Customer Reviews

Bunker Hill

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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."

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.

I have been an avid reader of Howard Fast since I was a youth, be it his account of the Alamo, the tale of Spartacus, Washingtons Crossing or in Bunker Hill, he has the ability to deliver well supported history and a rousing tale all wrapped up in a single package. He is one of the few historical writers that I have bothered to collect in volume.

In the ordinary course of events my tastes run to history rather than historical novels. As is the current fashion there is much "blood and gore", sex and general buffoonery to round out an event that would not seemingly be subject to novel treatment. Nevertheless, Howard Fast' s despiction of the fateful events which led up to the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 offers an interesting insights into the various ways that the British imperialist presence in America expressed itself through its officer corps and civilain loyalist forces. Naturally enough, that manner produced a profound negative reaction on the part of the rebellious "colonials"- our forbears. Without intending to do so directly the novel provides a cautionary tale about the pitfalls for the United States imperialist presence in the world today-particularly in Iraq.

One of the issues presented here is the question of the abilities of the "colonials" to fight to the end for their national liberation. The Concord and Lexington actions were basically an ad hoc, individualistic resistance. That question of American committment to national liberation , at least by those on the local firing line here, gets answered in the affirmative here and some of those who provided military leadership at Bunker Hill were among those who led the Continental Congress military forces throughout the war. For the umpteenth time we find out that conventional military superiority does not always trump well-led and determined national liberation forces prepared to take heavy loses in order to assure victory. That fact too is a cautionary tale for our times.

Compelling Fast novel that details the battles at Bunker and Breed's Hill. Plenty of real-life characters and an interesting medical fictional character who is cast into danger amid flashing bayonets, thundering cannon and whizzing musket balls. Nicely told and very interesting as I was not aware of many historical facts about the fights (both hills were involved in the fight against the British forces) and the facts about the British high command and the close up 'in the ranks' with the Royal Marines and Grenadiers as they advance while pelted with rebel musket balls. Good stuff.
Five ramrods for this old timer.