"The Revolution without the rose-tinted spectacles?" Topic

Dear all,

Might anyone recommend, please, any reading about the American Revolution (not the *war*, so much as the whole political process from the 1760s onwards) that is *not* instinctively sympathetic to the Revolution? Something that exposes the claims/cases/conduct of the Revolutionaries (Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, etc. etc.) to dispassionate scrutiny?

Years ago I read Hugh Bicheno's 'Rebels and Recoats' and found his portrayal of the *war* very refreshing. In essence, I want something like this, but on the Revolution itself. Not hero-worship.

I would be most grateful indeed for any tips, folks!

Tuchman's "The First Salute" was very good and, I thought, dispassionate. Definitely a view from 30,000 feet but worth it.

Have you read The Men Who Lost America: British Leadership, the American Revolution, and the Fate of the Empire by Andrew J O'Shaughnessy and/or The War for America by Piers Mackesy?

They don't begin in 1763, but they are both valuable and might be helpful to you.

Try Gary Nash's The Unknown American Revolution. It looks at a lot of conflicting events and trends that contribute to the societal unrest such as labor disputes, land disputes, and currency issues without devolving into dry term paper style writing.

I would thoroughly recommend the 2 books by Derek Beck, "Igniting the Revolution", and "The War before Independence".

I think these books are outstanding and very balanced indeed. Written by an American, he himself states in the preface "…approach…suggests the American are the 'bad guys' (at times)…embrace these shades of gray…".

They are very engagingly written (better in my opinion than Atkinson). The description of the Battle of Quebec is one of the most exciting I have read.

Furthermore, they are a wargamers delight. The detail we thrive upon is to be found in the extensive appendices – units, numbers, equipment etc. All with documentary evidence.

Hopefully he'll write further volumes on the war beyond 1776.

Why do we even let these imperialist has-beens in this forum? Bunch of conceited, tea-swilling, losers whose greatest recent claim to fame is seizing goats from a bankrupt Latin American country. America could have taken the Falklands with a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and the crowd at the daily lunch buffet.

The Patriots and Founding Fathers were impeccable, freedom-worshipping men ahead of their times and in pursuit solely of Liberty and Justice. Nothing has or should soil their memory.

Did I mention my family is descended from New England Congregationalists? :)

Lol, you didn't need to, Yogi!

Yogi, you are one of a multitude of Ungrateful Traitors, Tarleton's Quarter for the lot of ya!

Alan Taylor's "American Revolutions" is a very balanced and critical view. I'm saying this as a Canadian!

Easier to get the colours right if you're not wearing rose-tinted specs.

Mackesy is very good.

Can somebody call Ranger Smith?

I always like Thomas Fleming's "1776: The Year of Illusion"

And that was a nice one, Yogi…

Eric

I loved 'Rebels and Redcoats.' If you are interested, I am starting up a Matroic game of Pre-revolutionary South Carolina here: link

It will give you an opportunity to play a Freedom Loving plantation owner with all other paradoxes that involves…

Nevertheless, the Revolution was a watershed in world history, and the polity that became the United States has been of enormous benefit on balance to the world as a whole. The Revolutionaries were human with associated flaws and faults, but no group of political leaders has had a larger impact for good.

I would recommend "The Glorious Cause" by Robert Middlekauff. Probably the best single-volume grand history of the AWI I am aware of. It covers the period from 1763-1789. The first 200+ pages of this book are focused on the political situation in both the England and the Americas colonies from 1763 to 1774, the remaining 400 pages, cover the remaining years of the conflict from both the military and political perspective.
Please note, I consider this to be a "scholarly work" in nature and not necessarily something a casual history buff would care to read (more analysis, less bang, bang). :-)