No one who reads this exceptional book can come away with anything but a newfound respect for the "rabble" upon whom depended the fate of a nation aborning--and the remarkable man who led them, George Washington.
In a time when Americans seem to be more balkanized than ever, 1776 reminds us that things were not much different back then. Far more colonists favored the Crown's protection than "independency," as accounts from many letters and diaries reveal. Indeed, it is McCullough's artful assembling of what must have been mountains of such missives that gives the book its great readability. At times, you can almost hear McCullough speak as he does so well on those National Geographic specials that are so appealing to viewers.
What strikes the reader about the "rabble" that forged a nation almost by their will alone (for certainly they had no clothes, no powder, no food, and often no pay) is that their spirit and ardor were almost solely the result of Washington's encouragement, bearing and attitude.
Far from being a depiction of a flawless hero, McCullough's Washington is all too human, affected by the same misgivings, dejection--and often a fatal indecisiveness--that affects us all. He was also capable of making blunders, many of them nearly fatal to the Cause he so desperately and faithfully believed in and served. At the conclusion of the book, McCullough tells us:
"He was not a brilliant strategist or tactician, nor a gifted orator, not an intellectual...
He had made serious mistakes in judgment. But experience had been his great teacher from boyhood...and above all, Washington never forgot what was at stake, and he never gave up."
And there were plenty of times no one would have blamed him for doing so. Many readers, if being honest with themselves, would have signed Lord Howe's offer of pardon without hesitation, as did many of the colonists who had had enough of "this ruinous war."
Washington's sticktoitivenss seems to have been a legacy he left to Americans in addition to a foundling new nation. From the victory at Boston to the disasters of Brooklyn and Fts. Washington and Lee, to the pivotal Battle of Trenton (where, according to McCullough's research, the Hessians were definitely not drunk) the reader is taken on a wild emotional ride, even knowing what the outcome will be. The cast in McCullough's tapestry runs the gamut from noble to ignoble, brilliant to stupid and all points in between.
Interesting from a modern point of view was the diversity of opinion regarding the "troubles in the Colonies." While most Americans did not actively support separation from Britain (and many worked diligently as spies to prevent it), neither was the British Parliament of one accord in dealing with the issue. Though Parliament's votes always came down on the side of King George III (whom McCullough paints in a far more favorable light than most history texts), there was strident, impassioned oratory from many who opposed the way George was handling things. Some things, it seems, never change.
Remarkable too was the level of education evinced by the writings of the various characters. From British nobility to American soldiers writing to their families from the front lines, the writing--if not the penmanship--was fascinatingly good on all levels, which must have made McCullough's Herculean task somewhat more bearable.
Shining through like a beacon of heavenly light was the role played by what some call Luck, others, Chance and still others, God. There is no denying that the various authors of the missives--on both sides-- were firm believers in God, a fact that might give modern day atheists fits. But only the most dedicated of them would be able to disregard some of the truly astounding "coincidences" that mostly helped, though sometimes hindered, the American Cause. It is not hard, therefore, to understand why In God We Trust is still on our money, nor why Washington is so revered and remembered.
David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning narrative about this most discouraging, dangerous--and ultimately most important--chapter in American history should be required reading for every American student. Our youth, perhaps reading texts that do not properly acknowledge the details of the struggle for independence, need to know this most wonderful and uplifting story from a perspective unclouded by political correctness.
Better still, Mel Gibson should make it into a movie. The Patriot, while mostly fictional, was wildly successful and memorable. Certainly a movie based upon real patriots and the man who led them could be, too.
Schoolkids would then be exposed to it, probably with more lasting effect.
General History - The handsome slip-cased illustrated edition includes thirty-five removable facsimiles of historical documents. These carefully recre...More at Barnes and Noble
Twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Truman and John Adams, David McCullough returns with the story of the Revolutionary War--a book certain to be a...More at Buy.com
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.