Bunker Hill (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fictionalizing the experiences of British commanders, loyalists to the crown and a motley collection of American revolutionaries, Fast ( Citizen Tom Paine ; Spartacus ) fashions this dramatic look at a week of profound tension that will erupt in historic carnage at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In June 1775, some six weeks after the armed clashes at Lexington and Concord, the British have increased their force in Boston under General Howe as thousands of disorganized colonial troops gather nearby. At the center of Fast's story stands Evan Feversham, an English surgeon who has married an American and made a fresh start in Connecticut. Having volunteered to aid the revolutionaries, the doctor finds himself at the heart of their preparations for battle. Fast portrays key colonial figures largely through the eyes of Feversham, who, though amazed and frightened by the seeming chaos of the Yankees, ultimately comes to admire their character and leadership. Meanwhile, Howe and the rest of the British command are depicted as complacent and scarcely more unified or prepared than the colonials, spending much of their time seducing other men's wives and arguing among themselves. While the narrative is rarely subtle, neither is it melodramatic. Fast's accomplished storytelling draws the reader ever faster into the turmoil and ekes genuine suspense from events whose outcome is a matter of historical fact. Maps not seen by PW. 35,000 first printing.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In June 1775, a British army of 3000 men is bottled up in Boston by several thousand Colonial militia. The British leaders seem more concerned with sex than suppressing rebellion, and the Colonial leaders wrangle with one another while their men drift home to harvest summer grass. The erection of a redoubt atop Breed's Hill changes everything. The British are forced to attack, and by underestimating their foe they suffer terrible losses. The Colonial defenders, outnumbered, without adequate munitions, and with the bulk of their army lacking resolve, are driven off Charlestown neck. But in defeat they have achieved a moral victory and have made inevitable a full-scale war between the American Colonies and England. Seven Days in June is very readable pop history, but as a novel it is not as involving as Fast's minor masterpiece April Morning (1961).
Charles Michaud, Turner Free Lib., Randolph, Mass.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: I Books (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743423844
• ISBN-13: 978-0743423847
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,106,232 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Historical Fiction, August 23, 2002

By	B. Kempinski (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mr. Fast's relatvely short, but gripping account of the events leading to the Battle of Bunker Hill. His focus on a colonial doctor as protagonist provides an interesting and different viewpoint on the battle. The protrayal of the British Officers including Howe and Clinton made them look to be more interested in their misstresses than the war. Perhaps that was historical.

The climatic battle scene is first rate. Clinton's statement to console Howe after the destruction of his grenadiers that, "London does not count the bodies, just the victories" was very memorable.

A good read but lacks that last bit of sparkle to get a 5 star rating.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "you are there" portrait of the Battle for Breed's Hill, October 25, 1999

By	Jonathan Streff (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seven Days in June: A Novel of the American Revolution (Hardcover)

Howard Fast's sparkling prose and keen insight for historical detail come together very well in this novel concerning the seven days leading up to the Battle of Bunker/Breed's Hill in the early days of the American Revolution. A wonderful read which works well as a follow-up to Fast's "April Morning."

4.0 out of 5 stars IN THE TIME OF THE AMERICAN NATIONAL LIBERATION STRUGGLE, November 2, 2006

By	Alfred Johnson (boston, ma) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Seven Days in June: A Novel of the American Revolution (Hardcover)

In the ordinary course of events my tastes run to history rather than historical novels. As is the current fashion there is much "blood and gore", sex and general buffoonery to round out an event that would not seemingly be subject to novel treatment. Nevertheless, Howard Fast' s despiction of the fateful events which led up to the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 offers an interesting insights into the various ways that the British imperialist presence in America expressed itself through its officer corps and civilain loyalist forces. Naturally enough, that manner produced a profound negative reaction on the part of the rebellious "colonials"- our forbears. Without intending to do so directly the novel provides a cautionary tale about the pitfalls for the United States imperialist presence in the world today-particularly in Iraq.

One of the issues presented here is the question of the abilities of the "colonials" to fight to the end for their national liberation. The Concord and Lexington actions were basically an ad hoc, individualistic resistance. That question of American committment to national liberation , at least by those on the local firing line here, gets answered in the affirmative here and some of those who provided military leadership at Bunker Hill were among those who led the Continental Congress military forces throughout the war. For the umpteenth time we find out that conventional military superiority does not always trump well-led and determined national liberation forces prepared to take heavy loses in order to assure victory. That fact too is a cautionary tale for our times.