disastrouspenguin's review against another edition
4.0
Consumed via Audiobook. (Narration was great)
Really interesting, but so many names, places and events that I feel I would have been able to better process this book as text, with more opportunities to pause and look at maps, diagrams, etc.
Do recommend either way.
Really interesting, but so many names, places and events that I feel I would have been able to better process this book as text, with more opportunities to pause and look at maps, diagrams, etc.
Do recommend either way.
jpbooks13's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
4.0
A good book about the Siege of Yorktown; some of the naval scenes are a little hard to follow though.
timmens59's review against another edition
4.0
A fine volume to cap Philbrick's Revolutionary War trilogy. As his fans know, he excels when writing of the sea and his description of the the Battle of the Chesapeake was breath-taking. Much of my previous readings on the Revolutionary War period focused on the founders. Here, I learned much about the movements and actions of the French and British navies and how so many things needed to go right for the allies and so many things needed to go wrong for the British. Philbrick is indeed a treasure. I'm eager next to read what he brings to the Custer canon.
seandelliot's review against another edition
4.0
Already a fan of Philbrick's writing, this book went on my list as soon as I knew it was being published. This was a good choice for me to open my 2018 reading challenge, a gripping read just long enough to feel substantial and yet short enough to get me going.
Philbrick is a master of bringing history to life.
As important as the battle of Yorktown was in the American Revolution it is generally given very short shrift in the histories, and when it isn't, much of the attention is given to the battle itself. Philbrick's mastery of the maritime and naval matters gives him the perfect opening to craft a new look at the events, the machinations and maneuvers, that led to Yorktown being the decisive battle that it was.
Philbrick is a master of bringing history to life.
As important as the battle of Yorktown was in the American Revolution it is generally given very short shrift in the histories, and when it isn't, much of the attention is given to the battle itself. Philbrick's mastery of the maritime and naval matters gives him the perfect opening to craft a new look at the events, the machinations and maneuvers, that led to Yorktown being the decisive battle that it was.
booksnooksandcooks's review against another edition
3.0
Well written, but I fail to see how this discusses Washington’s genius, namely in terms of naval warfare. It seems that everyone else is credited for their genius, or stubbornness, rather than Washington who was depicted more brave than genius.
katevaliant's review
5.0
This book gives readers a detailed look at the Victory at Yorktown and the events leading up to it. It also hits home just how lucky America got in winning the war and the odds stacked against us as well as our rocky relationship with the French. This book doesn't get bogged down in little details and keeps everything easy to understand and follow. If anyone is interested in knowing more about the Yorktown victory, this would be the perfect read.
ronsos's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not generally interested in naval history, but I really enjoyed this book. It is foremost a naval history of Yorktown, but also a profile of George Washington. It includes enough context before and after the battle of Yorktown to get by, but is light on details of the other parts of the war. If you are only reading one military history of the Revolutionary War, this is NOT the book to read.
I credit the author for making the naval battles understandable. Not through words. I'm not sure if that's possible. Effective use of diagrams was employed to describe the naval battles. This worked well on Kindle.
I really learned a lot here about the later parts of the war, the role of the French, and the importance of naval superiority and combined army/navy ops in that time period.
Highly recommended.
I credit the author for making the naval battles understandable. Not through words. I'm not sure if that's possible. Effective use of diagrams was employed to describe the naval battles. This worked well on Kindle.
I really learned a lot here about the later parts of the war, the role of the French, and the importance of naval superiority and combined army/navy ops in that time period.
Highly recommended.