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Book

The American Revolution : an intimate history

Call Number

  • 973.3 W258 (CEN, OSH)

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Edition

First hardcover edition.

Publication Information

New York : Alfred A. Knopf , 2025.

Physical Description

xiii, 581 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color maps ; 28 x 25 cm

Summary

From the award-winning historian and filmmakers of The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The Roosevelts, and others: a richly illustrated, human-centered history of America's founding struggle-expanding on the landmark, six-part PBS series to be aired in November 2025. "From a small spark kindled in America, a flame has arisen not to be extinguished." -Thomas Paine. In defeating the British Empire and giving birth to a new nation, the American Revolution turned the world upside down. Thirteen colonies on the Atlantic coast rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired independence movements and democratic reforms around the globe. The American Revolution was at once a war for independence, a civil war, and a world war, fought by neighbors on American farms and between global powers an ocean or more away. In this sumptuous volume, historian Geoffrey C. Ward ably steers us through the international forces at play, telling the story not from the top down but from the bottom up-and through the eyes of not only our "Founding Fathers" but also those of ordinary soldiers, as well as underrepresented populations such as women, African Americans, Native Americans, and American Loyalists, asking who exactly was entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Enriched by guest essays from lauded historians such as Vincent Brown, Maya Jasanoff, and Alan Taylor, and by an astonishing array of prints, drawings, paintings, texts, and pamphlets from the time period, as well as newly commissioned art and maps-and woven together with the words of Thomas Paine- The American Revolution reveals a nation still grappling with the questions that fueled its remarkable founding.

Notes

"A Borzoi book."

"Picture research by Salimah El-Amin with Rosie Feerick and Vicky Lee. Design by Maggie Hinders."

Contents

  • In order to be free : May 1754-May 1755
  • The American Revolution as an imperial event / An Asylum for mankind : May 1775-August 1776
  • Slavery, freedom, and the war for the British Caribbean / The Times that try men's souls : July 1776-January 1777
  • John Singleton Copley's accidental revolution / Conquer by a drawn game : January 1777-February 1778
  • The Most unnatural, unprovoked, rebellion / The Soul of all America : December 1777-May 1780
  • Consequences of revolution / The Most sacred thing : May 1780-onward
  • The Mysterious renewing well of the revolution

Subjects