Those Damned Rebels: The American Revolution As Seen Through British Eyes [Paperback]

Michael Pearson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 2000

Using firsthand accounts—journals, letters from British officers in the field, reports from colonial governors in the colonies—Michael Pearson has provided a contemporary report of the Revolution as the British witnessed it. Seen from this perspective, some of the major events of the war are given startling interpretations: For example, the British considered their defeat at Bunker Hill nothing more than a minor setback, especially in light of their capture of New York and Philadelphia. Only at the very end of the conflict did they realize that the Yankees had lost the battles but won the war. From the Boston Tea Party to that day in 1785 when the first U.S. ambassador presented his credentials to a grudging George III, here is the full account of "those damned rebels" who somehow managed to found a new nation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Seen from the perspective of George III and his hard-pressed ministers and generals, [the Revolution] is a very different struggle from the one the average American knows. This is the way history ought to be written." -- American Heritage

About the Author

Michael Pearson went to work as a reporter at the age of sixteen. He has since written plays, articles, short stories, and several nonfiction books. He lives in London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306809834
• ISBN-13: 978-0306809835
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Accessible British Military History, October 2, 2000

By 

"eubbie" (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Those Damned Rebels: The American Revolution As Seen Through British Eyes (Paperback)

Although the academic tone of this book is sometimes a bit dry, it's an excellent read overall. It's focus is the British military history of the American Revolutionary War. British troop movements, major engagements, and influential British commanders are covered in some depth. The rebel seige of Quebec is an especially good account. The revolution's effect on politics within Britain, and British diplomancy with other European countries is very interesting. The intrigue of the court of Versailles is not only engaging, but exciting as well. Double agents, intercepted messages, and hasty getaways are all included. The only real weakness is the maps if you are trying to follow the movements of armies, but they are the authentic maps available to the British at the time. This is only a small problem though. This is a well written, and concise history of the American rebellion from the British point of view. It offers quite a few insights into British actions not encountered in U.S. histories based on American revolutionary priorities. A superior historical read.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Good Historical Account, February 5, 2003

By 

Aussie Reader ""Rick"" (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Those Damned Rebels: The American Revolution As Seen Through British Eyes (Paperback)

`Those Damned Rebels' was originally published in 1972 in hardback and later re-released in paperback in 2000. I am glad that DaCapo Press decided to re-publish this title, as it's one of the better one-volume accounts of the American Revolution that I have read for some time. As the sub title indicates this book is mainly the war as seen though British eyes but after reading the book I think it's without any particular bias.

The author uses numerous first-hand accounts and reports from the participants to reconstruct the events as they appeared to the soldiers, sailors, commanders and politicians at that time. This is so well done that the narrative never bogs down or becomes boring. The story is told in such a fluid and informative manner that it literally sweeps you into the history of the monumental events of this period.

The author covers all the main highlights of this war, from Bunker Hill to the surrender at Yorktown but he also supplies information on many of the smaller battles and skirmishes throughout this war. Nor does the author exclude events in Britain and Europe and the ramifications of battles won and lost in America on those seats of power that were involved in this conflict from afar.

The story moves from the battlefields of America to the Kings Court and Parliament in England and into the Courts of France, Spain, Russia and Holland. The events are told in manner that gives the reader a feeling of "authentic immediacy of an eye witness".

In over 402 pages of narrative (hardback version) the story told gives the reader a full account on the birth of the United States of America. The only gripe I have with this book (the 1972 edition) was the standard of the maps. In this edition they were taken from original maps of the time which I suppose fits in with the author's intention but are pretty useless to the modern reader to track events.

Overall I found this to be an easy to read book and I am sure that most people who enjoy this period of history will have a great time reading this account.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Aren't There More Reviews of this Book?, July 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Those Damned Rebels: The American Revolution As Seen Through British Eyes (Paperback)

Although many readers will know of the facts presented here before opening this book, Michael Pearson presents a well-known story with such descriptive detail that the reader can't help but become interested. Michael Pearson's experience as a fiction writer is obvious, and there is a strong sense of wit and humor throughout the book. Plus the British point of view is an interesting angle to take.

I can't understand why there are almost no reviews for this title. It's a great read if you are even remotely interested in the American Revolution.