63 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Book!, November 7, 2010
Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen have given us another gem of American History in writing Valley Forge, a sequel to their last book, To Try Men's Souls. In writing the review below, I recommend all to read this book on the basis of its historical richness, told through narrative story, as well as its thematic commentary upon what makes America great.
First off, the historical accuracy of this book is phenomenal, and quite frankly, I probably learned more in reading this book than most history books that tend to be three times in size. Historical characters like Moses Wheeler, Horatio Gates, and the great Marquis Lafayette, all occupy very important roles within American history, but few texts go to the lengths that Valley Forge does in noting their stories (for example, Wikipedia, at this moment, doesn't even seem to have a page dedicated to Moses Wheeler, a blackmark for any website that claims superior, historical records).
And while Gingrich and Forstchen have gone to meticulous lengths to stitch the story behind Valley Forge, the most important reason for reading this book is that it is deeply compelling. In particular, with regard to the theme, we become most engaged over the contrasting stories between Marquis Lafayette and Allen Van Dorn.
While a Frenchman by birth, Lafayette is a real, historical character, a young man who studied under George Washington, eventually earning Washington's trust and leading important groups of American soldiers. As described by Gingrich and Forstchen, Lafayette is haughty, anxious and overeager, yet his hunger to birth a country based on enforced freedoms gives him the courage that ultimately wins Washington's trust. As the book unravels, it becomes clear to us that Lafayette feels more at home as an American than a Frenchman, with our own American troops asking him to stay beyond the end of the battle, in implementing the freedoms they hope to birth (and of special note, Lafayette did just that, ultimately earning American citizenship).
Lafayette's wonderful story is contrasted with a fictional character, Allen Van Dorn, who, while raised in America, decides to stay loyal to the English Crown. In wearing the British uniform and providing the British Armies with valuable insights, strategy, and prowess, it becomes clear to Van Dorn that, despite his skills, which are superior to most British soldiers, he will never be accepted as an equal.
Perhaps the most beautiful line from the book is in the later chapters, where Van Dorn, in realizing the passion that the American soldiers have for freedom, looks at his own British brothers, particularly, his good friend, Andre, and senses hollowness, as narrated from the book:
"[Van Dorn] looked at the men around him and wondered what exactly it was that they were fighting for. Andre spoke of adventure, a new campaign, and always the obsession all of them had for promotions, glory, and titles."
It is a sad note, at the book's end, to see Van Dorn regret that he suited with an Army full of shallow intention, but more importantly, that Van Dorn missed out on the most pivotal consequence that the world's history would ever note - the creation of the United States of America.
...and Van Dorn knows, his decision is a mistake that will haunt him into the hereafter.
I recommend this great book to all!
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37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unlike any other book on the subject......ever!, November 8, 2010
What an emotionally charged novel! But it's really more than a novel. The authors have unbelievably described what drove the revolutionary fighters and have revealed the finest, minute details of their thought processes. The painstaking detail in this book cannot be described. The detail is so exact that you swear the authors witnessed everything they wrote.
Our studies in school taught us that what has become the United States of America rode on the backs of these brave revolutionary men who were starving, barely clothed and stretched beyond the capacity of the human body and mind and the women who supported them. However, this book takes us inside the war with such detail, to where we seemingly live and breathe with those who fought it, to where we understand in such intimate detail and depth their thoughts and fears, and to where we are so engrossed in a book as to live through it with them!
You will be amazed at how well you come to know the characters and their steadfast convictions to persevere under the worst of circumstances. You come to love characters like `Old Moses.' You're deeply touched when `Deborah Hewes,' a somewhat war-hardened middle aged woman turns her bold facade to tenderness when she looks after an 18 year soldier who she says should be home in bed and not in the dangers of war.
This book has moved me and taught me more than any history book I've ever read on the subject. It finally satisfies the question, "I wonder what it was like back then?" You will never know what really went into the making of this country until you read `Valley Forge'.......and then you will never forget it.
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31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Relive the story of Valley Forge when the suffering was real and the outcome was in doubt., November 9, 2010
This review is from: Valley Forge: George Washington and the Crucible of Victory (Hardcover)
We all know the images of Washington praying in the snow at Valley Forge. Some of us have some vague ideas about the events in the winter of 1777 and early 1778 being critical to the Revolution, but couldn't tell the story of what happened there. Even the few who can recount the facts of the story tell it as an accomplished thing. And somehow knowing the end takes away from the seriousness of the events as they were for the people who lived through them. They did not know the outcome of their first few days at Valley Forge let alone what might come next spring or how long the War would take or who would win that struggle. We take for granted that Washington was the hero of the Revolution and the most important and respected of our Founders. Not so in December of 1777. And this is why this novelization of those events is so terrific. We get to experience the uncertainty. As we read the story we feel the cold, the starvation, the uniforms reduced to filthy rags, and the sense of wanting to die or to try and go home rather than continue the struggle in these incredibly harsh conditions.
Gingrich and Forstchen have added an even more compelling installment to their story of Washington and the Revolution. I really loved "To Try Men's Souls"
To Try Men's Souls: A Novel of George Washington and the Fight for American Freedom (George Washington 1) and encourage you to read it, but I think this is even better. They achieved a real sense of bleakness when the Continental Army arrived at Valley Forge with no food, no uniforms, not shelter, and no tools to use to build the small cabins they so desperately needed. The joy at completing the first of them is terrific and is still remembered in history.
While the location of Valley Forge was important to preventing the British pressing further into Philadelphia while also giving Washington space to prevent a surprise attack while also sitting on higher ground and a river to protect the army's side, the truth is the army was in no shape to fight. The reality was that the army might simply disappear from death or desertion. Yet Washington held the men together. They did get food, but not always in ways that inspire pride. Tthey did get tools and the huts were built. We get to experience all this as if we are with the soldiers watching our friends die of the flux (dysentery) losing their feet to frostbite and trying to put some kind of force together to at least impress the British.
I also enjoyed the way the authors presented the British Army as a serious force. They are clearly far superior to the Continentals. They begin the story ensconced safely in Philadelphia and their efforts in the countryside were to confiscate foodstuffs and supplies needed by the Continentals more to deny their enemy sustenance than for their own needs. We also get to experience what these confiscations meant to the farmers so raided. They could not simply go buy replacements. They faced a very real threat of starvation and very difficult months ahead. The authors also depict the reality of divided loyalties, of not knowing where family members were, who they were even fighting for, or if they were alive.
Washington also faced the politicking of Gates to take command of the Army and the loss of confidence by many in Congress. Gates is not remembered as well as he had hoped because of his maneuvering against Washington. We get to experience the pressure this put on Washington while he was dealing with so many other issues.
The arrival of Baron von Steuben in February of 1778 was critical to the morale and training of the Continental Army under Washington. He helped get the men in regular order and organized to fight as a modern army. What he taught them there helped them immensely during the remaining years of the war. He deserves every bit or praise we can give him and then some.
Look, this is a terrific story and is told in wonderful way. Do yourself a favor and read the novel and study the history. This novel will bring the history to vibrant life in ways I had not experienced before and I hope you get the same pleasure from it I did.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Saline, MI
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