Customer Reviews

A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail: for Families and History Buffs

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New Jersey has been called the great "Crossroads of the American Revolution" because of its important strategic location between New York and Philadelphia, a fact well recognized by George Washington when he based his military headquarters in Morristown. This significance is superbly portrayed in DiIonno's Guide by numerous and fascinating vignettes detailing the locations, some now forgotten, of the events that shaped our country's history. For American Revolution history buffs, especially those interested in New Jersey history, this book is a real page turner.

As a kid growing up in New Jersey I had only been taught the basics of what happened here during the Revolution. I had heard the names and stories of famous places like Trenton, Princeton, or Morristown. But these were only the tip of the iceberg. After reading the guide I was surprised to discover that New Jersey is filled with countless places, events, and people connected to the Revolution that have somehow been forgotten by the history books.

For example, does anyone today know about the Battle of Springfield from which the classic image of Patriots skirmishing with Redcoats comes from? Or about the infamous Baylor massacre? Or the retreat of the American Army through Bergen County that inspired Thomas Paine? And what about names like Erskine, Lord Stirling, and Reverend Caldwell? And lets not forget George Washington's Secret Weapon!

These stories are here in this book and they make for a great read. After reading several pages I was inspired to seek out these places and view them firsthand. Exact locations are provided in the guide. In fact, I learned that several of them were right in my own backyard. Down the street from where I live are places once occupied by Washington, Lafayette, and Cornwallis.

The book is also the perfect reference guide for a family or school fieldtrip. Seems to me like a great way to get kids interested in American History... or anyone else for that matter.

So go buy a copy and "Give em the Watts boys!"

First off, I am not History Buff nor do I have kids, but this book is very cool anyway...

When you think of the revolutionary war, you think of Virginia, Massachusetts and Philadelphia. But New Jersey is just as important and in many ways more important than those states, however because it is so corporate and developed, you would never know this.

The author does a great job of telling the story of the "unsung hero" of the revolutionary war (NJ).

Whereever you are in NJ, there is a good chance there is a piece of history not too far - in fact, I live in Franklin Park and work in Warren and there are many places covered in his book that I had no idea existed that are a stones throw from both my office and my home.
For example there is a house that dates back to the early 1700's that is at the end of a road right across from the National Starch and Chemical world HQ's that is at the end of an industrial road. Seeing it is very surreal - this is the only second place in his book I have gone to see so far, but I plan on going to many more (and hopefully dragging my fiance as well).

Overall anyone who is interested in american history and who lives in or around NJ, this book is no doubt a must have.

Found this book a bit light in the history section, and a bit light in the specific locations, but it really is one of a kind book. I was very surprised that the local areas are mentioned, but only in a brief way, which had me constantly looking up for more information on a site that interested me.
Overall, a good book, not great and I would recommend if you would like a more personal look at NJ and the Revolutionary War and sites of interest.

This book is the Best!!!

I've been born and raised in New Jersey, and being a HUGE American Revolution fan, this book is a God Sent!!!

I've was very lucky to get this book when it first came out and got it signed by the author. This book has it all and it is very well written and organized. Anyone with interest in New Jersey or the American Revolution NEEDS to read this book. I used it all the time to travel and see new sites. It is a atrocity how New Jersey does not preserved their history like other states. It's very embarrassing for people who live in this state don't know about how important New Jersey played a role in our founding. The state of New Jersey should finally get their act together and bring all this together, and they should use this book as their Bible....

Star-Ledger columnist Mark Di Ionno starts his second book in this way: "I am not a historian, and this is not a book about history. This is a book about discovery." It IS a book about discovery, and adventure, and about making Revolutionary War history come alive. Di Ionno has thoroughly researched interesting and offbeat places whose stories he vividly tells. Those stories illustrate the crucial role that New Jersey played in the birth of America as a nation. This may not be a history book per se, but readers will learn a lot of Revolutionary history and local lore, including things they may not know about the communities in which they live. Di Ionno tells these stories with humor and grace, and with an eye for the humanity of the people involved. He also is mindful of the little people that parents and other adults may shepherd through these sites. He believes that "fun" and "educational" are two words that are not in opposition to one another, and that educational trips should be inherently fun. This book, another New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance Award, turns any family "stay-cation" trips into adventures to be had, these sites into treasures waiting to be found.