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DiscussãoAmerican Revolution & Founding Fathers History

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1nakmeister
Ago 15, 2007, 8:31 am

I was looking for a general history non-fiction group, or general American history group but couldn't find them. Do such groups exist on librarything?

Anyway I saw this group and thought it might be interesting. I'm into American history, mainly pre-1900 but other than that I'm not too specific. Oh and I'm not American I'm British (sorry!) hope that's ok!

I've just finished reading 1776 by David McCullough which I thought was an excellent book, though far too short. Can anyone recommend a good book about the American Revolution that either covers the whole of it, or maybe takes it up where McCullough ends?

Thanks, and hope to get involved in some discussions on here soon.

Nakmeister

2AsYouKnow_Bob
Ago 15, 2007, 12:06 pm

Page Smith's A New Age Now Begins is terrific, and certainly long enough.

3A_musing
Editado: Ago 15, 2007, 12:40 pm

I couldn't agree more on 1776. I'll suggest a few classics: Barbara Tuchman's The First Salute; Ted Draper's A Struggle for Power; and Henry Steele Commager's collection of original materials The Spirit of Seventy-Six. They are all readable, written for a popular audience and interesting. A good look at local history in the period is William Cooper's Town by Alan Taylor, which won a pulitzer and gives a history of Cooperstown, in upstate NY, essentially from the period just before the Revolution until Jefferson's election. I really enjoyed William Cooper's Town, and can't recommend it highly enough.

4CritEER
Ago 15, 2007, 1:43 pm

nakmeister...A book I read and strongly recommend is "Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic" written by John Ferling. This book was the winner of the 2004 Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award (recognizes books of exceptional merit written on the Revolutionary War era).

The book begins with events starting with the French and Indian War through the election of Jefferson in 1800. Not only does Ferling provide the significant events/individuals during this period of time, Ferling also provides astute analysis and critical information in support of the events/individuals.

In the past two years I have been on a Revolutionary War era reading surge...reading 17 books. This book and author John Ferling are two of my favorites.

Best wishes...kpg

5JonnM Primeira Mensagem
Ago 19, 2007, 7:02 pm

A fascinating book I read a few years ago was The Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies 1760-1785 by Don Cook which looks at the revolution from the perspective of England.

I have found it very helpful to know what the politics were in England which led to the revolution, and to the way it progressed.

6jmcclain19
Editado: Ago 20, 2007, 12:36 am

Joseph Ellis' pair of Revolution era books - His Excellency: George Washington & Founding Brothers are two of my all time non-fiction favorites.

7sergerca
Ago 20, 2007, 8:14 am

Have read neither of these, but have heard great things. Both focus on the military aspects, I think.

The Glorious Cause
Almost a Miracle

8nakmeister
Ago 20, 2007, 8:18 am

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm about to order a couple of the books mentioned above to get me started. I'll let you all know what I think.

9Jesse_wiedinmyer
Ago 25, 2007, 2:40 am

>I was looking for a general history non-fiction group, or general American history group but couldn't find them. Do such groups exist on librarything?

There's the American History thread, also.

10A_musing
Ago 26, 2007, 8:34 am

For general history, there is "History Readers: Clio's (Pleasure?) Palace" and there is a very active Medieval group.