The Spirit of Seventy-Six: The Story of the American Revolution as Told by Participants
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Book Overview
Who shall write the history of the American Revolution? Who can write it? asked John Adams in 1815. Renowned scholars Henry Steele Commager and Richard B. Morris have provided a prudent, perceptive answer--the participants themselves--and in the process have fashioned from the vast source material a thrilling chronological narrative. The Spirit of 'Seventy-Six allows readers to experience events long-entombed in textbooks as they unfold for the first time for both Loyalists and Patriots: the Boston Tea Party, Bunker Hill, the Declaration of Independence, and more. In letters, journals, diaries, official documents, and personal recollections, the timeless figures of the Revolution emerge in all their human splendor and folly to stand beside the nameless soldiers.Profusely illustrated and enhanced by cogent commentary, this book examines every aspect of the war, including the Loyalist and British views; treason and prison escapes; songs and ballads; the home front and diplomacy abroad. In short, the editors have wrought a balanced, sweeping, and compelling documentary history.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0306806207
ISBN13:9780306806209
Release Date:January 1968
Publisher:Da Capo Press
Length:1440 Pages
Weight:3.35 lbs.
Dimensions:2.3" x 5.9" x 9.0"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Great For The Historian!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
The Spirit of Seventy-six by Henry S. Commager is possibly the best collection of writings from the American Revolution. The book has thousands of exerts from journals, diaries, and lettersby participants. The book also has great maps to refer to while studying a certain battle or campaign. This book has a "contents"that is handy in finding your interest, the book is over one thousand pages. The Spirit of Seventy-six is a great reference book for the Revolutionary War enthusiast.
Wonderful
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
A great book ! I spent the better part of this year reading this book. But the beauty is that does not pose a problem because the writings included in this work are all relatively short. Make no mistake this is a very long work but well worth the effort. Especially since it is a collection of an incredible number of very short works. The collected works are as the title states contemporary accounts. It is a real treat to read what the contenders had to say about each other. Also the reader may think that the style will be difficult. Not at all. All in all I would most heartily recommend this work for either the student who would like a resource or anyone interested in The Revolution.
Superb
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
This is a great book! You can read it cover to cover, or read parts here and there, putting it down and taking it up as one has time or the inclination. The editors place all of the writings in perspective and context. The selections are not just those of the big name founding fathers--many common folk, officers and soldiers, civilians and women have their say in these pages. British, Americans and Loyalists are represented as well.
Vibrant and powerful!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
This is a fantastic work. The best thing about history is to find original source material and read what the actual people were thinking and saying. This book is better than most since it is mainly made up of letters and documents that illustrate how amazing our freedom is.We take so much for granted today and I believe that every American should read this book and realize just how close we came to losing everything. Heroes are really men and women that sacrifice everything for what they believe in. This book is about our first heroes. Our founding fathers and mothers were so exceptional. I get emotional every time I open this book and read about Lafayette, Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Greene, Hale, Henry, and Franklin.Please read this book and experience the story of our freedom from the people that won it.
Primary Source Material
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
Compendiums of primary source material are of infinite value to those who wish to seriously study any period of history. The authors of this immense work have done us all a great service in presenting a colorful, accurate, and representative picture of the American Revolution by those who were there. As a primary source, this book is invaluable. It isn't a book I would pick to read for pleasure on a cold, rainy night in front of the fireplace. In my opinion, it is more of a reference work that will give immense aid to researchers, historians, reenactors and hobbyists/enthusiasts of the period. Conversely, this serious work is not a dull encyclopedia, but a collection of recollections from those who fought to establish the country we call the United States. This book is both highly recommended and is a must to be on the bookshelf of any serious student of the period.
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