This work offers a full-length, popular history of the American War of Independence - the "cruel accursed war" that changed the world forever. The story of this war has usually been told in terms of a conflict between blundering British generals and their rigidly disciplined red-coated troops on the one side, and heroic American patriots in homespun shirts and coonskin caps on the other. Here, the author portrays the realities of a war condemned by thousands of Americans, in which George Washington came perilously close to defeat. Both before and after General Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga, the British rarely lost a battle until the French helped the rebels defeat Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781.
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The first reports came from Boston, a town of some sixteen thousand inhabitants many of whom worked in its distilleries, fisheries, rope-walks and shipyards. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The first reports came from Boston, a town of some sixteen thousand inhabitants many of whom worked in its distilleries, fisheries, rope-walks and shipyards. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book provides a thorough introduction to the War of American Independence. Told with great authority and clarity the book describes and details the effects of each notable event from 1770 to 1781.
The book examines each of the major battles and skirmishes but does not get bogged down in deep analysis of battle formations and strategies. Instead the book concentrates on the war as a whole and its political and ecomonic impacts on Britain and America and consequently how each commander's startegy was affected.
The book is littered with anecdotes that helps to give the reader a more clearer understanding and appreciation of how the war affected the lives of those involved.
Although told primarily from a British perspective the American point of view is by no means neglected.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Alan Lenton
Format:Paperback
This is an interesting book. I know quite a lot about the American Civil War, but relatively little about the American revolution. This book rectified that deficit. It also made it clear that my preconceptions - outmoded Brit generals confounded by American sharpshooters - were somewhat inaccurate.
Yes, the British generals were not exactly top quality, but the real problem was the fact that Britain could not find enough troops to fight a war on a continental scale. Add to that the lack of coordination between the armies and you have a recipe for failure.
In real terms the British only lost two major battles - Saratoga and Yorktown - in eight years but that was enough to precipitate a crisis at home and bring conciliators to the fore in Britain.
Perhaps the war is best summed up by the US commander Nathanael Greene, "We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again." This is a useful book if you want to find out about the revolution and its social, economic and political setting, as well as the basic military information.
Yes, the British generals were not exactly top quality, but the real problem was the fact that Britain could not find enough troops to fight a war on a continental scale. Add to that the lack of coordination between the armies and you have a recipe for failure.
In real terms the British only lost two major battles - Saratoga and Yorktown - in eight years but that was enough to precipitate a crisis at home and bring conciliators to the fore in Britain.
Perhaps the war is best summed up by the US commander Nathanael Greene, "We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again." This is a useful book if you want to find out about the revolution and its social, economic and political setting, as well as the basic military information.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Embra Boy
Format:Paperback
I found this a fascinating and authoritative book and for me, it balanced perfectly the military side of the campaign with the broader political context. I particularly appreciated the vivid, and sometimes acerbic, portraits he painted of all the major players in the conflict. It is written from the British standpoint, but it is pretty forthright about the British blundering and lack of political clarity about their aims.
And now to a quibble - a minor one perhaps for many readers but one which had me continually irritated. Hibbert refers to the military forces as British, but the political entity is referred to as England (e.g Chapter 15 - The English Debate). This type of sloppy approach was commonplace 50 years ago but is past its sell by date. Hence, he talks about the volunteer regiments raised after Saratoga - in Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow as part of the surge of patriotic enthusiasm in England. Perhaps this is because he just doesn't know his British history - on page 103 he talks about a colony of emigrants from the Scottish Highlands, "predisposed to support the King, who by the act of Union of 1707 was their monarch as much as England's". Tsk. The Union of the Crowns was much earlier - in 1603, and 1707 marked the political union of which he seems unaware!
And now to a quibble - a minor one perhaps for many readers but one which had me continually irritated. Hibbert refers to the military forces as British, but the political entity is referred to as England (e.g Chapter 15 - The English Debate). This type of sloppy approach was commonplace 50 years ago but is past its sell by date. Hence, he talks about the volunteer regiments raised after Saratoga - in Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow as part of the surge of patriotic enthusiasm in England. Perhaps this is because he just doesn't know his British history - on page 103 he talks about a colony of emigrants from the Scottish Highlands, "predisposed to support the King, who by the act of Union of 1707 was their monarch as much as England's". Tsk. The Union of the Crowns was much earlier - in 1603, and 1707 marked the political union of which he seems unaware!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hibbert Brings A Fascinating Side To The American Revolution
This book provided me with everything I desired to know about the approach and despotism of the British monarchy over the American Rebels, before and during the period of the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by SnappedUp4Less
5.0 out of 5 stars
Educational Tale Of War In The 18th Century.
Christopher Hibbert's offering Redcoats and Rebels is a very interesting, easy to read account of the American War of Independence. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2010 by A. Tomlinson
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as the title suggests!!!
After having this book recommended to myself from a work colleague, I went out and bought it. That was my first and biggest mistake. Read more
Published on 20 Feb 2001
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