Customer Reviews

The Real History of the American Revolution: A New Look at the Past (Real History Series)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Recently bought this book as i had not read anything about the American revolution in many years. This almost could qualify as a school textbook with regard to the information but certainly more fun to read than most textbooks. Great pictures and side bars help bring the stories to life. Everything's chronologically ordered from the years leading up to the war to post-revolutionary time. A really interesting part was the "whatever happened to" section where we learn what became of many of the leading figures.

On balance, a very well researched work and written in a manner to bring this most important time in our nation's history to life.

If you're a student of American history from the Revolution to the Constitutional Convention, there won't be too many surprises for you in this book, but it's a terrific overview of the Revolution and the complicated motivations that led up to it. Very good for that friend with an interest in history who wants to dip their toe in this period.

Excellent book. Concise and an easy read. The facts about history are presented in order and the author reveals "behind the scenes" stories of what really happened during this pivotal point in our history.

I wanted to give this two and a half stars, but the web-page wouldn't let me.

I bought this book off a remainders stand in Australia. Browsing it, I thought I observed a tendency towards populism, but I also gained the impression that it would be a concise and (almost) even-handed sketch of the War of American Independence. On reading, my first impressions were confirmed. Mr Axelrod does his best to be even handed, and outlines the origins of the rebellion fairly and competently - these origins were, after all, mostly mercantile and commercial, a field he is very skilled in. I also found much insight into the minds and thought processes of the common people of the time - always valuable, historically speaking. His observations that the colonists of 1775 thought of themselves as Englishmen first and colonists second is always worth remembering. But when he wrote this history, Mr Axelrod he did it with too populist an eye for his market. On the American side of the war itself, he is adequate and mostly fair. But too much of his comment on the British Army derives from American sources or popular legend. He makes frequent generalisations without telling the reader where he got his information, he offers no bibliography and his "Read More, See More" section contains seventeen books, precisely none of which are by British writers. It is clear, from omissions of fact about the British Army's strategy and tactics, that he did not read the relevant volume of the British standard work, JW Fortescue's "History of the British Army", much less any other more recent and scholarly works from the Eastern side of the Atlantic.

This is not really the "Real" history of the American Revolution. It is certainly a decent broad-brush picture which should satisfy just about any American reader; but it is sad that while it presents the origins of the conflict so concisely, when it comes to the actual conflict itself it leaves out or misrepresents so much of the view from "the other side of the hill".

A good book to use to assist with teaching, but nothing new here. The title and subtitle are very misleading in this case. Enjoyable, but no real insight. Great pictures and sidebars, but I wouldn't buy it again if I knew what I was getting.

I wanted a larger overview of the Revolution and this volume provides exactly what I desired. I enjoy it very much. It gives insights without putting spin and I appreciate that as well. For my level of study, I find it a very fine work.

I enjoy reading and learning about military history, so I was disappointed to find virtually no usable maps in this book. The author includes some small reproductions of British battle maps, which are of little use. Unless one is intimately familiar with Eastern seaboard geography, it's a must to have your own maps handy.

This is such a fun book. Everytime I think about getting another general book on the American Revolution (one of my favorite subjects) I look at this book and remember that I don't really need another one. This book covers it all and has wonderful illustrations. I love how it explains the tactics as well as a short narrative before on the colonies and Europe. Great read.

Reading about American History can often be a tedious task. Author Alan Axelrod takes the pain away as he systematically presents the background of, and facts pertaining to the American Revolution. Many stories relayed in this work aren't often heard, such as the history of the Liberty Poll. Axelrod presents a very even-handed interpretation of the American Revolution. He let's the facts speak for themselves, and when a conclusion is drawn by the author, it is always a logical one, consistent with the information presented.

Axelrod also provides images of many paintings, maps, and brief biographies of individuals to help illustrate the point. He also presents what real life was like for both the British and the Colonials.

I would recommend this book to the history novice and buff alike.

I picked this book up because I wanted to learn more about the American Revolutionary War. Even though I grew up in the northeast, where you cannot stroll too far without stumbling on historic colonial markers, I never had too much interest in the American Revolution. This book has done quite a bit in changing my attitude. In many ways it is a more refined version of "The Idiot's Guide" series. The narrative is enjoyable to read and readily addresses legend versus reality. The side bar stories are also very interesting.

The solitary draw back of this reference is the very element that makes it an easy read. The book takes you on a whirlwind tour of the major events in American Revolution, but often leaves you wanting more. It is too bad that this did not evolve into a multi-volume set.