nickbyers's review
4.0
The American Revolution, or The Cause in this books parlance, is probably one of the most studied periods in American history. So we should ask ourselves, will a new book on the Revolution have any new ideas or will it just be rehashing the same points as the hundreds of books that came before it? I will say that the answer for Ellis' newest work is yes it will have new ideas and touch on new people and events during the war that I at least haven't read before, or if I have it was likely a throwaway line or two. This book covers many of the important events and people during the war, but not necessarily the ones you might expect. Events like Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill are glossed over in favor of less talked about ones like the escape from Long Island and the Southern Campaign. The book also spends a proportional amount of time focusing on the British perspective and what was likely going on in the minds of the commanders of the British forces. A part I found fun and different was the short biographies of people often overlooked by historians, loyalists, women, enslaved and free African Americans, and Native people, that appeared in between chapters it was interesting to learn what the war was like for these individuals in these marginalized groups, very reminiscent of [b:Independence Lost: Lives on the Edge of the American Revolution|23465981|Independence Lost Lives on the Edge of the American Revolution|Kathleen DuVal|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1425262438l/23465981._SX50_.jpg|43058384]. I do have a disclaimer for this book. If you are not well versed in the events, key people, and timeline of the American Revolution this book may be tough to follow as it jumps from one event to the next without much information bridging the two. Overall, an excellent edition to the canon.
fivetilnoon's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Excellent. Well paced for a history book and interesting throughout. I liked the exploration of the two opposing views of The Cause: Nationhood vs. Confederation. Ellis points out that during the time of the war, many didn't want power consolidated at the federal level and were content to have a poorly funded continental army. Washington, as always, comes across as the hero of the book. Given the poor state of affairs after the war, and the bleak prospects for nationhood, it's even more admirable that he walked away into retirement at the end of the war.
sophronisba's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Informative and engaging but nothing particularly new or earth-shattering.