Customer Reviews

Fortress America: The Forts That Defended America, 1600 to the Present (New Edition)

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I found this a fascinating book---the third in a series from these authors (the others deal with German World War II fortifications, and with modern European fortifications). Each takes the same format of effectively combining text, maps, plans, drawings,and photos to provide a picture of what was built, where, by whom, and why. This particular volume has the longest historical reach, ranging from the first Spanish forts in North America right up to current efforts. Here we get a good sense of everything from dusty 19th century frontier army encampments to cement coastal fortifications of the early 20th century. The authors make clear how fortification design changed and why, as well as the relation of forts to the historical concerns of the time. In all, very useful and insightful reading whether for the arm chair or touring. There is no better overall history.

The book gives a decent review of the fortifications found in the U.S.and some in Canada but in some cases descriptions appear to be lacking. I found a CD from E-Bay auctions that has the same title: Fortress America: Addenda. THe publisher is listed as Merriam Press. It is an addenda of a few hundred pages that includes material left out of this book with many photos and illustrations plus more complete descriptions of events, people, etc. missing from the book that makes a great supplement to the book. I have not been able to find the CD on Amazon. With or without the addenda, it is a decent introudction the fortifications in America covering from the first English settlements through much of the Cold War era.

This book is an excellent introduction into the world of American fortifications combining history with a light technical description of the fortifications and their development. This vast topic is reduced to a readable history showing the role the fortitications played in various periods of peace and war. The section on the American Revolution was one of my favorites, but the Civil War was also good. The text covers from the arrival of Europeans to the missile age with a new type of defense line made of a chain of radar stations. There are many finely drawn illustrations and photos of varying quality. This book is a great starting point for the non-fortifications "freak". As a member of the Coast Defense Study Group and CAMP I can only praise this work as a major contribution to the field since it so nicely puts everything together for beginner and expert.

This book is for those who can tolerate technical reading. It is extremely detailed in describing the aspects of the different forts built in America from the 1600s' to modern times. At times, the book becomes difficult to follow as they jump from fort to fort in different regions. The book has excellent illustrations and photos of the forts, along with maps of where they were located over the years.

It doesn't describe the battles in detail, just overall descriptions and quick accounts. Good book to borrow from the library as it is an excellent reference book.

This is an excellent survey of the history of fortifications in North America, from colonial times through the cold war.
The reader is given a basic introduction to the different types of forts built in the US and Canada, and the changes that took place over the centuries in fortification design. The author describes not only well known forts, but he also covers many lesser known fortifications.
The book is well illustrated with many plans, drawings, maps and photos. There is a glossary, and an informative appendix of tables.

This book is well researched and phenomenally illustrated. It shows the first stuttered beginnings of military establishment on the north american continent through over four centuries of evolution and expansion all the way to the complex coastal fortifications of the 20th century. The book is split into time periods, making the gradual evolution of fortification in america clear and apparent. J.E and H.W Kaufmann fill the sections with details ranging from purpose of placement to relevent actions and even construction. These details, however, don't read like specification charts(as you may readily find in other books on fortification) but are used to illustrate and expand upon a greater historical narrative. Couple the wonderful content of this book with its superb illustration and detailed drawings and it stands by itself as a wonderful addition to the library of any military or american history enthusiast.

This book is highly readable and offers a complete history of American defenses from the beginning till the end. From this book, the interested reader can locate a time period and follow through with their own research using books with more specific detail, but probably less scope.

Anyone know where I can obtain a copy of the 2004 Addendum on CD-ROM. It was listed here a week ago, but now it is gone. I checked eBay also, but could not find any listings for it.

Thanks.