Play Book Tag discussion
This topic is about
The British Are Coming
2022: Other Books
>
The British Are Coming by Rick Atkinson - 5 stars
date
newest »
newest »
Wonderful review Joy! I hope the wait for book 2 is not too long-really enjoyed this one
Joanne wrote: "Wonderful review Joy! I hope the wait for book 2 is not too long-really enjoyed this one"Thanks, Joanne. I am looking forward to the 2nd book too. I imagine it takes a while to write such a book.
I think I am the rearguard in finishing, but I so am enjoying it. Love your review!
Theresa wrote: "I think I am the rearguard in finishing, but I so am enjoying it. Love your review!"Thanks, Theresa! It's nice to be able to read these long books at our own pace.
“The column stretched for more than a mile, first rising east from the river, then turning sharply south onto Bear Tavern Road. As the road angled through dripping copses of hickory and black oak, soldiers draped handkerchiefs, greased rags, coat skirts, and blankets over their musket priming pans, to small effect. Whenever the march stalled momentarily, as night marches inevitably did, men fell asleep on their feet and had to be forcibly roused. Sergeants prodded the sick and lame who lingered by the roadside, but at least two soldiers fell behind and froze to death on the tableland that night.”
Rick Atkinson brings history to life in vivid detail in this first book of a planned trilogy about the American Revolutionary War. This book covers the initial battles of Lexington and Concord in 1776 and documents the course of the war by its military campaigns, ending this volume with the battles of Trenton and Princeton in 1777. It tells the story from both the British and the American perspectives, starting off in Great Britain with King George III reviewing his fleet.
The author highlights the talents of key players such as Henry Knox, Nathanael Greene, Charles Lee, Benjamin Franklin, Horatio Gates, and of course, George Washington; and on the British side Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis, Thomas Gage, Richard Howe, William Howe, and so many more on both sides of the conflict. Benedict Arnold makes an appearance in the Canadian campaign. It also covers the experiences of ordinary people living through this turbulent time, as documented in diaries, letters, and journals. It covers the significant roles of the Hessians and the French.
This is a book for people who want specifics. We get details of what they wore, ate, weather conditions, diseases they faced, difficulties in paying and retaining troops, horrible conditions suffered by the combatants, combat statistics, economic impact, counterfeiters, weapons, types of ships, supplies, shifting loyalties of the citizens depending upon which side occupied the and surrounding area, and so much more. I very much appreciated the maps, as well as the paintings and drawings included at the end.
Rick Atkinson’s narrative non-fiction is top rate. He excels at establishing an atmosphere, relating what happened and why, and portraying the human impact. It is a lengthy book and took me a long while to get through it, but I found it well worth my time. Highly recommended!