or consigned to a thought bubble are presented as dialogue, typically delivered by background characters. I would recommend reading the physical book rather than the electronic version, since that will undoubtedly ease the flow a bit. Even still, the writing often fit awkwardly within the confines of a graphic novel.
3.5 stars
It’s been a minute since I listened to Rick Atkinson’s YA adaptation of The British Are Coming, and most of the books about this period that I’ve read in recent years have focused on the cultural and ideological side of the American Revolution. It was refreshing then to see a detailed timeline (as detailed as any graphic novel can be, anyway) about the early years of the war, when the odds were stocked against the Americans and defeat was only a heartbeat away. Atkinson regales many intense and unsavory moments often forgotten in our retellings, including the torching of villages (both loyalist and patriot), the doomed, grueling campaign to capture Quebec, and the 1776 liberation of Boston by Washington’s Continental Army. This first installment ends months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and therefore doesn’t cover major moments like the Battle of Yorktown or the crossing of the Delaware River. Atkinson makes up for this with a focus on logistics (including maps), and by adding some shades of gray to the black-white narrative young people are often presented about the Revolution, including the refusal by many colonists to question slavery, and the early leadership of famed traitor Benedict Arnold.
What’s less clear is how The British Are Coming works as a graphic novel. The illustrations are fine, and they go a long way in conveying how arduous and miserable war can be, but the storytelling itself is somewhat scatterbrained and at times hard to follow. Most of the characters look alike, and often lines that should be written as narration or consigned to a thought bubble are presented as dialogue, typically delivered by background characters. I would recommend reading the physical book rather than the electronic version, since that will undoubtedly ease the flow a bit. Even still, the writing often fit awkwardly within the confines of a graphic novel.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Adapting prose storytelling to a graphic novel is tricky. Sure, it’s easier to visualize colonial America than describe it in words, but you also need to ensure readers know what they’re looking at and why. In this adaptation of Rick Atkinson’s same-titled book, so much context is missing that it’s a breezy, empty read that won’t enhance the reader’s knowledge.
We open in 1773 and the night of the infamous Boston Tea Party. So, right from the start, we’re missing vital information. This needed to begin with the 1765 Stamp Act, which really set the colonies on the path to independence.
We meet people with a close-up and an arrow providing us with a name, but nothing else, so when John Adams, for example, shows up on page 4, he’s a lawyer and nothing more, little seen again in the narrative.
Nora Neus and Frederico Pietrobon leisurely take us from event to event between 1773 and March 1776, leaving some juicy stuff for volume two. But it’s a limited view. Nothing occurring below Virginia is discussed, the first Continental Congress is ignored, and the vital impact of the January 1776 publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is entirely missing. We periodically go to England to see King George III froth, but the divide between colonists—rebels and Tories—is missing.
Instead, we are treated to leisurely depictions of marching, their rebellion suffering degrading conditions as a result of little funding, and way too much time spent on the ill-fated attempt to conquer Quebec, and too little time on the theft of cannons from Fort Ticonderoga.
It appears Neus took the dialogue from primary sources, correspondence, and journals, but it’s formal and doesn’t at all sound like people speaking to one another or even the reader.
The book is nice to look at, easy to read, and robs the subject of the grit and personalities that shaped a new nation. Better the reader find the source material or watch the recent Ken Burns documentary series.
We open in 1773 and the night of the infamous Boston Tea Party. So, right from the start, we’re missing vital information. This needed to begin with the 1765 Stamp Act, which really set the colonies on the path to independence.
We meet people with a close-up and an arrow providing us with a name, but nothing else, so when John Adams, for example, shows up on page 4, he’s a lawyer and nothing more, little seen again in the narrative.
Nora Neus and Frederico Pietrobon leisurely take us from event to event between 1773 and March 1776, leaving some juicy stuff for volume two. But it’s a limited view. Nothing occurring below Virginia is discussed, the first Continental Congress is ignored, and the vital impact of the January 1776 publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is entirely missing. We periodically go to England to see King George III froth, but the divide between colonists—rebels and Tories—is missing.
Instead, we are treated to leisurely depictions of marching, their rebellion suffering degrading conditions as a result of little funding, and way too much time spent on the ill-fated attempt to conquer Quebec, and too little time on the theft of cannons from Fort Ticonderoga.
It appears Neus took the dialogue from primary sources, correspondence, and journals, but it’s formal and doesn’t at all sound like people speaking to one another or even the reader.
The book is nice to look at, easy to read, and robs the subject of the grit and personalities that shaped a new nation. Better the reader find the source material or watch the recent Ken Burns documentary series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"The British are Coming: The Graphic Edition, Volume 1 of the "Revolution Trilogy," is an adaptation of Rick Atkinson's justly renowned series of traditional textual histories of the American Revolution. It is a Graphic Novel published by Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press. For those of you not acquainted with the phenomenon of Graphic Novels, think back to your misspent youth with Classic Comics and you get a rough idea (this is a gross oversimplification of graphic novels, but you get the idea). Anyway, I was intrigued when I had the opportunity to examine an ARC of the text, and remain so. The graphic text itself is fascinating as I am curious as to its market. I would think it has a place in middle school libraries although I am not certain how it will be received by what is presumably its target audience. The book covers, very lightly, the period from the events just preceding the American Revolution through the battles of Concord and Lexington and events in Canada to the lifting of the siege of Boston on March 17, 1776, That is a lot of ground for a graphic novel, most of which, in the history genre, at least, focus much more tightly on a single battle or event like the sinking of the Bismarck or the attack on Pearl Harbor. Looked at as a kind of experiment, this is well worth examining although I remain deeply conflicted about its prospective market. If you are familiar with graphic novels, you will find this rather ambitious but worth the read. I find the most distracting part of it to be attempts to replicate the spoken language of the time. I suspect that younger audiences will find it off-putting, but time will tell.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The British Are Coming is a graphic novel that streamlines the early stages of the Revolutionary War. It opens with the Boston Tea Party and ends with the Continental Army reclaiming control of Boston. I found it to be an engaging and creative way to present history. As is common with graphic novels, the emphasis falls more on the illustrations than on lengthy narration. The book covers the essential events but does not go deeply into every detail.
It feels like a title designed for middle school and high school readers, offering a visually driven introduction to an important period in American history. For teenagers who may be reluctant to pick up a traditional history book, this format could be an accessible entry point. Ideally, the story sparks enough curiosity that young readers seek out more information about the events and figures of the Revolutionary War.
While I am clearly not the intended audience, I enjoyed the opportunity to absorb a quick, visually rich overview of the first phase of the conflict. My hope is that this book encourages more teenagers to take an interest in history and motivates them to explore the real events that shaped the nation. Thank you to NetGalley, Rick Atkinson, Clarkson Potter, and Ten Speed Press for a free advance copy for an honest review.
It feels like a title designed for middle school and high school readers, offering a visually driven introduction to an important period in American history. For teenagers who may be reluctant to pick up a traditional history book, this format could be an accessible entry point. Ideally, the story sparks enough curiosity that young readers seek out more information about the events and figures of the Revolutionary War.
While I am clearly not the intended audience, I enjoyed the opportunity to absorb a quick, visually rich overview of the first phase of the conflict. My hope is that this book encourages more teenagers to take an interest in history and motivates them to explore the real events that shaped the nation. Thank you to NetGalley, Rick Atkinson, Clarkson Potter, and Ten Speed Press for a free advance copy for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The graphic edition of The British Are Coming is an impressively illustrated entry point to the history of the Revolutionary War. Being based upon such a complex and multi-faceted book about a similarly complicated conflict it would always be difficult to condense into a graphic form. Even with this challenge, I think the book gives a really strong overview of the subject to pique readers' interest to dive deeper.
It really helps that the book is complimented by some fantastic art from Federico Pietrobon. Pietrobon's offers some beautiful compositions of the history; I was particularly struck by his illustrations of Benedict Arnold's campaign into Quebec that displayed the beauty of the country alongside horrific violence. There are also numerous segments where the novel provides map overviews of historic campaigns with number keys aligned to graphic details. It really added a sense of place and specific location to the historic location that feels unique to this medium.
Huge thanks to Ten Speed Press for the review copy of this one, I really enjoyed my time with it!
It really helps that the book is complimented by some fantastic art from Federico Pietrobon. Pietrobon's offers some beautiful compositions of the history; I was particularly struck by his illustrations of Benedict Arnold's campaign into Quebec that displayed the beauty of the country alongside horrific violence. There are also numerous segments where the novel provides map overviews of historic campaigns with number keys aligned to graphic details. It really added a sense of place and specific location to the historic location that feels unique to this medium.
Huge thanks to Ten Speed Press for the review copy of this one, I really enjoyed my time with it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So you think you know your American Revolution? Or are you just a big fan of Rick Atkinson? In either case, you are in for a treat with this volume! Nora Neus has teamed up with illustrator Federico Pietrobon to provide a graphic telling of the the opening section of Rick Atkinson's book The British are Coming!. They open with the Boston Tea Party and then graphically present British government policies and colonial reactions that led to Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, and beyond. Volume 1 also covers the invasion of Canada and the siege of Boston, ending in early 1776. The art is superb and the pace of the story flows nicely. This is a nice addition to any non-fiction graphic collection and a joy to read!
Thanks Netgalley and Ten Speed Graphic for the chance to read this title!
Thanks Netgalley and Ten Speed Graphic for the chance to read this title!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a graphic presentation of the early events that lead to the Revolutionary War. Needless to say, it does not contain the detail that the author’s books do, but it does provide another way for the public to learn more about the events. Overall, it is well done and a quick read.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews