Liberty! The American Revolution
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
Liberty! brings to life one of the most important and compelling stories in America's history: the struggle for independence and the birth of the nation. New York Times bestselling historian Thomas Fleming's gripping narrative captures the high drama of the revolutionary war years and the unyielding courage and political genius of the men and women who imagined a new set of political possibilities for humankind - laying the foundation for the identity and character of the American people in the process. The companion volume to the PBS television series of the same name, Liberty! traces the evolution of the ideals that inspired a generation of Americans to struggle against Britain - then the most powerful country in the world - to establish the free society and democratic system that is so inherently and uniquely American.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Not surprisingly, Fleming, who is as well known for his historical novels (e.g., Remember the Morning, Forecasts, Aug. 4) as for his histories and biographies (e.g., Now We Are Enemies), concentrates on dramatic events and colorful personalities in this companion volume to a PBS TV series. Shaped but not constrained by the TV format, the book highlights the role of African Americans, women and Indians whenever possible. Fleming emphasizes political and moral causes, persuading readers that the American Revolution was motivated more by principle than by economic interests. He conveys well the idea that history is people, and that people are more than the sum of their daily affairs. George Washington emerges as able to overcome adversity, shape events and master himself--a legitimate hero for an emerging nation. Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry and Benedict Arnold describe their respective experiences in their own famous words. George III is depicted, not as a mere puppet of England's mercantile interests, but as a monarch determined to preserve royal power in the face of a challenge greater than any since the Puritan Revolution. Other key British and Loyalist figures are also well drawn, but the narrative is stronger yet in its battle pieces. In particular, Fleming's account of the desperation of the fighting at Lexington and Concord stands out, driving home the reality that the revolution was a real war. Capping his exciting reportage on the strife is a compelling overview of the adoption of the Constitution. Its carefully crafted synthesis of freedom and unity, individual rights and public responsibilities, he makes clear, continues to shape a nation "conceived in liberty." Scores of well-chosen illustrations, many in full color, enhance the text. BOMC and History Book Club main selections.
