America’s beloved and distinguished historian presents, in a book of breathtaking excitement, drama, and narrative force, the stirring story of the year of our nation’s birth, 1776, interweaving, on both sides of the Atlantic, the actions and decisions that led Great Britain to undertake a war against her rebellious colonial subjects and that placed America’s survival in the hands of George … Washington.
In this masterful book, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence–when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.
Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is a powerful drama written with extraordinary narrative vitality. It is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the King’s men, the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known.
Written as a companion work to his celebrated biography of John Adams, David McCullough’s 1776 is another landmark in the literature of American history.more
I own the hard cover & audiobook editions of this title with the audiobook being read by the author, David McCullough. It is a brilliant non-fiction title. You know what the ending is but McCullough writes in way to make history a page turner. The audiobook reading is one of the best audiobooks ever. If David McCullough writes it, I read it.
The author always knows how to take history and express it such that it is a very entertaining read. Loved all his books, but this especially good.
As with all of McCullough’s books, no matter how much you think you learned about the American revolution in school, the details described in “1776” will not only fill in so many holes, but will also personalize the many “names” that were previously just points to memorize or pictures in our texts.
I have never read a McCullough book that didn’t …
Great lesson in history.
My bookshelves are full of McCullough’s books. He is a writer not an academically trained historian (a degree in English Lit) but there are none better at writing of our nation’s history. Historically accurate and detailed; he draws you in to the time and place with engaging storytelling. In 1776, he sets up the causes and events on both sides of …
David McCullough has an amazing gift for bringing history to life. I learned so much about the American Revolution from this book, despite the fact that I have already read extensively on the subject.
McCullough rules this category.
A terrific historical read.
Very informative and enlightening book about the year that our nation was born. It starts just prior to 1776 and goes through approximately January/February 1777. Good information about the many trials and tribulations that George Washington and the Continental Army went through, trying to defeat the British Army, at the time the most powerful …
This is such a well written book. Superior prose makes the history and the narrative through it come alive for the reader. Excellent.
This is a very interesting easy to read history book. The author writes in away that it flows and keeps you reading. I love history and this is one of my favorite books
Just finished this book (for the second or third time in the last 10 years or so) and loved it as much as the first time. McCullough, somehow, manages to stay within the constraints of the calendar year of 1776 – when so much was going on either side of that year. If nothing else, his work opens up some of the holes in our secondary (and even …
Excellent novel about George Washington and his continental army in 1776. Anyone interested in revolutionary era history should read it.
David McCullough is one of the best authors who write non-fiction historical, well-researched books….like this one. I always purchase and read his books – especially liked “The Path Between The Seas” about the building of the Panama canal, and 1776.
As a history buff and a member of DAR, “1776” is well worth the time to read it. Although …
A great addition to revolutionary history. Fantastic reading for any American patriot.
It has been a very long time since I read this book, but I remember enjoying it immensely, as I have enjoyed all of David McCullough’s books. He writes history in a manner that is easy to understand and easily read. I find some famous historian’s writings are so ponderous and opaque as to make them tiresome to struggle onward. Far better to let …
Felt like I was watching from a corner, so realistic. Makes me wonder how we ever won with all the problems we faced against a well trained Army. Downright determination to out from under British rule!.
Like most McCullough works, this one is very well researched. While it is non-fiction, it reads like a novel and is eminently entertaining. I learned a lot while reading it.
Learned alot of history
David McCullough is one of those historians that can bring history alive. He deserves all the awards he’s received and 1776 is terrific non-fiction. The American Revolution was unique and there was an unusual group of key people and so many elements are still pertinent today. He’s the kind of historian even fiction fans find readable and …