The World Turned Upside Down: George Washington and the Battle of Yorktown [Hardcover]

Richard Ferrie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1999 | Age Level: 9 and up

This examination of the events surrounding the pivotal Revolutionary War battle that led to the defeat of the British forces at Yorktown, Virginia, focuses on the central role of General George Washington.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up-Beginning in the spring of 1781, Ferrie traces the actions of the various combatants that led to the surrender of Cornwallis's command in October of that year. In his introduction, the author sets the stage by introducing the principal military commanders involved (English, French, and American) and including a chronology of the war. He then begins his account with a description of the condition of the army under Washington's command as the year opened. Readers will find the narrative both clear and interesting. While Ferrie's admiration for Washington is apparent, it never overwhelms his scholarship. Reproductions of period engravings and paintings, a large typeface, and generous margins combine in an inviting format. The maps are less successful; on several it is difficult to trace the movements described in the text, and the shadings used along coastlines cause other details to be lost. Three interesting appendixes cover battleships, weaponry, and uniforms of the period. Juvenile titles dealing with the last campaign of the Revolution are somewhat rare these days. Michael Weber's Yorktown (21st Century, 1997) gives a much briefer treatment but has better maps, suggestions for further reading, and footnotes. Ferrie's volume is a useful and welcome addition to the field.
Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The turning point of the Revolutionary War gets a lavish treatment here, with a thorough battlefield account amplified by a detailed cast of participants, a time line, and notes on weaponry, battleships, and uniforms. Capturing the drama of the events without being exploitative, Ferrie describes the relentless shelling of Yorktown and the grudging surrender of Cornwallis, who refused to attend the surrender ceremony. The high level of detail will rivet military buffs, but students using the book simply for report material may have trouble keeping track of the British, American, and French generals, and their troop movements. What most readers will come away with, however, is a picture of eighteenth-century warfare as a plodding, gritty affair, very different from the high-tech conflicts they see on TV. They will also find a more authentic view of George Washington, a reluctant leader turned popular hero, whose shining successes in battle were outnumbered by his failures. Period engravings are scattered throughout, and there are black-and-white maps, though small type and dense shading affect their clarity. Randy Meyer

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823414027
• ISBN-13: 978-0823414024
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #983,496 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting, well researched, approachable, highly recommend, August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The World Turned Upside Down: George Washington and the Battle of Yorktown (Hardcover)

Ferrie creates a refreshing, approachable, and exciting vehicle for examining the events and issues around the Battle of Yorktown. Unencumbered by patriotic propoganda, extremely well researched - reveals the issues and life as it truly was for those involved (on both sides and at all levels) in the struggle for American freedom. Highly recommended for elementary school and up!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome overview of war for independence, April 4, 2006

By 

D. Craig Garbe "Veritas Liberabit Vos" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The World Turned Upside Down: George Washington and the Battle of Yorktown (Hardcover)

As the headmaster of and a former history teacher at a private prep school I have studied numerous accounts of early American history and Richard Ferrie's work is by far one of the best I have read. I particularly liked the fact that he started out with a quick introduction (note, the facsimilie of the 1781 broadside before the intro. ends with the Latin phrase "Laus Deo!" The aluminum cap on top of the Washington Monument has the same phrase which means, "Praise Be To God"), followed by a picture of the "Key Players" with a cameo on each (which was divided into sections containing the American, French, and then British forces). Mr. Ferrie followed this up with a timeline of the major events before Yorktown and then the Yorktown campaign itself. The first chapter did an excellent job of setting the stage by giving a quick overview of the war and the events immediately before Yorktown. I also appreciated the appendices which gave more background material for those so interested. This overview was an excellent way to introduce the whole war and its glorious end to new students of this time period.

Most history books hold you hostage to their chronology by not letting you know where they are going with their narrative as well as drive all but the most serious reader away with exhaustive detail. History text books are usually worse and dry as dust (no wonder many students don't like history). Not so with this little gem. Right from the get-go you are gripped with a quick moving story that is hard to put down! Even though you know the ending, like all good story tellers, he keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting to now HOW Washington and the French pulled it off.

I only wish the author had gone into more background on the significance of the battle of Cowpens and how afterwards the patriots were able to harrass Cornwallis and drive him to the sea at Yorktown (instead of getting wiped out). Clinton, the commander-in-chief acknowledged (when Cornwallis was chasing the patriot army), "...here the royal army was again stopped by a sudden rise of the waters, which had only just fallen (almost miraculously) to let the enemy over, who could not else have eluded Lord Cornwallis' grasp, so close was he upon their rear..."

Although this book was written for children, I HIGHLY recommend it to adults as well. This is a must read for junior or senior high school students. It will give you a great overview of the war, the character of the major individuals, and a sense of excitement that textbooks, unfortunately, fail to deliver.

Well done Mr. Ferrie!

PS I completely disagree with the criticism by another reviewer who did not like the antiquated maps (not enough detail for him)...frankly, I thought they added character to the book. If you want detail, you can always use an atlas or go to Mapquest.com! :)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent condition, December 16, 2009

By 

J. Clark (Oakville, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The World Turned Upside Down: George Washington and the Battle of Yorktown (Hardcover)

It took only a couple of weeks to reach me and I was delighted with the condition of the book. Although previously owned by a library it felt and looked as if it had never been opened.