mightync's review against another edition
5.0
A remarkable telling of how Britain went to war with their American colonies. I couldn't put it down.
njmatt04's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely a book I would list on my essential reading about the American Revolution. It talks from the British point of view, and it’s easy to see how both our hand (America) and their hand was forced which led to bloodshed. Just an outstanding book, and it’s well worth your time to gain a more complete understanding of that history.
abeanbg's review against another edition
4.0
A 4.5, which I begrudgingly rounded down. Give us the half star, Goodreads! Bunker does a superb job setting up and exploring how the British political class blundered into the American Revolution. A vast philosophical gap grew between British leaders like Lord North and the egalitarian traders and farmers in Massachusetts. It meant that London had no clue rebellion was coming until it was on their door and then gambled that royal authority could be restored in one battle based on the Jacobite experience. Very fine, illuminating work.
honeybeef8844's review against another edition
3.0
I love reading popular history, and I looked forward the opportunity to hear the "other" perspective on the American Revolutionary War, especially since I've always felt that most of what I've read on it has been unbalanced. I loved the beginning of the book with the background given, the discussion of the Gaspee Affair, etc.
However, as the book progressed, it stopped feeling as new and novel, and felt repetitive and dry. Every minute detail of every minor event was delved into. Lots of minor players were introduced in some detail. It just dragged on and on and on.
This book may be great for the more academic historian. But I felt it would have been significantly improved by being shortened from about 360 pages to under 300. And the style throughout much of the book could have been more engaging.
However, as the book progressed, it stopped feeling as new and novel, and felt repetitive and dry. Every minute detail of every minor event was delved into. Lots of minor players were introduced in some detail. It just dragged on and on and on.
This book may be great for the more academic historian. But I felt it would have been significantly improved by being shortened from about 360 pages to under 300. And the style throughout much of the book could have been more engaging.
davidsteinsaltz's review against another edition
3.0
Bunker thinks the effort to hold on to the British colonies in North America was pure folly, doomed from the start. And it's all somehow about the price of tea. There's lots of interesting information here, but the theoretical framework isn't very convincing. Why were Canada and the Caribbean different? Why were so many Americans still unsure about the revolution, even a long way into it, and why did so many remain loyal? He doesn't really ask these questions.
stephend81d5's review against another edition
4.0
very detailed book highlighting events which led to war between Britain and the American colonies and found this very interesting
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