good book about AWI and the main players in it

I’ve just finished a book I can recommend. It’s _Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America’s Independence_, by Jack Kelly. In general a good history of the AWI, but with more attention paid to the people involved. He discusses the back story, strengths and weaknesses of the men with whom we are familiar, as well as the good and bad baggage they brought to the task. I've read quite a bit about those men, but he personalized them nicely, told me a lot of little details of their lives I had never known.

Kelly is easy to read, and even though I was fairly familiar with the story, knew how it ended, I got caught up in the book and looked forward to reading the next bit.

Spence

Not noting who posted this I thought it was some one wanting some good books on the AWI. Quickly I looked up a few that I had read and enjoyed but could not remember the author or I was unsure of the name.
I found half a dozen and was about to post them when I saw who was posting.
My thought was “what??? Spence??? Same name I wonder why he didn’t have to get another name. What??? cannon omg this is Spence... he sure doesn’t need my little list.”

Au contraire, mein Freund, the world is full of books I haven't read. If you have your list handy, please post away, we'll all be interested.

I can recommend these about F&I and AWI:

Crucible of War, Fred Anderson [excellent]

Eighteenth Century America, Hessian diary of Phillip Waldeck, translated by Bruce. E. Burgoyne

Paul Revere’s Ride, David Hackett Fischer [excellent]

Washington’s Crossing, David Hackett Fischer [excellent]

The American Revolution, Bruce Lancaster

Spence

Well my thinking was for basic, books for someone who had limited knowledge on the war and wanted a good overview. George Washington’s war, O’reilys killing the British empire, the conquers and the frontiersman by Eckert and even the two novels rise to rebellion and glorious cause by Shaara for a bit of historiography accurate storytelling. And the lighter sketch books by Wilbur the revolutionary soldier and revolutionary medicin and his pirates and patriots of the revolution and lastly Plum-Martin, good overview books I think.

I enjoyed "The Men Who Lost America" - British leadership was not quite as portrayed in our (US) history books. Also, "1759 - The Year that Britain ruled the World" about the F&I / 7 years war.

tenngun said:

sketch books by Wilbur the revolutionary soldier and revolutionary medicin and his pirates and patriots of the revolution

Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more about that series, among my favorites.

Spence

1776 - by D. McCullough

Patriots. The men who started the American Revolution - by A.J. Langguth

Rebels And Redcoats: The American Revolution Through The Eyes Of Those That Fought And Lived It, 1987, by George F. Scheer & Hugh F. Rankin

The Spirit Of Seventy-six: The Story Of The American Revolution As Told By Participants, 1968, by Henry Steele Commager & Richard B. Morris

Spence