Hi,
I’m looking for a scholarly, comprehensive history of the American Revolutionary War. Can anyone recommend an author or authors of the calibre of say, David McCullough, Jon Meacham, Walter Isaacson or Ron Chernow, preferably something with an emphasis on technology/science and economics, in other words, as rounded as possible. I look forward to your feedback.
davidmich
Almost a Miracle is recent, well-reviewed and looks to be fairly comprehensive. However I will add the caveat that while I own a copy, I haven’t read it yet.
The American Revolution by Bruce Lancaster is a good general history. Or there’s The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789 by Robert Middlekauff if you’re looking for a somewhat deeper work.
Thank you. Very helpful indeed.
davidmich
Thomas Fleming has several books on the revolution. He has been one of commentators on several documentaries on the revolution. A very good author that just happened to have grown up next to my father. I’m not sure if his books are too narrowly focused for you.
Thank you Loach. I’ll look him up too.
davidmich
It’s a very approachable work. I liked it.
The Glorious Cause, of course. It’s a very good book.
This is a very good and entertaining course. Its less about the battles and more about people, hows and whys.
Nice. Thanks for the cite.
You could try * Rebels and Redcoats * by Hugh Bicheno , which gives a fair appraisal from both sides.
Oxford University Press came out with one.
I think the title was The American Revolution.
Paperback edition was the size of a cinderblock.
I think you’re talking about the Middlekauff book I mentioned above.
Barbara Tuchman’s The First Salute is very good, if perhaps not quite the scholarly work the OP was looking for. It emphasizes the crucial role the French navy played, and how the British navy mishandled their opportunities.
And the guy who did the History of Rome podcast is now doing one called Revolutions, which has just finished covering the American Revolution.
I took a two-semester course in college on the history of warfare, and one of the assigned books was this highly acclaimed book:
A Revolutionary People At War: The Continental Army and American Character, 1775-1783
Thank you all. Very helpful.
davidmich