1776: Amazon.co.uk: David McCullough: Books

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

"John Adams"

by David McCullough

4.6 out of 5 stars (19) �7.77

Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation

by Joseph J. Ellis

4.3 out of 5 stars (12) �6.87

John Adams - The Complete HBO Series [DVD] [2008]

DVD ~ David Morse

4.4 out of 5 stars (26) �15.98

Truman

by David McCullough

5.0 out of 5 stars (11) �9.99

The Path between Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914

by Mccullough

4.8 out of 5 stars (17) �7.77

› Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

history(2)

american revolution(1)

david mccullough(1)

Customer Reviews

19 Reviews

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent account of eventful year - 1776, 31 Aug 2006

By	EFMOL "eugeneol" (Dublin) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: 1776: America and Britain at War (Paperback)

Popular history doesn't come better than this. David McCullough has an excellent writing style that makes history come alive - this is a book I read in very few sittings.

The idea of writing a book about events in one year is not new, McCullough does an excellent job of describing the hardships for both American and British soldiers alike. The ordinary American soldier is not painted in a flattering light (dissertions, disgusting personal hygiene, and poor discipline).

One person does shine through from almost every page of this book - George Washington. McCullough deals with Washington's self doubt and slave owning sensitively, but he also paints a picture of an extraordinary man. Perhaps McCullough might consider a biography (he has done John Adams and Harry Truman).

An excellent book - thoroughly recommended to all with even a passing interest in American/British history. Enjoy!

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1776 and all that!, 11 Jun 2008

By	RichardDM "Richard" (Bristol, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1776: America and Britain at War (Paperback)

I expected American propaganda and a slagging off of the British, but McCullough excelled himself in his work as he recounted this exceptional year in world history. Sane, balanced and very inspiring, he brought the terror of defiance against the British Empire to life without any sickly American nostalgic, flag waving nonsense.
The book ends suddenly, and one would need to know "what happened next" to complete the story, but anyone who doesn't know that is living on Mars. That is not easy to say coming from a Brit. A truly great read. I even bought my dad a copy!

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing and limited look at the year, 5 Oct 2007

By	Thomas Paul (Plainview, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: 1776 (Paperback)

David McCullough's exploration of the year that the United States declared independence is disappointing both in what material he covers as well as what material he leaves out. Although the title is "1776", the book is actually about the first three major battles in which George Washington was the commander of American forces. Other events which occurred in that year such as the publishing of "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine and the signing of the Declaration of Independence are barely mentioned and then only in how they affected General Washington's command. The book ultimately is a brief discussion of the siege of Boston, the fall of New York City, and the battles of Trenton and Princeton. Unfortunately, McCullough is not a very good battle historian. His descriptions of the action make it very difficult to picture how the battles were fought and he includes no diagrams or illustrations to help explain the battlefield action. He does not describe the weapons used by either side.

McCullough also has a great deal of respect for George Washington, so much that he attempts to excuse Washington owning slaves. He makes a point to let us know that Washington freed his slaves after his death but fails to note that Washington had no children to inherit them. He also tries to make much of Washington having written a polite letter to an African-American woman who wrote him a poem. This trivializes the brutality of a system that Washington happily participated in and one in which he gained great wealth.

The narrative itself is rather choppy as McCullough frequently interrupts the flow of the story to provide narratives and letters written at the time. Although some are interesting, most simply repeat what McCullough has already discussed in the text. And there are quite a few spots in the text where McCullough has mangled his sentences. I found myself having to reread sentences because their structure was so poor. "He knew, as the enemy had no idea, just how big a country it was." Rewording would have helped this sentence immensely. "His council assembled, Washington made the case for an all-out amphibious assault on Boston, by sending troops across the shallow Back Bay in flat-bottomed boats big enough to carry fifty men each." So, did Washington make his case by sending the troops? Or did he make a case for sending the troops? Poor editing seems to be fairly common throughout the book.

Overall, the book is disappointing especially considering the many rave reviews it has received but it is still a fairly quick and easy read. If you are interested in a brief discussion of George Washington's early military career then the book could be worthwhile but I had expected much better from a two time Pulitzer Prize winner.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 19 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable war-focused history
McCullough narrates the journey of the Continental (and later the United States) army starting from 1775 and ending in early 1777, going from the initial tragedy of Bunker Hill,... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Mr. SD Halliday

5.0 out of 5 stars Knife's edge history brought to life
Even-handed treatment of a breathtaking story. They were close to disaster and somehow survived. An excellent read: lots of contemporary source material painting a vivid picture.

Published 3 months ago by andslau

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book, well-worth reading.
This is not a history of the entire course of the Revolutionary War between Britain and America - as the title suggests, it's the history of one year in that war, 1776, the year... Read more

Published 11 months ago by C. Ball

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Overview of a Difficult Year
What works in David McCullough's "1776" is the introduction of smaller stories. This is when he shines. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Graceann Macleod

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid Popular History of American Revolution's Most Important Year
David McCullough's "1776" is not only an important addition to the historical literature devoted to the American Revolution, but may be the definitive account of how crucial the... Read more

Published 14 months ago by John Kwok

4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling, human and colourful.
This is the first time I've read McCullough, but the experience has certainly left a very good impression. Read more

Published on 6 Aug 2007 by Robin Johnston

4.0 out of 5 stars A Look Back at the Beginning
At the crest of a hill on 150th Street, in Jamaica, Queens, a simple unobtrusive boulder with a bronze inscription announces that it was at that spot the Battle of Long Island was... Read more

Published on 22 Mar 2007 by !Edwin C. Pauzer

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
This novel was the second I'd read by David McCullough, I found the book to be both interesting and very enjoyable. Read more

Published on 7 Mar 2007 by Mrs. A. M. Chadwick

5.0 out of 5 stars Crucial Year, Superb History!
The reader of "1776" is introduced to an excellent narrative of a most crucial year in the history of America and the world. Read more

Published on 25 Feb 2007 by James Gallen

5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping narrative
1776 is a blessing. This revealing story is a blessing to me. I now have a better understanding of the American Revolution. Read more

Published on 9 Mar 2006 by Bobby

› See all 19 customer reviews...

Listmania!

((Amazon's Best Books))): A list by Darcy Maple
The Decade In T.V: A list by Mr. H Chinaski "Professional Alcohlic"
(((Amazon's Best Books))): A list by Darcy Maple

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Books > History > North America

Look for similar items by subject

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.

	71% buy the item featured on this page: 1776 4.6 out of 5 stars (19)
	10% buy "John Adams" 4.6 out of 5 stars (19) �7.77
	3% buy Truman 5.0 out of 5 stars (11) �9.99
	3% buy Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation 4.3 out of 5 stars (12) �6.87

1776 (Hardcover)

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product details

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Customer Reviews

Customer Discussions

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Listmania!

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject

Feedback

Your Recent History