The War for American Independence: From 1760 to the Surrender at Yorktown in 1781 [Paperback]

Samuel B. Griffith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2002

"Including both attention to strategic policies in Britain and France and personal accounts of colonial soldiers, "The War for American Independence" provides an unprecedented view of America's struggle for independence in its world context. With wit, clarity, and dramatic effect, Samuel B. Griffith II vivifies the characters and incidents of the period on both sides of the Atlantic, drawing from personal diaries and letters, newspaper accounts, and detailed battle maps to create a unique alternative to standard histories of the period. This enduring and exceptionally readable resource, first published in 1976 under the title "In Defense of the Public Liberty: Britain, America, and the Struggle for Independence from 1760 to the Surrender at Yorktown in 1781", was honored with the Sons of Liberty Award for the best book on the American Revolution."

Editorial Reviews

Review

REVIEWS OF HARDCOVER EDITION "A book on the American Revolution so fresh and continually surprising is a miracle at this time. It is sharp, fast, and beautifully written... General Griffith has made it, for once, a two-sided war." -- Barbara Tuchman "It is the insights which the author derives from his own military experience and his willingness to share these so frankly with the reader that gives the book its distinctive character... It is, in the best sense, a soldier's view of the war." -- Economist "An exhaustive and well-written political and military account of our War for Independence from primary sources." -- National Review "Well-written, interesting, balanced in judgment, and historically sound." -- Library Journal

Product Details

• Paperback: 776 pages
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press (May 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0252070607
• ISBN-13: 978-0252070600
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #724,097 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

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting!, July 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The War for American Independence: From 1760 to the Surrender at Yorktown in 1781 (Paperback)

This is by far the best book on the American revolution I have ever read. The author incorporates extensive excerpts from documents and correspondence of all the major participants of the war. I really got a sense of the true thoughts, feelings, and motivations of Washington, Benedict Arnold, Franklin, and so on. Griffith's research was extremely thorough and his insights enlightening. The British point of view is well presented and balanced as well. Eminently readable! Highest recommendation for anyone interested in how and why the revolution took place from a scholarly yet entertaining author.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The War for American Independence, August 20, 2005

By 

Friendly Used Books (Omaha, Ne) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The War for American Independence: From 1760 to the Surrender at Yorktown in 1781 (Paperback)

An extremely well written and comprehensive volume on growing estrangement between Great Britain and the American colonies, and on the course of the Revolutionary War. The narrative flows easily from the viewpoint of the British to that of the Americans, enabling the reader to see both sides of the conflict.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strangely paced, March 1, 2004

By 

H. N. Teixeira (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The War for American Independence: From 1760 to the Surrender at Yorktown in 1781 (Paperback)

The book is actually quite good, however it is hard to understand to what audience he aims it. At times the book seems to assume a good level of previous familiarity with the American Revolution from which he would add a greater military and political background than you were familiar with (specially a more foreign background which is rather nice). However, at other points he changes and quotes the Declaration of independence and some of its writing for a whole chapter.
Probably a good book for people who are not historically illiterate, but are also not historians. Bad book as an introduction, probably a good second book on the American Revolution.