1776 | David McCullough | Remarkable Historical Account

1776 | David McCullough | A very intelligent account of 1776

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1776

	1776 David McCullough Simon & Schuster, 2006 - 386 pages average customer review:based on 654 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

America's most acclaimed historian presents the intricate story of the year of the birth of the United States of America. 1776 tells two gripping stories: how a group of squabbling, disparate colonies became the United States, and how the British Empire tried to stop them. This book destroys many popular myths about the wars of independence and reveals in fact how many Americans wished to remain British, and how many British had profound doubts about a military solution to the revolt. It shows that many of those fighting knew those on the other side well, and as the great decisions and battles of 1776 unfolded and attitudes hardened, the truly fratricidal nature of the conflict became clear. A must read. This exhilarating book is one of the great pieces of historical narrative.

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Remarkable Historical Account

To begin with, David McCullough is an America Treasure. After reading this novel it is easy to remember why McCullogh is a two time Pulitzer prize winner. This time out McCullough takes readers into the various battles led by General Washington in and around Boston and New York in the year 1776 as America's fight for independence from England wages on. Focusing on the rag tag group of soldiers that Washington had to command, as well as the suffering involved, McCullough once again weaves a masterful true story into a compelling read. That Washington persevered after setback after setback, was a testament to the stick-to-itiveness of our founding fathers. Thank goodness for their resolve. This is a great book to read notwithstanding the historical significance it provides. The bonus is that there is a lot here to learn about this pivotal time in the history of the united States.

Truly a 5 star read!

For an even more enjoyable experience, I recommend listening to the book as well. McCullough narrates the unabridged version and does an excellent job.

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A very intelligent account of 1776

The book is slow to read, i think that is the point. McCullough wanted the readers to slow down and take the time to read what was happening in 1776. His book is not written like others, where they show a progression of facts and interpretation. McCullough would rather show us the history, then tell us the history. He relies so much on letters of the actual people, then on sources of other historians.

So on that account alone, that makes the book slower to read.

It took me a few tries to read through it, at a few points i put the book down for awhile and then picked it back up, because his writing can be overwhelming. But the more I think on it, the more I think that is what he is trying to bring out.

He writes in a very sophisticated and intelligent way, which is very contrary to how many other writers write today. I am not saying that other writers are not sophisticated or intelligent, but McCullough presents a very polished sophistication and intelligence. Which is why he is one of the greatest historians of our time.

1776 really tells the story of George Washington, so much so that I thought he should have named the book "George Washington in 1776", I hope he does write a biography of George Washington, he would be the perfect author of such a book!

The way he writes the book and shows the feelings of the people involved at the time, he shows you the ups and downs of the people involved and how it played on the situations. We sit here and the revolution is a past event and to these people it is a present event, victory has not yet happen, he makes you root for Washington, as people either desert him, show their allegiance to him and yet while his men are in dire needs of supplies. We can not help but root for George Washington, knowing he will win and yet wondering how he will arrive there, with defeat after defeat.

I think he needs to write another book called "1777" so we can see how his defeats turn into victory.

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The Struggle of an Infant Nation

David McCullough takes the reader back to the very first year of our Republic in 1776 which indeed is the seminal year of the existence of the United States.
Not only did America sever its relations with England, it went to war with that Nation. In essence this is a story of George Washington's struggles and it tells of the making of his leadership skills. It also tells of a man who learns from both his mistakes and the mistakes of mostly omission of the enemy.
McCullough's prose takes us from the early siege in Boston unto the battles in Brooklyn and New York City. The battles in New York were victories for the British. It is true that Washington lost in these battles, but in the long run he learned much of the enemy and their tendencies. It is true that England was the dominant military force in the World at this time. In reflection this meant little to Washington. Although the Continental Army was no more than a rag tag collection of volunteers who were poorly equipped and clothed to fight a sustained battle with a professional Army, they did indeed make life for the British elite a living nightmare.
The efforts of George Washington were indeed stuff made of legend and the stories of these epic struggles have been handed down in American lore. His surprise attack on Trenton on Christmas Day gave hope to a beleaguered Army. Washington's struggles show the character of a man who learned from the experience of his mistakes. Washington as outlined by McCullough was not a brilliant strategist nor was he an intellectual giant but he did possess common sense and the gift of timing to do the right thing at the right time.
As stated by my old friend at the New York Times Book Review, Michiko Kakutani, "A Nation is born, and You Are There".

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Popular History That Reads Like Suspense

How on Earth did the 13 Colonies ever win the Revolutionary War against the British Empire? It was a lopsided match-up from the start. Yet, somehow, the American rebels pulled it off. David McCullough's "1776" gives us a glimpse into the first full year of warfare - which may have been the bleakest for the new country. The Army was made up of misfits (mostly from New England) and the citizens were starkly divided (especially in that Tory stronghold of New York City). McCullough takes us from the Siege of Boston to the Battle of Trenton (the turning point for General Washington and his Continental Army). McCullough tells us the story from the perspective of Washington, his generals, his officers, and his soldiers (but there are parts from the British point of view as well). What we get is history as a suspense novel. The action is fast. The characters are larger than life. Although this is a story that most Americans have heard a thousand times (starting in elementary school), McCullough gives it a fresh coat of paint and oftentimes it's easy to forget that the action had already happened. That's the sign of a good historian and a powerful writer. It's amazing that the Colonies ended up winning the Revolutionary War. The British - by nearly every barometer - should have won. But they didn't. McCullough shows us why through the eyes of the determined Washington and his troops.

Want more literate blather? Well, go, sir or madam, to the Dark Party Review.

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Good read but a little too ahgiographic.

I read this on holiday. I like reading about 18th century military history. I found this well written and engaging but too .. trite almost. The Hessians are described as mercenaries - this implies something immoral but they were hired by Britain from treaties with their home states as Britain had done for years. I see this book as a readable starting point for study of this part of the war. I think what is needed is a British account of the war that provides the kind of balance begun by Macksey.

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