Customer Reviews

Rise to Rebellion: A Novel of the American Revolution (Random House Large Print)

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I was enamoured of The Killer Angels written by Jeff Shaara's father, Michael. He took the principals of the battle for Gettysburg and after extensive research wrote the story through their eyes, reliving their experiences. Jeff continues the saga through the Civil War with the subsequent books. Last year he came out with a history of the Mexican War, a topic sadly lacking in my education. Now we have Rise to Rebellion, a story of the AMerican Revolution as seen though the eyes of the likes of Adams and Franklin. Having just finished David McCollough's book on Adams, this novel reiterated the story I was familiar with but told it in a very engaging manner. I found that while I had knew most of the facts I understood what happened better.

His style is wonderful. Shaara said that when researching the Civil War books the likes of Lee and Grant visited him, as in a dream. I expect that Franklin (my favorite character) did likewise. I truly envy him!

This is volume one of an expected two volume set. I read this book quickly today (devoured it!) and am looking forward to volume two.

Jeff Shaara may have started writing to finish his father's The Killer Angels trilogy with Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure, but with Gone For Soldiers and now Rise to Rebellion he is firmly established in the novelized history genre in his own right. The first of two books telling the story of the American Revolution, Rise to Rebellion covers the period from the Boston Massacre through the siege of Boston and Washington's moving the fledgling Continental Army to New York and the Declaration of Independence. Shaara focuses on John Adams, Ben Franklin, George Washington, and, from the British side, General Thomas Gage, but the emphasis is strongly on John Adams. This is an odd coincidence, given that this book was released at about the same time as David McCullough's acclaimed biography of John Adams. I cannot compare the two, not having read McCullough yet, but Shaara does a wonderful job of making John Adams and Abigail very real people. There is also wonderful background on Ben Franklin's time in England during the years before he gave up on mediating any kind of accommodation. There is also informative background on John's cousin, Sam Adams, whose name is often mentioned but whose contribution is not documented very much in general literature. Washington is introduced, and background provided, and we will probably see much more of him in the sequel. I found the material on Thomas Gage is also very informative. American history does not generally give us much information on this man, other than the fact that he was in command of British forces at the beginning. This is a very readable and very interesting book, and I look forward to the next volume.

The Shaaras, father and son, have perfected a writing style for historical novels that is easy to read, and gives the reader excellent views of the human side of our history. In fact, their works "humanize" the great figrues of America's past, beginning with the three book series on the Civil War, the one book on the Mexican War, and now this first book, of two, on the Revolution. We get to peer inside the minds of some of our Founding Fathers, and their British adversaries, and all of these folks appear to be more like us rather than stiff figures read about in dusty history books. I like this type of writing, and as long as it stays as true as possible to the historical record, which it appears to be doing, I will continue to read these works. I hope Jeff Shaara does not run out of American history epochs about which to write, because he is doing all of us a favor in bringing these folks to life. We need lving, breathing people to admire, not icons who seem to be inaccessible.

Jeff Shaara is rapidly emerging as one of our finest historical novelists. Now in Rise to Rebellion he tells deftly the story of the initial phase of the American Revolution. From the Boston Massacre and John Adams' decision to defend a British officer in court (a key step toward the rule of law which made the American Revolution so different from its French and Russian successors), to Benjamin Franklin's desperate and patient ten year effort to be an Englishman while representing the colonies in London to the quiet emergence of Washington as the disciplined force on which the revolution would succeed, Shaara creates a tour de force.
Anyone who would seek to understand the origins of the American Revolution and the precepts of political order, private property, individual liberty and the rule of law which made this the keystone for human freedom will find this a compelling book.Shaara captures with remarkable accuracy the process of how these revolutionaries placed themselves at enormous risk to create a new future. His portrait of how the Continental Congress moves slowly and with great agony toward independence is worth the entire book. His portrait of Franklin gradually becoming first disillusioned then embittered, then angry and finally defiant against the very Britain he had wanted to belong to is worth a dozen books.
I cannot recommend this book too strongly if you would like to understand how America came to be. I am looking forward to the promised second volume.

Michael Shaara's success of the "Killer Angels" was followed by his son Jeff who wrote two additional Civil War novels to create a great trilogy. Then, Jeff branched out, releasing his Mexican War novel "Gone for Soldiers" last year. Now, he continues his fine production of historical novels with this first of two volumes about the American Revolution. "Rise to Rebellion" on the one hand is similar to the other Shaara novels in that it views the subject from the eyes of several key figures of the period. Here, these figures include Franklin, John Adams, General Gage, Washington and other great personalities of that era. The novel is different than the others in that it leads up to the summer of 76 and the Declaration of Independence. It is more about the growth of the revolutionary movement in the colonies than about military battles. Oh sure ... recounted are battles such as Lexington and Concord, and Breeds Hill. Furthermore, the book concludes with a lead in to the battle of Long Island which will probably be a key event in Shaara's next novel. But, the book is more about growing dissatisfaction with England in Boston, and the great debates in the Continental Congress held in Philadelphia. Like the other Shaara novels, this is a pretty good way to learn history since it is fairly easy to determine, on the one hand, the actual events and the reason behind those events, and on the other hand, what constitutes a novelist's license. I don't always agree with his interpretation, however. Specifically, I feel that Shaara presents John Dickinson, a member of the Continental Congress from Pennsylvaia, as being just short of a Tory. However, in reading Joseph Ellis's book "American Sphynx" (about Thomas Jefferson) it seems that Dickinson was very much a patriot, albeit very conservative about the prospect of war with England. It is important to note that Dickinson shared the dissastisfaction with the way England treated the colonies to a much greater degree than you would guess from reading "Rise to Rebellion." Nonetheless, regardless of the interpretation, Dickinson was a conservative force who was deeply concerned about the consequences of breaking away from England but, he showed great statesmanship when he abstained rather than possibly stand in the way of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by voting against it. Paranthetically, I have recently read McCullough's biography of John Adams which segued well into this novel.

Shaara's novel about the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence is interesting, educational and entertaining. I found particularly insightful the description of Franklin recognizing the future of the colonies under British rule in the face of oppressed Ireland. Also, Shaara's description of the Battle of Bunker Hill is excellent.

Immediately after the Bunker Hill section, Shaara gets bogged down in his description of the private thoughts of Franklin and Gage - and he loses the momentum that he so diligently built up to that point. While lost in Franklin and Gage, he misses a great opportunity to exploit the great story of Henry Knox and the movement of the captured cannons from Ticonderoga to Boston.

Finally, Shaara provides a satisfactory depiction of the writing of the Declaration of Independence. I would like to have had the full text of the Declaration provided, not just excerpts. After all, the Declaration is not just one of the most powerful and elegant documents in history, it is the climax of this book.

Historians will, no doubt, find some of Shaara's choices frustrating as I did, but on balance this is a very good, fun book. Definitely set some time aside for it.

After enjoying two very good historical depictions of the American Revolution, "John Adams" and "Founding Brothers", I approached "Rise to Rebellion" with skepticism. Why do we need a fictional depiction of the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence with so many excellent non-fictional records in distribution? My concerns were unfounded. "Rise to Rebellion" offers a different and enjoyable perspective of our history.

Jeff Shaara focuses on five catalysts - Ben Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Gage and Abigail & John Adams. Franklin underestimates the concerns of the colonists, but evolves into one of the revolution's most inspired leaders. Washington is uncomfortable about his new command, but he transforms nervous energy into dynamic leadership. Gage is the unfortunate first general to face the minutemen. His initial arrogance crumbles into desparation at the bottom of Bunker Hill. Finally, John and Abigail Adams give a glimpse of the risks, lonliness and uncertainty faced by revolutionary couples of their day.

Non-fictional chronicles accurately describe events and transcribe the words of our first leaders. Jeff Shaara imagines their thoughts and misgivings without altering the events. This adds more dimensions to each character by making them human. When we understand their frailties and anxieties, we better understand their courage.

Especially for those that enjoyed "John Adams", I recommend this book.

"Rise to Rebellion" is the first of two volumes telling the story of the American Revolution from the perspective of several key participants and covering the period of time from the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770 to the reading of the Declaration of Independence to the colonial troops under the command of George Washington in New York City on July 9, 1776. Jeff Shaara focuses primarily on four key figures: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, George Washington and Lieutenant General Thomas Gage. A few other figures are employed at various times in order for Shaara to take the reader to the Boston Tea Party, Lexington and Concord, Breed's Hill and other key moments in the early part of the war for independence. The focus is not so much on the details of these key events, but on the thinking of the famous figures, and that is indeed the chief value of the book: in making historical figures who have been transformed into marble monuments and American icons into more human figures. Ironically, however, I found myself most impressed with what I learned about some of the supporting figures in the tale, especially Sam Adams and John Dickinson. Having been reading up on the Revolutionary War in more detail than I have ever paid to it before, I appreciated Shaara's efforts to get beyond the details into the thought processes of these characters.

For Jeff Shaara his father's Pulitzer Prize winning novel "The Killer Angels" has been a twin edged sword. In writing a prequel ("Gods and Generals") and sequel ("The Last Full Measure") to Michael Shaara's story of the Battle of Gettysburg, as well as a story of the Mexican American War ("Gone for Soldiers"), Jeff Shaara has emulated his father's approach in focusing on a few key participants. However, in "The Killer Angels" not only was the focus on just four participants (Lee, Longstreet, Armistead and Chamberlain), the event being covered was a three-day battle. My main complaint with Jeff Shaara's books is the conceit is stretched too thin; we move from significant event to significant event to catch the highpoints. Reading "Rise to Rebellion" reminds me of going back and rereading my favorite parts of a beloved novel. The ebb and flow of the times are lost and it seems like everything is at high tide from start to finish.

Please do not take this to mean that I did not enjoy the novel and am not recommending it to those interested in historical fiction in general or this time period in particular. "Rise to Rebellion" is a fine read and I really feel I have learned more about the people and the period. Certainly I developed a better sense for how the myopic views of the British government facilitated the spirit of rebellion. However, I think I would have enjoyed a book using this format that had focused just on Lexington/Concord or on the debate over the Declaration of Independence (yes, I am a big fan of "1776"). Ultimately, because so much is covered in "Rise to Rebellion," I feel a bit disappointed. There is so much more to learn about not only these four major characters but also the supporting figures, such as Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who have but a brief scene or two on Shaara's stage. So, while I am waiting for the second half of Shaara's saga to be published, I think I will finally get around to devouring that biography of John Adams that has been doing well.

This is yet another wonderful book from the pen of Jeff Shaara. If you have read any of Mr. Shaara's other works then it is safe to assume that you will enjoy this book just as well.

For those who have yet to discover Mr. Shaara's books...

"Rise to Rebellion," covers the span of time from the "Boston Massacre" of 1770 to the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the formative years of the American Revolution. The events that led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence are brought to life and told through the unique perspectives of some of its most famous participants, John Adams, Ben Franklin, George Washington, and the British General, Thomas Gage.

Their lives and the events surrounding and involving them are carefully interwoven to create a marvelous book. If you think you learned the real history of our split up from Britain in school, and that you know everything that is going to happen in this book, think again. Mr. Shaara has done a wonderful job of researching our early history and has reawoken many of the issues and events that were so vital to the rebellion, but are now lost to our school texts.

I can't wait for the second volume to be published and wonder what topic Mr. Shaara will move choose to write about after that.

I have read the entire Civil War series by this author and his father, and each time they make history come alive. In "Rise To Rebellion" the events leading up to the American revolution are presented in a fashion that humanizes history rather than as usually found in a dry textbook. The people portrayed are seen as real persons with all their virtues and shortcomings. This is history as it should be written, suitable for all ages from high school through adulthood. It was a pleasure to read, and I could not put it down.