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Igniting the American Revolution: 1773-1775
"For those who like their history rich in vivid details, Derek Beck has served up a delicious brew in this book....This may soon become everyone's favorite." --Thomas Fleming, author of Liberty! The American Revolution
A sweeping, provocative new look at the pivotal years leading up to the American Revolution
The Revolutionary War did not begin with the Declaration of Independence, but several years earlier in 1773. In this gripping history, Derek W. Beck reveals the full story of the war before American independence-from both sides.
Spanning the years 1773-1775 and drawing on new material from meticulous research and previously unpublished documents, letters, and diaries, Igniting the American Revolution sweeps readers from the rumblings that led to the Boston Tea Party to the halls of Parliament-where Ben Franklin was almost run out of England for pleading on behalf of the colonies-to that fateful Expedition to Concord which resulted in the shot heard round the world. With exquisite detail and keen insight, Beck brings revolutionary America to life in all its enthusiastic and fiery patriotic fervor, painting a nuanced portrait of the perspectives, ambitions, people, and events on both the British and the American sides that eventually would lead to the convention in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.
Captivating, provocative and inspiring, Igniting the American Revolution is the definitive history of these landmark years in our nation's history, whose events irrevocably altered the future not only of the United States and England, but the whole world.
" Integrating compelling personalities with grand strategies, political maneuverings on both sides of the Atlantic, and vividly related incidents, Igniting the American Revolution pulls the reader into a world rending the British Empire asunder." Samuel A. Forman, author of the biography Dr. Joseph Warren"
A sweeping, provocative new look at the pivotal years leading up to the American Revolution
The Revolutionary War did not begin with the Declaration of Independence, but several years earlier in 1773. In this gripping history, Derek W. Beck reveals the full story of the war before American independence-from both sides.
Spanning the years 1773-1775 and drawing on new material from meticulous research and previously unpublished documents, letters, and diaries, Igniting the American Revolution sweeps readers from the rumblings that led to the Boston Tea Party to the halls of Parliament-where Ben Franklin was almost run out of England for pleading on behalf of the colonies-to that fateful Expedition to Concord which resulted in the shot heard round the world. With exquisite detail and keen insight, Beck brings revolutionary America to life in all its enthusiastic and fiery patriotic fervor, painting a nuanced portrait of the perspectives, ambitions, people, and events on both the British and the American sides that eventually would lead to the convention in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.
Captivating, provocative and inspiring, Igniting the American Revolution is the definitive history of these landmark years in our nation's history, whose events irrevocably altered the future not only of the United States and England, but the whole world.
" Integrating compelling personalities with grand strategies, political maneuverings on both sides of the Atlantic, and vividly related incidents, Igniting the American Revolution pulls the reader into a world rending the British Empire asunder." Samuel A. Forman, author of the biography Dr. Joseph Warren"
432 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
January 5, 2021
Largely a detailed study of the skirmishes at Lexington-Concord, and the raid on Fort Ticonderoga. The book delves into aspects seldom discussed and points out small events which, had they not occurred, would potentially have turned the outcome of the Revolutionary War.
As a student of this era I found Igniting the American Revolution to be somewhat enjoyable, but admit that most would find the coverage of battle minutiae to be tedious.
As a student of this era I found Igniting the American Revolution to be somewhat enjoyable, but admit that most would find the coverage of battle minutiae to be tedious.
October 7, 2015
Having grown up in Massachusetts, where we were taught the glorified version of the American Revolution, I was pleasantly surprised by the unbiased, detailed account Derek Beck gives us with this book. While the topic is complex, the ease and structure of the writing simplifies things. This isn't a light read, but it also isn't one requiring a dictionary, map, and Master's degree to sort through.
The author has clearly done extensive research. We start when the Revolution, then barely a resistance, began simmering, with events leading us to the Boston Tea Party. This isn't a dry read, loaded with nothing but facts. Instead, we meet the key players of the time on a personal level, with their stories told through snippets of journals and letters. These bits are woven into the timeline, bringing history to life on the pages.
I was surprised by how the Revolution came about almost by accident. Neither side truly understood the other, and this was complicated by distance and their inability to immediately communicate. Through the honest telling of this part of our history, the author offers compelling insight into the political and very human aspects of war.
My quibbles are minor. For one, this 480 page book is only 272 pages of actual text. The rest of the book, nearly half, is the appendix, notes, etc. Consequently, some interesting and pertinent information is buried where most readers will never venture. I read a lot of nonfiction, but I'm one of those guilty of being bored by endless pages of notes at the end. I prefer the content to flow within the timeline of the book.
My other minor complaint is that the ending felt abrupt. In fairness to the author, he does finish at the right spot for his purposes. We're left at the time when the militia join forces, taking things from a disorganized rebellion to a more organized war. I would have liked some sort of summation, in closing, of the war to come. Perhaps that will be a sequel to this book.
Overall, this is straightforward, enlightening read perfect for anyone interested in the truth of how and why American became independent.
*I was provided with an ebook copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
The author has clearly done extensive research. We start when the Revolution, then barely a resistance, began simmering, with events leading us to the Boston Tea Party. This isn't a dry read, loaded with nothing but facts. Instead, we meet the key players of the time on a personal level, with their stories told through snippets of journals and letters. These bits are woven into the timeline, bringing history to life on the pages.
I was surprised by how the Revolution came about almost by accident. Neither side truly understood the other, and this was complicated by distance and their inability to immediately communicate. Through the honest telling of this part of our history, the author offers compelling insight into the political and very human aspects of war.
My quibbles are minor. For one, this 480 page book is only 272 pages of actual text. The rest of the book, nearly half, is the appendix, notes, etc. Consequently, some interesting and pertinent information is buried where most readers will never venture. I read a lot of nonfiction, but I'm one of those guilty of being bored by endless pages of notes at the end. I prefer the content to flow within the timeline of the book.
My other minor complaint is that the ending felt abrupt. In fairness to the author, he does finish at the right spot for his purposes. We're left at the time when the militia join forces, taking things from a disorganized rebellion to a more organized war. I would have liked some sort of summation, in closing, of the war to come. Perhaps that will be a sequel to this book.
Overall, this is straightforward, enlightening read perfect for anyone interested in the truth of how and why American became independent.
*I was provided with an ebook copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
October 6, 2015
This book was a great read! I am recommending this book to everyone. US history is not my usual genre of choice but Derek Beck does a wonderful job of telling the story starting from the Boston Tea Party thru Ticonderoga. He fills in the gaps between the common highlights that are taught in school with nuance and details drawn from original sources such as letters and diaries. It is written in a way that is both engaging, informative, and easy to follow. Sometimes I forgot I was reading non-fiction.
I learned a lot by reading this book. I now have a deeper understanding of what went into the American Revolution. My previous knowledge was limited to "no taxation without representation", the intolerable Acts, and a few scrimmages. There was so much more! For instance, the Powder Alarms where particularly new to me. The book does a great job giving insight and details into the who, what and why the colonies were heading to revolution. I never knew much about Joseph Warren. He played such an important role in the shaping of our country. Why he glossed over in our history books is beyond me. I whole hardily recommend this book to everyone.
I learned a lot by reading this book. I now have a deeper understanding of what went into the American Revolution. My previous knowledge was limited to "no taxation without representation", the intolerable Acts, and a few scrimmages. There was so much more! For instance, the Powder Alarms where particularly new to me. The book does a great job giving insight and details into the who, what and why the colonies were heading to revolution. I never knew much about Joseph Warren. He played such an important role in the shaping of our country. Why he glossed over in our history books is beyond me. I whole hardily recommend this book to everyone.
August 20, 2016
A view of the pre-Revolution events that led to the Revolution. . . . This book covers the period from 1773-1775. These years began to provide the momentum for Revolution.
This book does a very fine job of providing detailed discussion of key events. We have all heard of the Boston Tea Party. The volume provides a great deal of information about this. We learned of the decision making process and the role of Boston's leaders. The background of the Party is nicely told.
The march of the British forces to Lexington and then Concord, the ultimate target, to take colonial armaments. Much detail; one gets a very good perspective on the background for English General Gage's decision to move ahead. We learn of the role of the colonials' responses to the mission of the infantry as they marched toward Concord. Then the bloody retreat of the British troops, as they moved toward the safety of Boston.
Aftermath? A siege of Boston by colonial militia and the resulting logistical problems. Side stories include the roles of the Green Mountain Boys and Benedict Arnold in taking Fort Ticonderoga and the potential of its artillery and powder.
In the end, a well constructed work. . . .
This book does a very fine job of providing detailed discussion of key events. We have all heard of the Boston Tea Party. The volume provides a great deal of information about this. We learned of the decision making process and the role of Boston's leaders. The background of the Party is nicely told.
The march of the British forces to Lexington and then Concord, the ultimate target, to take colonial armaments. Much detail; one gets a very good perspective on the background for English General Gage's decision to move ahead. We learn of the role of the colonials' responses to the mission of the infantry as they marched toward Concord. Then the bloody retreat of the British troops, as they moved toward the safety of Boston.
Aftermath? A siege of Boston by colonial militia and the resulting logistical problems. Side stories include the roles of the Green Mountain Boys and Benedict Arnold in taking Fort Ticonderoga and the potential of its artillery and powder.
In the end, a well constructed work. . . .
February 29, 2016
An impressive amount of research was conducted by the author to ensure that his highly enjoyable descriptions of the seminal events leading to the start of the American Revolution are based on a solid foundation of facts. There are no doubt many histories of every aspect of the Revolution, but Derek W. Beck has proven that there is always room for a book which offers fresh perspectives on the occurrences that all Americans should know about.
The time span of the book is roughly late 1773 to the Spring of 1775. From the end of the French and Indian Wars, in 1763, until ten years later, something momentous happened in the British North American Colonies which completely changed how their citizens felt about their place in the world. In 1763, it would have been common for the average American colonist to feel grateful for the presence of the King's forces, and for many to have felt proud of participating, as colonial militia, side-by-side with Royal soldiers in the struggle to keep the French out of the colonies.
By 1773, much heated dissent against British governance, especially in the application of taxation, was inciting open hostility, especially in Massachusetts. By the end of that year, the Mother Country's authority would be defiantly challenged by the public destruction of a fortune in tea, followed by the British government's imposition of acts to place Boston under a military government while strangling its economic life blood.
Beck's great accomplishment is the way that he maintains the pace of the telling of the story of the disintegration of good will between the parent country and its colonists. He shows how the eventual clash of arms which started the war happened at the end of a progression of crises, many of which may not be familiar to the casual history reader. Everyone knows that the shooting started at Lexington and Concord, but in reality, other occurrences could have caused the war to start earlier. In particular, several flashpoints occurred which would have had dire consequences if cool heads did not prevail in tamping down wild rumors surrounding what have become known as the Cambridge Powder Alarm, Portsmouth Alarm and the Salem Alarm.
The alarms emanating from the April 19, 1775 British Army expedition to Concord, however, led to the igniting of the revolt of the Colonies. The description of the "Battle of the Nineteenth of April" takes up the most number of pages as well as representing the emotional center of the book. It is also here that a really good book becomes a hard-to-put down book, as Beck gives an almost moment by moment account of the actions of those on both sides of the conflict during April 18th and 19th. We all know what historical happening occurred in American history, but Beck continuously adds insights to flesh-in how things transpired during those fateful hours.
Beck is a military man (he's a major in the Air Force Reserves) and he shows his deep knowledge of the American militia and British units that clashed on the 19th. He adds valuable insight into how these forces deployed and performed on that first day of the Revolt. His running account of the British withdrawal and continued armed harassment from Concord, on the way back to Boston, makes it possible to understand the increasingly stressful sense of danger and resulting ferocity shown by combatants on both sides as they continuously clashed along this route.
The book also contains biographical information on some of the most influential actors operating around Boston at that time, including the British-appointed military governor of Boston, Lt. General Thomas Gage, and the future American general making his mark during the capture of British installations at Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point, Benedict Arnold. An interesting fact brought out by Beck is that Arnold was America's first Revolutionary naval hero, for his actions on Lake Champlain. But the most noteworthy personalities may have been the two doctors involved in the conflict, Dr. Joseph Warren and Dr. Benjamin Church. They both served on the Revolutionary Massachusetts Provincial Congress, but the former was a great hero of the Revolution while the latter was a spy for General Gage.
This is a relatively fast read, in that the actual text only spans 272 of the book's 467 numbered pages. There are 25 pages alone of Bibliography, but the greatest post-text length of pages is used on footnotes (almost 90 pages) and the 14 Appendices. I don't usually bother with post-text footnotes unless something in the book prompts me to want to look deeper into something of interest in the story, but hey , if this is the type of detail you are interested in, go for it. I'm not knocking the author for his thoroughness; some of the Appendices were of use in adding to the book's message, like the numbers and unit types of the forces deployed by the British, and especially the Expedition to Concord Timeline (Appendix 7).
Beck, however, likes to dive deep into arcana, like detailed listings of the Royal Naval vessels in and around Boston, with tons of information about their dimensions and armament, when they weren't really central to the story. The casual reader can also, in my opinion, be excused for not delving deeply into the provided Appendix on British Cannon Statistics, including trigonometric calculations of their effectiveness.
All of this well-documented data does, however, bring this volume to a level of historical credibility equal to any scholarly book on the Revolution. I'm sure this book will remain as a source of research for a long time to come. Although I'm quibbling here, I can't avoid showing some disappointment in the lack of commensurate attention to detail in the text. More careful proofing would have eliminated the errors on page 147 ("As they approached with a mile or so of Lexington Green, ..."); page 183 ("They road turned again eastward ..."); and page 236 ("He reached reaching the city on May 28, ...").
The time span of the book is roughly late 1773 to the Spring of 1775. From the end of the French and Indian Wars, in 1763, until ten years later, something momentous happened in the British North American Colonies which completely changed how their citizens felt about their place in the world. In 1763, it would have been common for the average American colonist to feel grateful for the presence of the King's forces, and for many to have felt proud of participating, as colonial militia, side-by-side with Royal soldiers in the struggle to keep the French out of the colonies.
By 1773, much heated dissent against British governance, especially in the application of taxation, was inciting open hostility, especially in Massachusetts. By the end of that year, the Mother Country's authority would be defiantly challenged by the public destruction of a fortune in tea, followed by the British government's imposition of acts to place Boston under a military government while strangling its economic life blood.
Beck's great accomplishment is the way that he maintains the pace of the telling of the story of the disintegration of good will between the parent country and its colonists. He shows how the eventual clash of arms which started the war happened at the end of a progression of crises, many of which may not be familiar to the casual history reader. Everyone knows that the shooting started at Lexington and Concord, but in reality, other occurrences could have caused the war to start earlier. In particular, several flashpoints occurred which would have had dire consequences if cool heads did not prevail in tamping down wild rumors surrounding what have become known as the Cambridge Powder Alarm, Portsmouth Alarm and the Salem Alarm.
The alarms emanating from the April 19, 1775 British Army expedition to Concord, however, led to the igniting of the revolt of the Colonies. The description of the "Battle of the Nineteenth of April" takes up the most number of pages as well as representing the emotional center of the book. It is also here that a really good book becomes a hard-to-put down book, as Beck gives an almost moment by moment account of the actions of those on both sides of the conflict during April 18th and 19th. We all know what historical happening occurred in American history, but Beck continuously adds insights to flesh-in how things transpired during those fateful hours.
Beck is a military man (he's a major in the Air Force Reserves) and he shows his deep knowledge of the American militia and British units that clashed on the 19th. He adds valuable insight into how these forces deployed and performed on that first day of the Revolt. His running account of the British withdrawal and continued armed harassment from Concord, on the way back to Boston, makes it possible to understand the increasingly stressful sense of danger and resulting ferocity shown by combatants on both sides as they continuously clashed along this route.
The book also contains biographical information on some of the most influential actors operating around Boston at that time, including the British-appointed military governor of Boston, Lt. General Thomas Gage, and the future American general making his mark during the capture of British installations at Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point, Benedict Arnold. An interesting fact brought out by Beck is that Arnold was America's first Revolutionary naval hero, for his actions on Lake Champlain. But the most noteworthy personalities may have been the two doctors involved in the conflict, Dr. Joseph Warren and Dr. Benjamin Church. They both served on the Revolutionary Massachusetts Provincial Congress, but the former was a great hero of the Revolution while the latter was a spy for General Gage.
This is a relatively fast read, in that the actual text only spans 272 of the book's 467 numbered pages. There are 25 pages alone of Bibliography, but the greatest post-text length of pages is used on footnotes (almost 90 pages) and the 14 Appendices. I don't usually bother with post-text footnotes unless something in the book prompts me to want to look deeper into something of interest in the story, but hey , if this is the type of detail you are interested in, go for it. I'm not knocking the author for his thoroughness; some of the Appendices were of use in adding to the book's message, like the numbers and unit types of the forces deployed by the British, and especially the Expedition to Concord Timeline (Appendix 7).
Beck, however, likes to dive deep into arcana, like detailed listings of the Royal Naval vessels in and around Boston, with tons of information about their dimensions and armament, when they weren't really central to the story. The casual reader can also, in my opinion, be excused for not delving deeply into the provided Appendix on British Cannon Statistics, including trigonometric calculations of their effectiveness.
All of this well-documented data does, however, bring this volume to a level of historical credibility equal to any scholarly book on the Revolution. I'm sure this book will remain as a source of research for a long time to come. Although I'm quibbling here, I can't avoid showing some disappointment in the lack of commensurate attention to detail in the text. More careful proofing would have eliminated the errors on page 147 ("As they approached with a mile or so of Lexington Green, ..."); page 183 ("They road turned again eastward ..."); and page 236 ("He reached reaching the city on May 28, ...").
January 24, 2024
An enjoyably solid, straightforward, Massachusetts-centered "amateur" history of the runup to the battles of Lexington and Concord.
I put "amateur" in quotes here because it's not clear if Beck has written anything other than his 2015 and 2016 histories of the American Revolution covering 1773-1775 and 1775-1776, respectively. Allegedly, there's a final third volume, but I can't find it. It seems to be that way, which is unfortunate as this first volume is a very enjoyable, detailed, and lively history filled with punchy writing and unique anecdotes. Beck goes a little too far in disclaiming that he's portraying the British as "good guys" or the Colonials as "bad guys" or saying he doesn't want to use the term "patriot" since it can apply to both sides, or that he's only interested in "truth" and as an Air Force veteran, he has a special imprimatur of credibility. It's a bit much for an introduction. Let's just stick with the history.
That being said, the history is solid and fun. The book starts with the Boston Tea Party and never really looks beyond Massachusetts in its narrative. It's a more limited look into the runup to Lexington and Concord, which is fine in that it allows Beck to get a little more granular in his personalities and anecdotes. Benjamin Church gets a LOT of attention as his efforts at spying for Gage and the British make for some fun reading.
Overall, nothing is earth-shattering or revelatory. Just a nice, solid, and focused history.
I put "amateur" in quotes here because it's not clear if Beck has written anything other than his 2015 and 2016 histories of the American Revolution covering 1773-1775 and 1775-1776, respectively. Allegedly, there's a final third volume, but I can't find it. It seems to be that way, which is unfortunate as this first volume is a very enjoyable, detailed, and lively history filled with punchy writing and unique anecdotes. Beck goes a little too far in disclaiming that he's portraying the British as "good guys" or the Colonials as "bad guys" or saying he doesn't want to use the term "patriot" since it can apply to both sides, or that he's only interested in "truth" and as an Air Force veteran, he has a special imprimatur of credibility. It's a bit much for an introduction. Let's just stick with the history.
That being said, the history is solid and fun. The book starts with the Boston Tea Party and never really looks beyond Massachusetts in its narrative. It's a more limited look into the runup to Lexington and Concord, which is fine in that it allows Beck to get a little more granular in his personalities and anecdotes. Benjamin Church gets a LOT of attention as his efforts at spying for Gage and the British make for some fun reading.
Overall, nothing is earth-shattering or revelatory. Just a nice, solid, and focused history.
September 27, 2015
Derek Beck’s first book, Igniting the American Revolution: 1773-1775, is sure to ignite new appreciation for the Revolutionary period. In this age of “popularized” versions of American history, which too often sacrifice accuracy for glitz, Beck has attained that magical balance of truth in reporting and engaging storytelling. He retells familiar stories (the Boston Tea Party, the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and Ticonderoga) by drawing on a vast well of original letters and diaries, which allows the characters to tell much of the story themselves and injects colorful realism at all points of the tale. Lesser-known events such as the early Powder Alarms and back-room dealings are also presented in an equally engaging way. Kudos also goes to Beck for not picking a particular hero or villain – American or British – and instead emphasizing the “grey areas” of human responses to world-shattering events. From committee meetings to the battlefield, the years leading up to the Revolution are presented more as a fascinating game of chess than as a battle between good and evil. It’s a refreshing approach, and proves that truth is just as, if not more, riveting than fiction. Aside from the very readable main body of the book, Beck also presents numerous appendices and extensive notes, a treasure trove for researchers and anyone who wishes to delve more deeply into the details of military maneuverings. The years 1773-1775 were only just the beginning of America’s revolutionary history, and this reader hopes that Derek Beck will continue to see us through with future titles.
August 24, 2015
I received a prepublication copy of this book (October 6, 2015) through NetGalley with the understanding that I would publish are review on my blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google + pages along with NetGalley, Amazon and Goodreads.
I requested this book because I am have an interest in the history of the United States. It is the first book by the author that I have read.
The title is a little misleading in that a very significant portion of the book takes place in 1775. That said, it is an interesting read and well documented. It holds your attention resulting in making it a quick read.
It covers the events leading up to the Battles of Lexington and Concord and then continues on covering the events surrounding the British occupation of Boston. This includes Paul Revere's ride helping to separate fact from fiction along with the events surrounding Lexington and Concord.
I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in American History, especially the events leading up to the Revolutionary War.
I requested this book because I am have an interest in the history of the United States. It is the first book by the author that I have read.
The title is a little misleading in that a very significant portion of the book takes place in 1775. That said, it is an interesting read and well documented. It holds your attention resulting in making it a quick read.
It covers the events leading up to the Battles of Lexington and Concord and then continues on covering the events surrounding the British occupation of Boston. This includes Paul Revere's ride helping to separate fact from fiction along with the events surrounding Lexington and Concord.
I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in American History, especially the events leading up to the Revolutionary War.
July 2, 2022
The author did an excellent job of describing events and motivations from a fairly neutral position. This provides the opportunity to see how mistakes on each side of the situation led to the Boston Tea Party, the Shot Heard Round the World, and the formal Declaration of Independence. It is interesting to consider the actions of these historical figures in light of the information they had and did not have.
July 15, 2025
Good review of the preceding years of the American Revolution. However, half the books are notes and references so actual reading material was slim.
October 8, 2015
In the way of disclosure I first crossed paths with Mr. Beck several years ago as we were both researching fine points of the Siege of Boston among the Thomas Gage papers at the Clements library in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Through that and subsequent interactions I became aware of his meticulous attention to scholarly detail.
Joseph Warren, my biographical subject, is one of many characters that Beck deftly incorporates into his account of the British North American colonies on the brink of rebellion. Along the way he brings insights into his subjects’ characters, while jumping freely and smoothly between authentic detail and the arc of major events. His telling of the origin of the American Revolution emphasizes key personalities amongst colonial Americans as well as British leaders. In his characterization of Warren, Derek Beck has performed original scholarship in reconstructing this lesser-known American founder’s personal life as well as forensics utilizing post-mortem pictures of Warren’s remains. Comparable original insights come fast and furious, such as a gripping account of the opening battles at Lexington and Concord.
'Igniting the Revolution' is a refreshing and, I believe, one of the best ever written accounts of a critical portion of the formation of the United States as a nation. Beck’s novelistic, almost cinematic presentation makes this a particularly delightful read. In addition to gaining readers, I hope that future popular media renderings of the era - such as the recent History Channel Sons of Liberty, will base their presentations on Mr. Beck’s work as opposed to presenting fanciful fiction as historical fact. The real story, as related by Derek Beck, is far more compelling.
In a project of this size and scope, one is bound to find aspects with which to disagree. One thing that comically stuck out for me was the characterization of British lieutenant colonel and later general Francis Smith, who led the British soldiers confronting American militiamen on the iconic Lexington Green at the outset of the Revolutionary War. Smith’s chief sin would appear to have been obesity. Never mind that Benjamin Franklin could also be presented in such a bariatric manner. In Smith’s case the physical characterization is especially unsympathetic. It seems to be shorthand for him being slow of mind and dimwitted. Picky, picky! For me this was the exception among hundreds of pages and many expertly presented and entertaining vignettes.
This book is particularly strong in characterizing the breakdown of civil government and subsequent outbreak of hostilities. The work is strongest for pivotal events in the Northeast circa 1773-1775 and to a lesser extent other geographies.
General readers will be delighted in the main flow of the narrative. Specialists and scholars will be impressed by extensive footnotes and appendices. These amply demonstrate the broad base of primary source material on which Derek Beck builds his engaging book. They also present alternate viewpoints and interpretations for those aspects equivocal in primary sources. General readers may want to skip over the appendices, losing nothing of the broad sweep and excitement of the narrative.
I hope 'Igniting the Revolution' finds its place among the classic renderings of the American Revolution, both for its readability and base of accurate and often new scholarship. I believe readers will look forward to further contributions from this new voice chronicling American history in a most engaging manner.
- Samuel A. Forman, author of the new young adult novel Twenty-One Heroes and the American founders biography Dr. Joseph Warren: The Boston Tea Party, Bunker Hill, and the Birth of American Liberty .
Joseph Warren, my biographical subject, is one of many characters that Beck deftly incorporates into his account of the British North American colonies on the brink of rebellion. Along the way he brings insights into his subjects’ characters, while jumping freely and smoothly between authentic detail and the arc of major events. His telling of the origin of the American Revolution emphasizes key personalities amongst colonial Americans as well as British leaders. In his characterization of Warren, Derek Beck has performed original scholarship in reconstructing this lesser-known American founder’s personal life as well as forensics utilizing post-mortem pictures of Warren’s remains. Comparable original insights come fast and furious, such as a gripping account of the opening battles at Lexington and Concord.
'Igniting the Revolution' is a refreshing and, I believe, one of the best ever written accounts of a critical portion of the formation of the United States as a nation. Beck’s novelistic, almost cinematic presentation makes this a particularly delightful read. In addition to gaining readers, I hope that future popular media renderings of the era - such as the recent History Channel Sons of Liberty, will base their presentations on Mr. Beck’s work as opposed to presenting fanciful fiction as historical fact. The real story, as related by Derek Beck, is far more compelling.
In a project of this size and scope, one is bound to find aspects with which to disagree. One thing that comically stuck out for me was the characterization of British lieutenant colonel and later general Francis Smith, who led the British soldiers confronting American militiamen on the iconic Lexington Green at the outset of the Revolutionary War. Smith’s chief sin would appear to have been obesity. Never mind that Benjamin Franklin could also be presented in such a bariatric manner. In Smith’s case the physical characterization is especially unsympathetic. It seems to be shorthand for him being slow of mind and dimwitted. Picky, picky! For me this was the exception among hundreds of pages and many expertly presented and entertaining vignettes.
This book is particularly strong in characterizing the breakdown of civil government and subsequent outbreak of hostilities. The work is strongest for pivotal events in the Northeast circa 1773-1775 and to a lesser extent other geographies.
General readers will be delighted in the main flow of the narrative. Specialists and scholars will be impressed by extensive footnotes and appendices. These amply demonstrate the broad base of primary source material on which Derek Beck builds his engaging book. They also present alternate viewpoints and interpretations for those aspects equivocal in primary sources. General readers may want to skip over the appendices, losing nothing of the broad sweep and excitement of the narrative.
I hope 'Igniting the Revolution' finds its place among the classic renderings of the American Revolution, both for its readability and base of accurate and often new scholarship. I believe readers will look forward to further contributions from this new voice chronicling American history in a most engaging manner.
- Samuel A. Forman, author of the new young adult novel Twenty-One Heroes and the American founders biography Dr. Joseph Warren: The Boston Tea Party, Bunker Hill, and the Birth of American Liberty .
February 1, 2020
It can be a compelling thing to read about how a war starts, especially one that is not particularly wanted by either side. Intriguingly enough, this war started in a fashion that Americans would not be unfamiliar with in the beginnings of wars, with ratcheting tension and the hope that conflict could be avoided and tense situations in a place with the most hot-headed of people that leads to an incident that neither side can back down from. Whether we are looking at Charleston in 1861 or Boston in 1775, there are some places where the recipes for the outbreak of war exist in such a fashion that it seems inevitable, and the author has written a compelling book about how it came to be that way, how the increasing pressure from England to humiliate and cow the Americans led the bumptious Americans to respond in force in such a way that empire could no longer be taken for granted or negotiated but was contested with force. And the book has the usual cast of characters one would expect, from a fierce King George III to Sam Adams to more obscure people who happened to be in the right place at the right time at a pivotal moment in human history.
This particular book is divided into two parts and eleven chapters and takes up a bit less than 300 pages of material. After a preface and acknowledgements, the author provides the first part of the book in four chapters that explore the increasing tensions between 1773 and 1774 (I). These chapters include a look at the Tea Party as the dawn of an epoch of conflict between the USA and Great Britain (1), the coercive reply of the British government that sought to overawe the Massachusetts people into a state of dependence (2), the army that they sent across the sea that was too small to control the colonies but large enough to provoke them (3), and the unstable peace that endured in Boston despite the increasing feeling of tension (4). The second part of the book then discusses the beginning of warfare between January and Mid-May 1775 (II), with chapters on the disquieting thaw over winter as Gage waited for orders (5), the preparations made on both sides for what was seen as a tense situation (6), the decision on the part of British political leadership to show the flag to restive country folk (7), the splitting of an empire as a result of the armed response of the colonials (8), the countryside unleashed in combat over the course of April 19, 1775 (9), the emboldened people who kept up a siege of Boston after chasing the imperial troops back from Concord (10), and the spreading flames of rebellion to other colonies (11). After this the book ends with an epilogue, abbreviations, appendices, notes, bibliography, index, and some information about the author, who has attempted and generally succeeded at being even-handed.
What does it take to ignite a revolution? In the case of the American Revolution, one as a history of salutary neglect that is changed when an empire figures it needs more from its settle colonies, while simultaneously looking down on them and viewing its resistance and pushback to increased taxation and regulation as being all talk and no action and thinking that a show of force will be enough to cow rebel sentiment. The results were predictable and lamentable. It is only surprising that the American colonies were the first to revolt successfully given the way that European imperialism, even in settler colonies, was frequently offensive to the dignity of anyone who happened to be from those colonies themselves. At any rate, this book provides a look at how pressure was ratcheted up until a revolution broke out that the British were not equipped to successfully handle despite having provoked it through coercive acts. Rarely has the folly of political leadership been repaid so quickly and so fitly as when the British lost most of their American colonies to independence less than two decades after having achieved a dominant position in North America.
This particular book is divided into two parts and eleven chapters and takes up a bit less than 300 pages of material. After a preface and acknowledgements, the author provides the first part of the book in four chapters that explore the increasing tensions between 1773 and 1774 (I). These chapters include a look at the Tea Party as the dawn of an epoch of conflict between the USA and Great Britain (1), the coercive reply of the British government that sought to overawe the Massachusetts people into a state of dependence (2), the army that they sent across the sea that was too small to control the colonies but large enough to provoke them (3), and the unstable peace that endured in Boston despite the increasing feeling of tension (4). The second part of the book then discusses the beginning of warfare between January and Mid-May 1775 (II), with chapters on the disquieting thaw over winter as Gage waited for orders (5), the preparations made on both sides for what was seen as a tense situation (6), the decision on the part of British political leadership to show the flag to restive country folk (7), the splitting of an empire as a result of the armed response of the colonials (8), the countryside unleashed in combat over the course of April 19, 1775 (9), the emboldened people who kept up a siege of Boston after chasing the imperial troops back from Concord (10), and the spreading flames of rebellion to other colonies (11). After this the book ends with an epilogue, abbreviations, appendices, notes, bibliography, index, and some information about the author, who has attempted and generally succeeded at being even-handed.
What does it take to ignite a revolution? In the case of the American Revolution, one as a history of salutary neglect that is changed when an empire figures it needs more from its settle colonies, while simultaneously looking down on them and viewing its resistance and pushback to increased taxation and regulation as being all talk and no action and thinking that a show of force will be enough to cow rebel sentiment. The results were predictable and lamentable. It is only surprising that the American colonies were the first to revolt successfully given the way that European imperialism, even in settler colonies, was frequently offensive to the dignity of anyone who happened to be from those colonies themselves. At any rate, this book provides a look at how pressure was ratcheted up until a revolution broke out that the British were not equipped to successfully handle despite having provoked it through coercive acts. Rarely has the folly of political leadership been repaid so quickly and so fitly as when the British lost most of their American colonies to independence less than two decades after having achieved a dominant position in North America.
October 27, 2015
Impressive!
If you read a lot of historical non-fiction, then you will understand what I mean when I say that often times, one book is just a slightly reworded repeat of another. That is not the case with this book.
Meticulous research, an unbiased standpoint from the author and good organisation, make this book one that you don't want to miss. I was particularly interested in the descriptions of the Boston Tea Party events that many other books seem to just gloss over. This was explained in detail in this book and in such a way that it seemed interesting and relevant today.
I love it when a historical non-fiction can bring events from the past to life and make you feel as though you were there to witness them, and Derek Beck does so with style.
If you are interested in the American Revolution, this is a book you will definitely want to add to your collection.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
If you read a lot of historical non-fiction, then you will understand what I mean when I say that often times, one book is just a slightly reworded repeat of another. That is not the case with this book.
Meticulous research, an unbiased standpoint from the author and good organisation, make this book one that you don't want to miss. I was particularly interested in the descriptions of the Boston Tea Party events that many other books seem to just gloss over. This was explained in detail in this book and in such a way that it seemed interesting and relevant today.
I love it when a historical non-fiction can bring events from the past to life and make you feel as though you were there to witness them, and Derek Beck does so with style.
If you are interested in the American Revolution, this is a book you will definitely want to add to your collection.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
July 4, 2021
A survey of events of the day that led to American independence, Igniting the American Revolution makes the history both an informative and readable work.
The author sticks to the facts as the records reveal them. He fleshes out the reality of this event. Since it focuses on a small time period, the author was able to go into quite a bit of detail, making the book a good read for any lover of American history.
I for one, have always been captivated by the extent to which the East India Company, an early example of the Corporation in modern history, took such an invasive hold on world trade. Modern would-be trade monopolies seem to pale in comparison, in my opinion. The author attempts to remain objective throughout the book, but as with any accounting of history, the truth is in the telling.
I chose this book on Kindle & Audible as a holiday read, and it did not disappoint. It is not too lengthy. It was my first read by this author, but I would enjoy seeing more of his work.
The author sticks to the facts as the records reveal them. He fleshes out the reality of this event. Since it focuses on a small time period, the author was able to go into quite a bit of detail, making the book a good read for any lover of American history.
I for one, have always been captivated by the extent to which the East India Company, an early example of the Corporation in modern history, took such an invasive hold on world trade. Modern would-be trade monopolies seem to pale in comparison, in my opinion. The author attempts to remain objective throughout the book, but as with any accounting of history, the truth is in the telling.
I chose this book on Kindle & Audible as a holiday read, and it did not disappoint. It is not too lengthy. It was my first read by this author, but I would enjoy seeing more of his work.
December 1, 2021
The information about activity from the taxes imposed, through the stamp act, through the tea party was quite interesting. I enjoyed the coverage of much that I have not read before. The coverage is through the fights at Lexington and Concord and up to and briefly covering Fort Ticonderoga.
I did not care much for the author's asides and his remarks of a character must have smiled to himself over something or that Benjamin Church surely wrote his traitorous notes to Gage in his library with the curtains all drawn and such. I find such speculation annoying in a factual book. They interrupt the flow of the narrative for me.
I did not care much for the author's asides and his remarks of a character must have smiled to himself over something or that Benjamin Church surely wrote his traitorous notes to Gage in his library with the curtains all drawn and such. I find such speculation annoying in a factual book. They interrupt the flow of the narrative for me.
February 5, 2016
An old subject, but a new book on the Revolution. Full of detail, that is enjoyable and instructional learning. One of my favorite quotes, "no one ever remembers the name of Paul Revere's horse", I can now say I do. And Revere did not shout, "the British are coming" he thought himself British-American. It was "the Redcoats are coming". Our side were called "rascally patriots". And Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen almost came to blows over who entered Ft. Ticonderoga's side door first. Book ends with the Patriots taking the forts of Lake Champlain and the 2 British wars ships.
February 12, 2019
When I was in grade school, the curriculum basically taught "Paul Revere's Ride" by Longfellow and "Concord Hymn" by Emerson as if that was all there was to the beginning of the American revolution. We students missed out on a lot! Also, the analyses in this book are brutal. Talk about history looking unkindly on certain individuals... Whew. This is recommended reading if you play Fallout 4, a video game set in and around post-apocalypse Boston.
January 18, 2023
With the primer of The Glorious Cause as a starting point, I enjoyed Igniting the American Revolution a bit more than I think I would have. Where a multi-part documentary series allows its creators to tell a big, sweeping story and a movie can be an event-driven burst, this book was the movie version of a handful of events talked about in The Glorious Cause. I don't think I would have enjoyed this book (and hopefully its follow-up book) as much without the frame of reference the Oxford History gave me.
A few things I really liked about this book... First, I liked the amount of focus on military maneuvers and positioning. There wasn't so much I felt like I needed maps or a telestrator, but it was enough to add to the story being told and helped create a sense of urgency or emotion the bigger/broader Oxford couldn't include. On the day the British Regulars marched on Lexington and Concord, Mr. Beck's descriptions of how the Massachusetts Militia harried, pestered, peppered, and otherwise made life miserable for the British made many of the resulting actions seem almost logical. If it weren't for the descriptions included about troop placement, bends in the road, hills, walls, houses, and other things, I don't think I would have been as enthralled by the action as I was. Like I said, I think the balance struck in this book was really great.
The second thing I enjoyed was the profiles of certain individuals from the period. At the beginning of the book, the author made a note of how he tried in these efforts to be as impartial as possible, even if it meant painting the Americans in a harsh light. He hoped his previous military service would remove the temptation to judge him, but he wanted us as readers to understand there are two ways of looking at things. One of them is that the Americans started a civil war as well as certain actions which were not necessarily in line with the values they embraced. It also means that he dedicated page space to British leaders, like General Thomas Gage, who he feels were fair and patient even when they could have been justified to act differently. I thought it was very informative to read about some of the others from this period of history who perhaps get overlooked or judged harshly because of the color of their uniform.
The last thing I'll mention is the scope of the book. While it would be tempting to look at the dates in the subtitle and think it covers two years, that assessment isn't exactly accurate. This book covered the time period mentioned, but it also principally covers a geographically small area and immerses the reader in the place and time. It made much of this history feel more alive than it ever has before and I really enjoyed it.
A few things I really liked about this book... First, I liked the amount of focus on military maneuvers and positioning. There wasn't so much I felt like I needed maps or a telestrator, but it was enough to add to the story being told and helped create a sense of urgency or emotion the bigger/broader Oxford couldn't include. On the day the British Regulars marched on Lexington and Concord, Mr. Beck's descriptions of how the Massachusetts Militia harried, pestered, peppered, and otherwise made life miserable for the British made many of the resulting actions seem almost logical. If it weren't for the descriptions included about troop placement, bends in the road, hills, walls, houses, and other things, I don't think I would have been as enthralled by the action as I was. Like I said, I think the balance struck in this book was really great.
The second thing I enjoyed was the profiles of certain individuals from the period. At the beginning of the book, the author made a note of how he tried in these efforts to be as impartial as possible, even if it meant painting the Americans in a harsh light. He hoped his previous military service would remove the temptation to judge him, but he wanted us as readers to understand there are two ways of looking at things. One of them is that the Americans started a civil war as well as certain actions which were not necessarily in line with the values they embraced. It also means that he dedicated page space to British leaders, like General Thomas Gage, who he feels were fair and patient even when they could have been justified to act differently. I thought it was very informative to read about some of the others from this period of history who perhaps get overlooked or judged harshly because of the color of their uniform.
The last thing I'll mention is the scope of the book. While it would be tempting to look at the dates in the subtitle and think it covers two years, that assessment isn't exactly accurate. This book covered the time period mentioned, but it also principally covers a geographically small area and immerses the reader in the place and time. It made much of this history feel more alive than it ever has before and I really enjoyed it.
August 16, 2025
Derek W. Beck’s book takes readers on a vividly detailed journey through the early, decisive years leading up to the American Revolutionary War covering the period from the Boston Tea Party in December 1773 to the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775. The book focuses on
The narrative is split into two main parts:
Part 1: "Ratcheting Tensions (1773–1774)" – Beck examines the escalating friction between the colonies and Britain, detailing key moments and personalities that set the stage for open rebellion. In telling the story of the Boston Tea Party I was impressed by the Patriot's commitment to modern Bill of Rights principles like private property from the start. While they destroyed the Tea they were so worried about private property that they replaced a lock that was damaged that they believed belonged to one of the boat's captains.
Part 2: "Taking Up Arms (January to mid-May 1775)" – The book covers the build-up to and unfolding of the first hostilities, including Lexington, Concord, and the strategic push into the countryside leading to Ticonderoga in order to hold Boston at siege.
The author goes to great lengths to try to be neutral in his assessment of the key players. He holds Joseph Warren and Paul Revere in high esteem. General Thomas Gage gets a bad rap by many American historians, but Beck argues he could have been much more despotic but allowed much civil disobedience without aggressive response. Benjamin Church was a doctor and spy feeding info from the Sons of Liberty to Gage and gets a rightful negative treatment. Overall Beck argues that the march on Lexington and Concord was probably more justified that most Americans believe and was not overly aggressive. He argues that most of the British atrocities were overreactions to scalping that happened by a minuteman at the Concord North bridge. Attacking homes and churches sounds bad but he argues that Americans made them targets once they used them as militia bases. Probably a fair argument but my American bias is too strong to fully accept that.
Overall I found the title’s focus is slightly misleading as it mostly covers 1775 but I liked how it presented a balanced depiction of patriots and loyalist. On April 19 1775 the shot was heard round the world and we will never know who actually took the first shot, but Beck seems to learn toward the idea that it was probably an over excited American.
The narrative is split into two main parts:
Part 1: "Ratcheting Tensions (1773–1774)" – Beck examines the escalating friction between the colonies and Britain, detailing key moments and personalities that set the stage for open rebellion. In telling the story of the Boston Tea Party I was impressed by the Patriot's commitment to modern Bill of Rights principles like private property from the start. While they destroyed the Tea they were so worried about private property that they replaced a lock that was damaged that they believed belonged to one of the boat's captains.
Part 2: "Taking Up Arms (January to mid-May 1775)" – The book covers the build-up to and unfolding of the first hostilities, including Lexington, Concord, and the strategic push into the countryside leading to Ticonderoga in order to hold Boston at siege.
The author goes to great lengths to try to be neutral in his assessment of the key players. He holds Joseph Warren and Paul Revere in high esteem. General Thomas Gage gets a bad rap by many American historians, but Beck argues he could have been much more despotic but allowed much civil disobedience without aggressive response. Benjamin Church was a doctor and spy feeding info from the Sons of Liberty to Gage and gets a rightful negative treatment. Overall Beck argues that the march on Lexington and Concord was probably more justified that most Americans believe and was not overly aggressive. He argues that most of the British atrocities were overreactions to scalping that happened by a minuteman at the Concord North bridge. Attacking homes and churches sounds bad but he argues that Americans made them targets once they used them as militia bases. Probably a fair argument but my American bias is too strong to fully accept that.
Overall I found the title’s focus is slightly misleading as it mostly covers 1775 but I liked how it presented a balanced depiction of patriots and loyalist. On April 19 1775 the shot was heard round the world and we will never know who actually took the first shot, but Beck seems to learn toward the idea that it was probably an over excited American.
May 8, 2025
This wasn’t my favorite book on the revolution but it had a lot of positive qualities. First of all, the details of Lexington and Concord were great- the author did a lot of research to include names and experiences and obviously used a lot of primary source material in that section. That was my favorite part of the book. I also liked the details with which he handles Arnold and Allen’s capture of Ticonderoga, I wish there was more on that. At the same time covering those two events in such a detailed fashion so late in the book made the read unbalanced- with all the weight at the end. My biggest complaint about the book starts with the preface, where the author asserts that he is unbiased but people may accuse him of being an Anglophile. I think he needed to do more self reflection there- if people read your work and say hey this is really bias then maybe it is. I did see this when the author wrote about Lexington and Concord. He details atrocities committed on both sides but leaves out the accusations of rape, harassment, and abuse of inhabitants of Boston before Lexington and Concord. He tries to give equal examples of atrocities but by leaving out those previous grievances I do feel like that is a bias. This omission to me waters down the grievances of the people of Massachusetts- they weren’t just angry that troops were there because they didn’t like the army. The army was negatively impacting lives there. It also makes the actions of American seem more aggressive and random with the Brits only responding in kind but I think that leaves out a large and muddy piece of the picture. Also, he mentions several times that we don’t know who fired the first shot but then reasons twice that it probably was an American even though that hurt their ability to present themselves as the victim. He stresses on more than one point that the Americans cultivated the victim persona. That is just not unbiased language. Last, in his discussion of who fired first and suggesting it must have been the Americans he really ignores a major point. Does pulling the trigger first really mean that you “started it”, especially considering a military governor sent 700 armed and trained soldiers, secretly in the middle of night, to raid, seize, and confiscate private property from the homes of private individuals?
July 18, 2021
Since I'm a big fan of history—well written history anyway—I tend to really enjoy history books that take a smaller slice of history and look a little deeper into events. Derek Beck's history of the run-up to and beginning of the American Revolution does an excellent job of this and makes for interesting reading. Paul Revere was captured by the British during his midnight ride (after a couple of narrow escapes), one woman tossed out her petticoat to the guy who rowed Revere across the Boston sound so he could muffle his oars. There was a brutal killing of an injured British soldier by a depraved American during the long night out to Concord and back that Beck argues—correctly it seems to me—led to savagery on both sides. Both Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold were glory-hungry narcissists, but only one of them turned out to be an excellent officer.
Sometimes Mr. Beck allows his personal opinions (it seems to me) to affect his interpretation of events. He's quite hard on the British for "looting" stuff as they retreated back to Boston, but looting is as old as warfare itself (Adam Makos recounts a scene in his book "Spearhead," in which Americans loot a cellar full of alcoholic drinks in the battle for Cologne). This stuff happens and it's the nature of war).
The book is full of fascinating insights into the characters and actions from the Boston Tea Party to the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. An enjoyable read.
Sometimes Mr. Beck allows his personal opinions (it seems to me) to affect his interpretation of events. He's quite hard on the British for "looting" stuff as they retreated back to Boston, but looting is as old as warfare itself (Adam Makos recounts a scene in his book "Spearhead," in which Americans loot a cellar full of alcoholic drinks in the battle for Cologne). This stuff happens and it's the nature of war).
The book is full of fascinating insights into the characters and actions from the Boston Tea Party to the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. An enjoyable read.
January 28, 2022
Igniting the American Revolution is part one of an excellent series on the American Revolution. Derek Beck writes objectively and without bias. His writing is thorough and clear. Beck's writing, in this first book, focuses on developments leading to the American Revolution in chronological order and from the perspective of the Americans (loyalists as well as revolutionaries) and the British. Despite our whitewashing of our past Derek Beck suggests the idea that perhaps the British weren't as tyrannical as we now suppose, just maybe provocation came from both sides, and that conflicts at the time were brutal. The people suffered and not everyone was on board with upending their lives for a cause they didn't believe in. But groups of radicals can make serious changes happen. Today it is much easier to understand and relate to the loyalist perspective. BUT.. we are missing what was most important to those revolutionaries. A cause worth fighting for and a core group of superb leadership that just might be unparalleled in all of human history. Hyperbole perhaps but read more and consider the statement. This book is an excellent addition to anyone's collection and a must read for those interested in the founding of this country and the American Revolution.
June 17, 2025
I was completely captured by Beck's description of the events leading up to the Revolution. He has a way of making you feel as if you were there witnessing the events unfold.
I particularly loved that Beck remained unbiased throughout the book. Too often in our American culture we tend to paint past events with a brush only painting "our side" as heroes while painting the opposing side as the "bad guys". Using primary sources Beck did a great job of letting you as a reader into the minds of the various leaders of both sides. You could see why Dr. Joseph Warren made the decisions he did. You could also see and understand why British governor Gage made the decisions he did. Beck brought humanity to all individuals embroiled in the conflict.
Also, why isn't Dr. Benjamin Church looked at with as much disdain as Benedict Arnold?
I particularly loved that Beck remained unbiased throughout the book. Too often in our American culture we tend to paint past events with a brush only painting "our side" as heroes while painting the opposing side as the "bad guys". Using primary sources Beck did a great job of letting you as a reader into the minds of the various leaders of both sides. You could see why Dr. Joseph Warren made the decisions he did. You could also see and understand why British governor Gage made the decisions he did. Beck brought humanity to all individuals embroiled in the conflict.
Also, why isn't Dr. Benjamin Church looked at with as much disdain as Benedict Arnold?
July 2, 2023
Real rating of 3.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as it gave a very detailed account of major events that led to the official start of the Revolutionary War, with major focuses on the Intolerable Acts, Paul Revere's famous ride, and of course Lexington and Concord. I feel like I have a better understanding of the beginning of the Revolutionary War after reading this book, even after reading 1776 and Washington's Crossing, as it included details not mentioned in either. However, I didn't find it as complete or as fascinating as either of the previously mentioned books, and if I had to choose only one of the three to suggest to read, it would be Washington's Corssing and not this book.
July 15, 2025
Listened to this on audio in anticipation of my upcoming, first trip to Boston. I was looking for something that provided a bit of a reminder from what I learned in AP US History - the origins of the American Revolution. While this certainly addressed some of that - the book opens with the Boston Tea Party - it seemed like this book was largely focused more on the military strategy/history/approach as opposed to political and social factors. I am more interested in the latter, so I found many parts of this book weren't exactly what I was looking for, and, frankly were boring to me. That being said, if you are really into history books that are much more focused on military or tactical history, I think this would be more enjoyable.
July 18, 2025
This is a quite detailed look about the events leading up to the American Revolution in New England. The period the author chose is a little strange, as he has a detailed account of Lexington and Concord, covers some of the leadup to Bunker Hill, and then we are left hanging just as the siege of Boston begins. Nonetheless, it was well written, and I learned a lot. Many admirable actions of the American patriots are documented, as well as some clear missteps and injustices. One that stood out is Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen, they come across as both very ambitious men with little concern for the technical justice of their actions.
January 18, 2021
Very detailed account beginning essentially with the Destruction of the Tea (l/k/a the Boston Tea Party), through the battles at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, and ending with the taking of forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point by Benedict Arnold. Oodles of appendices.
I like the author's evenhanded approach to facts and motivations. Some readers may not like the amount of detail, especially regarding the events of April 18 & 19, 1775. But that is the whole point of this book. I gained a much deeper understanding of the origins of the American Revolution.
I like the author's evenhanded approach to facts and motivations. Some readers may not like the amount of detail, especially regarding the events of April 18 & 19, 1775. But that is the whole point of this book. I gained a much deeper understanding of the origins of the American Revolution.
March 14, 2025
An enjoyable and gripping account of the lead up to the outbreak of The American Revolution in April 1775. Beck crafts a strong narrative that, whilst occasionally dipping too much to supposition, takes the reader on the journey of how the various directives of parliament and other issues led to the hostilities. The highlight of the book is is excellent description of The Lexington and Concord action and the retreat of the British back to Boston. A very enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to his next book.
March 4, 2021
Solid but not spectacular.
Little of the book is in 1773. Does have a brief run-up to the Tea Party, but that and the Boston act itself are about it for 1773.
Best good part is detailed description of battle of Concord. Nice sketch of effort to capture Ticonderoga is second.
On the big picture, there's not really anything new on colonial actions. Does have the even-mindedness of noting that Loyalists were themselves patriots.
Little of the book is in 1773. Does have a brief run-up to the Tea Party, but that and the Boston act itself are about it for 1773.
Best good part is detailed description of battle of Concord. Nice sketch of effort to capture Ticonderoga is second.
On the big picture, there's not really anything new on colonial actions. Does have the even-mindedness of noting that Loyalists were themselves patriots.
October 6, 2023
This book was very, very good! The research into this short 2 year period must have been exhaustive. My only critisism is that there were a few too many "perhaps," "possibly's" and "maybe's" for a work of non-fiction. This conjecture does help in the telling of the story, making it exciting, relative, and understandable. I am looking forward to the sequel, "The War Before Independence."
Also the reader was excellent!
Also the reader was excellent!
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