Customer Reviews

Generous Enemies: Patriots and Loyalists in Revolutionary New York (Early American Studies)

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This is a very interesting study of the family, personal, social, and business relationships of Patriots and Loyalists during the American Revolutionary War. Focusing mostly on New York City (and the neighboring areas), the author discusses the dilemmas, complications, and often difficult choices that many people faced during the course of the American Revolutionary War. Some of the subjects covered in the book include: the problems facing families with divided political loyalties; the challenges of living in New York City under British military occupation; the surprising nature of travel and communications across enemy lines into and out of New York City; how social class and social status affected the treatment of American and British prisoners of war; the effect of war on businessmen and their customers; how the American Revolutionary War affected slaves and former slaves; and the shifting fortunes of the Loyalists.

Professor Van Buskirk's book is both very informative and very readable. This is a history book that a non-historian can enjoy, and a student of history can find useful. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the American Revolutionary War.

Pure excellence from Dr.Van Buskirk