Reading about history can be a real toss-up – either you love it or you hate it. In the case of Richard M. Ketchum’s Saratoga: Turning Point of America’s Revolutionary War, I was immediately drawn into the fast moving historical events while enjoying Ketchum’s exciting and lively writing style at the same time.

Saratoga is a historical account of the events leading up to the fateful battle of Saratoga and the major impact it had on the outcome of the American Revolution. During the decisive third year of battle between the English and the colonial rebels, the Americans had lost war after war. The colonies had sought France’s support from the onset of the war, but France literally denied any hope of alliance talks simply because the colonies gave the impression that they couldn’t stand up to the professional British military.

With an extremely lively style of narration, Ketchum writes detailed narrations of the various battles that led to the ultimate clash at Saratoga. The American losses of Fort Ticonderoga and the following victories at Bennington and Freeman’s Hill were all major contributors to British General Burgoyne’s decision to take a gamble and go for an “all-or-nothing” strike against the rebel army led by Horatio Gates.

Saratoga is quite well organized. For the most part, it is ordered chronologically. The entire book features 545 pages, which might feel like a lot, but Ketchum’s writing style is hard not to enjoy and the book comes down in the end feeling not as dense as I thought it would be. Saratoga contains only six maps in total throughout the entire book and eight pages of black-and-white portraits of important figures mentioned. Readers won’t see many map references although there are occasional footnotes at the bottom of the page to explain a referenced event or idea. Overall though, Saratoga could have definitely incorporated many more maps and illustrations for reference. I recommend readers to at least have some background information regarding the geography of early colonial America because Ketchum doesn’t explicitly explain the historical events with references to the maps.

Ketchum clearly puts out his argument and analysis that the battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the American Revolution. Overall, the chapters are well linked and the entire narration flows smoothly. However, some of the links are quite subtle. For example, Ketchum opens up with a detailed account of Benjamin Franklin, John Carroll, Charles Carroll, and Samuel Chase’s secret expedition to Canada. I especially enjoyed Ketchum’s subtle hint that this was the start of America’s interest in a French alliance, and even suggests that the Continental Congress was thinking of incorporating Canada as its “fourteenth colony.”

Final Thoughts

Richard M. Ketchum’s Saratoga: The Turning Point of the American Revolution is well written. Ketchum undeniably has a unique writing style that is at once lively, captivating, and subtle. The detailed accounts are detailed and feel historically accurate. However, the lack of maps and illustrations may be somewhat frustrating for some readers. Saratoga is a great read for anyone with a little background information about the American Revolution and is interested in learning more.


Recommended: Yes