A Short History of the American Revolution [Paperback]

James L. Stokesbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 1993

The first one-volume survey of the American Revolution that is both objective and comprehensive, this outstanding narrative history traces the growth of a conflict that inexorably set the American colonies on the road to independence. Offering a spirited chronicle of the war itself -- the campaigns and strategies, the leaders on both sides, the problems of fielding and sustaining an army, and of maintaining morale -- Stokesbury also brings the reader to the Peace of Paris in 1783 and into the miltarily exhausted, financially ruined yet victorious United States as it emerged to create a workable national system.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James L. Stokesbury is the author of A Short History of World War I, A Short History of World War II, A Short History of the Korean War, and A Short History of the American Revolution. Before his death in 1995 he was a professor of history at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (January 27, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068812304X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688123048
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #492,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, short-and-to-the-point account of the Revolution..., July 31, 2001

By 

Thomas Moody - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Short History of the American Revolution (Paperback)

I thought this short history covered the Revolution very well. Most of these type books are very "textbook-ish", but Stokesbury manages to convey the essential history with some color and excitement that makes this stand out. Some details that aren't extensively covered in other more celebrated accounts are clearly told here along with the major stories. Also, and to my great surprise, the maps that are provided are plentiful and clearly anotated that the other more comprehensive accounts lack. I would recommend that anyone interested in the Revolution, but not intimate with all the details, read this book as an introduction.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to the American War of Independence, October 18, 2005

By 

Dimitrios (Greece) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Short History of the American Revolution (Paperback)

This is a marvellous book which manages to keep the reader's interest throughout its length and is one of the best start points for anyone who wishes to learn more about the American War of Independence, without swimming in a sea of useless details. I read this book keeping Craig Symonds's ¨Battlefield Atlas of the American Revolution¨ on the other hand and I must say that these two works make the ideal pair for the beginner on the subject. Stokesbury's book may be short but this doesn't mean that it lacks analysis or criticism of the various strategies and tactics employed by the opponents- quite the contrary.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative & Extremely Readable, June 30, 2002

By 

J. L. Ortega "JLO" (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Short History of the American Revolution (Paperback)

If you are looking for a well written and informative one-volume account of the Revolutionary War then go no further. This book will probably not just meet your expectations but surpass them.