Customer Reviews

Empires at War: The French and Indian War and the Struggle for North America, 1754-1763

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The French and Indian War of 1754 to 1763 is one of the historically ignored wars. It is completely overshadowed by the Revolutionary War fought a decade or so later. It's nice to see a book that puts this war in its proper perspective as a precursor to the Revolution. It served as a training ground for the officers (such as Washington), it established the British in Canada, it set up the French as allies of the United States in the Revolutionary War.

This book is well researched and exceedingly well written. It covers the nine years and wide expanse of the war in a manner that is easily comprehendable and understandable. He relates the activities taking place in the United States to what was happening around the rest of the world where the English and French were fighting.

In his introduction, Fowler states, that the French and Indian War was the first world war. I would most defiantly agree with this statement. The French and Indian War went far beyond the continent of America. Battles, although on a smaller scale, occurred at the same time on the contents of Africa, Asia, and the India sub-continent. The numbers of troops, ships, and of course money were considered astronomical in those days.

As he clearly demonstrates in his book the amount of land, wealth, and potential of controlling America were the key factors in causing the war. Fowler integrates the politics of the Native Americas, English (and the colonists), and the French astonishingly well. He lays out clearly the goal of his side and how the various factions attempted to achieve those ends. From blunders, the surrendering of Fort Necessity, to successes, the Battle of Quebec, Fowler covers all aspects superbly.

Overall an excellent read and highly recommend and readable. I would just like to comment that here one can see the United States' gradual climb to the top of the world power food-chain; an event that would culminate at the end of World War II.

Fowler shows that France neglected French Canada to its own detriment. While the French government persistently ignored pleas for money and resources (Voltaire said famously: France should not waste its time on "a few acres of snow"), the British, especially under William Pitt, were manic about winning the North American war. Ironically, the British victory laid the foundations of the American Revolution as the British were bitter that American assistance was negligible even though it was to the benefit of the colonists, while the Americans were resentful of these British demands for men and money.

Fowler very clearly and ably describes the situations, personalities, and geography of the North American theater of the Seven-Years War. But along with this detail, this book very badly needs maps of what Fowler describes. They are essential items for Fowler's emphasis on describing the geography of the conflicts and its impact on the outcome.

This book is an excellent display of how the French and Indian war fits into a European context. The only reason I would not give it five stars is that it loses the global context that is really essential to the war. Fowler covers not only the crucial Indian involvement but the sheer hopelessness of a French Victory. He clearly lays out how the war unfolded and what each side had to gain. He shows how the British reorganize their systems in America and bring about an eventual victory. The British victory is put in the context of what it means for the American Revolution a little over a decade away.

Although not as detailed as CRUCIBLE OF WAR, it covered the world wide conflict, bringing the players to life, providing an understanding of the strategies, and a continuity to the history. I would rank this as one of the best overviews I've ever read. I only wish I'd gotten the hard-copy since the maps and illustrations suffer in the paperback version.

As many have noted, the French and Indian War is ignored by historians far too often. In school, if history is still taught amongst all the modern PC nonsense, US history begins with the American Revolution; but any world (or US) history class should begin here. Though the F & I War was surely overshadowed by the Revolutionary War just a few short years later, it was, no doubt, the first world war with its global impact undeniable and indelible.

Fowler does a masterful job retelling the story in lurid fashion with no stone unturned and few dull moments. I do believe he covers the global impact of the war, contrarily to one prior reviewer. If anything, he might spend too much time on that side at the onset and in the seemingly endless chapters 11 & 12, since the book is about "the struggle for North America" after all.

My only criticisms, and they're such small ones that I still gave the book the maximum stars, is that it could truly be 50-100 pages shorter. I know historians, of which I am one, can be wordy and drone on about an incident over 25-35 pages that could be relayed in 10-15, and Fowler does that a few times, especially at the end. The book could be just as informative and magnificent in 220 pages, frankly. I mused this a few times.

There are also perhaps a few too many high level words, which I don't believe he uses to show off, but at the same time, makes this book above the level of any high school student, and here in 2009, probably too esoteric for most collegians. That's unfortunate yet true.

But all in all, despite some PC/self-loathing whining about "the natives" in the closing pages, a wonderful and necessary read.

William Fowler has done it again folks! He has managed a quite, impossible task, to write an informative history of the Seven Years' War and made it interesting.

I came upon this book while researching a paper on Canadian History. Once I had read the first chapter of "Empires At War..." I had made up my mind, I would write my paper on the Seven Years' War.

This book was a page turner, mostly because of the language that Mr. Fowler used. I have read many books on the subject of the Seven Years' War but none are presented in such a way as to make them interesting to anyone who doesn't find history exciting.

Mr. Fowler's book gives detailed descriptions of several key battles in the struggle for North America. He also offers an overview of Pontiac's Rebellion.

I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in Colonial history. I found that Mr. Fowler did a good job of representing the "Canadian" perspective, however, he concentrates mostly on the British and French views. I would also recommend this book to people who are mildly interested in history, as it is so well written that anyone would be interested.

Fowler writes well and makes this epic and the players come alive. I never realized the supreme importance of the French and Indian War had to the history of our country. The author is extremely knowledgable but does not burden the reader with unrelated facts- a real art for an historian. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in American history.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in American history. It give great detail on the men, the battles, the Indians...everything you need to have a good understanding of what the war was about and how it effected everyone involved and lead to the American Revolution. I wish I had read it sooner.

I'm a history buff and yet I didn't know much about this war. The author presents not only the details, but puts it in a global perspective. It is very readable and tells the tale from the points of view of the battlefield commanders and of the politicians in Europe.