The Improbable Victory: The Campaigns, Battles and Soldiers of the American Revolution, 1775–83: In Association with The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

by Chris McNab (Editor)

The American Revolution reshaped the political map of the world, and led to the birth of the United States of America. Yet these outcomes could have scarcely been predicted when the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord. American rebel forces were at first largely a poorly trained, inexperienced and disorganized militia, pitted against one of the most formidable imperial armies in the world. Yet following a succession of defeats against the British, the rebels slowly rebounded in strength under the legendary leadership of George Washington. The fortunes of war ebbed and flowed, from the humid southern states of America to the frozen landscapes of wintry Canada, but eventually led to the catastrophic British defeat at Yorktown in 1781 and the establishment of an independent United States of America.
The Improbable Victory is a revealing and comprehensive guide to this seminal conflict, from the opening skirmishes, through the major pitched battles, up to the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Impressively illustrated with photographs and artwork, it provides an invaluable insight into this conflict from the major command decisions down to the eye level of the front-line soldier.

260 pages, Hardcover

Published July 18, 2017

About the author

Dr Chris McNab has written over a hundred books in a career spanning over two decades. He is a historian with a specialisation in military history.

Reviews

[Pete Grondin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reference book for knowing the relative strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and leadership of the various armies and navies involved in the Revolutionary War. The war and its many intricate angles demonstrates just how amazing it is that the United States exists as it does today. Even in the eighteenth century, budgetary constraints had major effects on nations' ability to fund and fight wars. Good read for anyone who is an amateur war historian.