The Spirit Of Seventy-six: The Story Of The American Revolution As Told By Participants [Paperback]

Henry Steele Commager (Author), Richard B. Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 21, 1968

Who shall write the history of the American Revolution? Who can write it? asked John Adams in 1815. Renowned scholars Henry Steele Commager and Richard B. Morris have provided a prudent, perceptive answer—the participants themselves—and in the process have fashioned from the vast source material a thrilling chronological narrative. The Spirit of ’Seventy-Six allows readers to experience events long-entombed in textbooks as they unfold for the first time for both Loyalists and Patriots: the Boston Tea Party, Bunker Hill, the Declaration of Independence, and more. In letters, journals, diaries, official documents, and personal recollections, the timeless figures of the Revolution emerge in all their human splendor and folly to stand beside the nameless soldiers.Profusely illustrated and enhanced by cogent commentary, this book examines every aspect of the war, including the Loyalist and British views; treason and prison escapes; songs and ballads; the home front and diplomacy abroad. In short, the editors have wrought a balanced, sweeping, and compelling documentary history.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The title here pretty much says it all. The text draws from countless original sources to tell the story of our country's founding. This 1975 volume is a wonderful resource.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

For readers who like their history straight from the sources, The Spirit of 'Seventy-Six is the best they can find on the Revolution. Anyone with an interest in the roots of American history and national character has much to learn from it. -- New York Herald Tribune, C. Vann Woodward

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1440 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (January 21, 1968)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306806207
• ISBN-13: 978-0306806209
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #991,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Primary Source Material, June 15, 2001

By 

Kevin F. Kiley - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spirit Of Seventy-six: The Story Of The American Revolution As Told By Participants (Paperback)

Compendiums of primary source material are of infinite value to those who wish to seriously study any period of history. The authors of this immense work have done us all a great service in presenting a colorful, accurate, and representative picture of the American Revolution by those who were there. As a primary source, this book is invaluable.

It isn't a book I would pick to read for pleasure on a cold, rainy night in front of the fireplace. In my opinion, it is more of a reference work that will give immense aid to researchers, historians, reenactors and hobbyists/enthusiasts of the period. Conversely, this serious work is not a dull encyclopedia, but a collection of recollections from those who fought to establish the country we call the United States. This book is both highly recommended and is a must to be on the bookshelf of any serious student of the period.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, September 25, 2002

By 

Frederick L. Merritt Jr. (Louisville, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirit Of Seventy-six: The Story Of The American Revolution As Told By Participants (Paperback)

A great book ! I spent the better part of this year reading this book. But the beauty is that does not pose a problem because the writings included in this work are all relatively short. Make no mistake this is a very long work but well worth the effort. Especially since it is a collection of an incredible number of very short works.

The collected works are as the title states contemporary accounts. It is a real treat to read what the contenders had to say about each other. Also the reader may think that the style will be difficult. Not at all.

All in all I would most heartily recommend this work for either the student who would like a resource or anyone interested in The Revolution.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vibrant and powerful!, August 8, 2001

By 

Scott A. Beeson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spirit Of Seventy-six: The Story Of The American Revolution As Told By Participants (Paperback)

This is a fantastic work. The best thing about history is to find original source material and read what the actual people were thinking and saying. This book is better than most since it is mainly made up of letters and documents that illustrate how amazing our freedom is.We take so much for granted today and I believe that every American should read this book and realize just how close we came to losing everything. Heroes are really men and women that sacrifice everything for what they believe in. This book is about our first heroes. Our founding fathers and mothers were so exceptional. I get emotional every time I open this book and read about Lafayette, Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Greene, Hale, Henry, and Franklin.Please read this book and experience the story of our freedom from the people that won it.