Bunker Hill [Paperback]

Howard Fast (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2010

"Howard Fast is fiercely American, he is one of ours, one of our very best."
-The Los Angeles Times

One battle will determine the fate of Boston

Three thousand soldiers from the world's greatest army are cornered in Boston, surrounded by farmers and doctors turned rebel soldiers and generals. For a week both sides are at an impasse, until June 17, 1775, when the standstill comes to a violent, bloody end on Breed's and Bunker hills.
In Bunker Hill, master storyteller Howard Fast recounts the unlikely battle that changed the course of the Revolutionary War forever. Tensions rise among both the British and Colonial soldiers as political and tactical frustrations, dissent, confusion, and fear threaten to tear both sides apart before the fighting even begins.

"Fast is at his best as Storyteller."
-Christian Science Monitor

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fictionalizing the experiences of British commanders, loyalists to the crown and a motley collection of American revolutionaries, Fast ( Citizen Tom Paine ; Spartacus ) fashions this dramatic look at a week of profound tension that will erupt in historic carnage at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In June 1775, some six weeks after the armed clashes at Lexington and Concord, the British have increased their force in Boston under General Howe as thousands of disorganized colonial troops gather nearby. At the center of Fast's story stands Evan Feversham, an English surgeon who has married an American and made a fresh start in Connecticut. Having volunteered to aid the revolutionaries, the doctor finds himself at the heart of their preparations for battle. Fast portrays key colonial figures largely through the eyes of Feversham, who, though amazed and frightened by the seeming chaos of the Yankees, ultimately comes to admire their character and leadership. Meanwhile, Howe and the rest of the British command are depicted as complacent and scarcely more unified or prepared than the colonials, spending much of their time seducing other men's wives and arguing among themselves. While the narrative is rarely subtle, neither is it melodramatic. Fast's accomplished storytelling draws the reader ever faster into the turmoil and ekes genuine suspense from events whose outcome is a matter of historical fact. Maps not seen by PW. 35,000 first printing.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In June 1775, a British army of 3000 men is bottled up in Boston by several thousand Colonial militia. The British leaders seem more concerned with sex than suppressing rebellion, and the Colonial leaders wrangle with one another while their men drift home to harvest summer grass. The erection of a redoubt atop Breed's Hill changes everything. The British are forced to attack, and by underestimating their foe they suffer terrible losses. The Colonial defenders, outnumbered, without adequate munitions, and with the bulk of their army lacking resolve, are driven off Charlestown neck. But in defeat they have achieved a moral victory and have made inevitable a full-scale war between the American Colonies and England. Seven Days in June is very readable pop history, but as a novel it is not as involving as Fast's minor masterpiece April Morning (1961).
Charles Michaud, Turner Free Lib., Randolph, Mass.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Reissue edition (July 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402237944
• ISBN-13: 978-1402237942
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,319,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Historical Fiction, August 23, 2002

By 

B. (Alexandria, VA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bunker Hill (Paperback)

Mr. Fast's relatvely short, but gripping account of the events leading to the Battle of Bunker Hill. His focus on a colonial doctor as protagonist provides an interesting and different viewpoint on the battle. The protrayal of the British Officers including Howe and Clinton made them look to be more interested in their misstresses than the war. Perhaps that was historical.

The climatic battle scene is first rate. Clinton's statement to console Howe after the destruction of his grenadiers that, "London does not count the bodies, just the victories" was very memorable.

A good read but lacks that last bit of sparkle to get a 5 star rating.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "you are there" portrait of the Battle for Breed's Hill, October 25, 1999

By 

Jonathan Streff (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seven Days in June: A Novel of the American Revolution (Hardcover)

Howard Fast's sparkling prose and keen insight for historical detail come together very well in this novel concerning the seven days leading up to the Battle of Bunker/Breed's Hill in the early days of the American Revolution. A wonderful read which works well as a follow-up to Fast's "April Morning."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Flawed but still readable story of Bunker Hill, November 26, 2009

By 

Bryan (Ellicott City, MD) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Seven Days in June: A Novel of the American Revolution (Hardcover)

Seven Days in June has its flaws but is still ultimately worth a look. There are too many misspellings and instances of repetitious adjectives; a good editor could have cleaned those up easily. One thing I liked is that Fast has the characters speaking in the language of the 18th century, F-bombs and all. There are a couple of exchanges of dialogue among the British commanders which to me are incomprehensible; I've read them over and over and can't get what Fast was trying to have them say. The British generals are presented as human beings who, while spending way too much time trying to get laid, are indeed conflicted about the dispute with the colonists. The characters of the colonists are brought to life as well and face the British with varying degrees of courage or cowardice. The climactic battle scenes on the hill are very well done.