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David McCullough

1776 Paperback – June 27, 2006

by David McCullough (Author)

4,706 ratings

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America’s beloved and distinguished historian presents, in a book of breathtaking excitement, drama, and narrative force, the stirring story of the year of our nation’s birth, 1776, interweaving, on both sides of the Atlantic, the actions and decisions that led Great Britain to undertake a war against her rebellious colonial subjects and that placed America’s survival in the hands of George Washington.

In this masterful book, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence—when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.

Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is a powerful drama written with extraordinary narrative vitality. It is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the King’s men, the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known.

Written as a companion work to his celebrated biography of John Adams, David McCullough’s 1776 is another landmark in the literature of American history.

Print length

386 pages
Language

English
Publication date

June 27, 2006
Reading age

14 - 18 years
Dimensions

6.13 x 1 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

0743226720
ISBN-13

978-0743226721
Lexile measure

1300L
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Popular Highlights in this book

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Seeing things as they were, and not as he would wish them to be, was one of his salient strengths.
1,078 Kindle readers highlighted this
These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
1,087 Kindle readers highlighted this
War had come on April 19, with the first blood shed at Lexington and Concord near Boston, then savagely on June 17 at Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A stirring and timely work." -- The New York Times Book Review

"Brilliant . . . powerful . . . 1776 is vintage McCullough: colorful, eloquent and illuminating." -- Newsweek

"Should be required reading in living rooms from coast to coast." -- Dorman T. Shindler, The Denver Post

About the Author

David McCullough has twice received the Pulitzer Prize, for Truman and John Adams, and twice received the National Book Award, for The Path Between the Seas and Mornings on Horseback. His other acclaimed books include The Johnstown Flood, The Great Bridge, Brave Companions, 1776, The Greater Journey, The American Spirit, The Wright Brothers, and The Pioneers. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. Visit DavidMcCullough.com.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; 1st edition (June 27, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 386 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0743226720
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0743226721
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1300L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #9,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #10 in Teen & Young Adult Language Arts Books
- #13 in American Revolution Biographies (Books)
- #14 in U.S. Revolution & Founding History

Customer Reviews:
4,706 ratings

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David McCullough

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David McCullough has twice received the Pulitzer Prize, for Truman and John Adams, and twice received the National Book Award, for The Path Between the Seas and Mornings on Horseback; His other widely praised books are 1776, Brave Companions, The Great Bridge, and The Johnstown Flood. He has been honored with the National Book Foundation Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Award, the National Humanities Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Customer reviews

5 star		78%
4 star		15%
3 star		4%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Ben

Surface-Level Military History

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2018

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At the risk of sounding pretentious, I will dare to call McCullough’s 1776 a book for beginners. It’s an accessible introduction to the American Revolution, its early battles, and General Washington that is as likely to please casual readers as it is to bore amateur historians. Engrossing though 1776 may be (most readers can probably tackle it in just a few sittings), it contains no new revelations, makes no new arguments, and offers little that hasn’t already been written about in greater detail by dozens of historians.

Let me be clear: 1776 is a good book, and McCullough’s skill as a writer is undeniable. Though he quotes primary sources liberally, occasionally to the point of absurdity (for example, a passage from pages 115-116 reads: “Henry Knox and his artillery were to move ‘as speedily as possible’ by ‘the directest road thither.’ Several times Washington referred to his own ‘extreme hurry.’” Just say they had to go fast, for crying out loud…), 1776 is nevertheless a page-turner. Regrettably, though, major battles and the broader military campaigns that led to them are all McCullough tackles in 1776. The Declaration of Independence and the politics of the early Revolution are glossed over quickly in favor of the war. No doubt that’s exactly what some readers desire, but be warned that despite its title, 1776 is not a comprehensive history of America’s first year.

I’m not someone who believes “academic” history is the only history worth reading, but McCullough’s talent is his ability to package history for the masses. I want detailed endnotes and attention to the broader historical significance of the events about which I’m reading; McCullough provides only what I would call a quality review of major events. Though I wouldn’t describe my reading 1776 as time wasted, I must limit my recommendation to readers who know very little about the American Revolutionary period. I can’t think of many better places for a beginner to start, as 1776 is engaging and easy-to-read. However, I would just as strongly steer readers familiar with the period away from 1776 toward something like Washington’s Crossing by David Hackett Fischer, an academic yet captivating book that covers the same period in American history.

165 people found this helpful

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sean_roy

A more-than-compelling history lesson

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2016

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As a proud American who, I'm ashamed to admit, knew next to nothing about the details of the Revolutionary War, McCullough's "1776" was a much-needed history lesson for me. Written lucidly and grippingly throughout, "1776" provides a strong foundation for one's study of this most critical period of our nation's history, and has inspired me to continue my own studies by reading as much as I can about the revolution and its meaning, both then and now. One also comes away with a sense of awe toward General (and later President) George Washington. The extensive bibliography that McCullough has provided is more than enough for a lifetime of study.

I think that those Americans who read this book will, like me, feel more strongly patriotic and value more greatly the selflessness of those who fought for our country in its infancy. And I think that non-Americans who read it will better understand what it means to be an American, and hopefully see our country in a more favorable light. Yes, I realize that America has its problems, both currently and historically, and that we're certainly not beloved by everyone throughout the world, but it's nonetheless moving to at least try and perceive what we mean when we talk about the "American spirit": that feeling of unbounded liberty that allows us to truly pursue happiness. "1776" offers a path.

190 people found this helpful

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Franklin the Mouse

General America AKA George Washington

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2017

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After reading six of Mr. McCullough's books, I've come to the conclusion that the author could write an engrossing informative work about even unclogging a toilet. In '1776' he explains how the pivotal year was make-or-break for our rebellious country. The book begins in the summer of 1775 Britain where King George III and Parliament are arguing about the situation in America. Mr. McCullough is exceedingly fair in assessing the people involved on every side of the dispute here and in the United Kingdom. The stakes were high for both sides. Understandably the person at the center of the author's book is General George Washington. '1776' shows why Washington came to epitomize our country's aspirations and really was the only logical choice to be the United States' first president.

The book has a generous 32 pages of black-and-white as well as color illustrations. Mr. McCullough demonstrates how weather, lack of intelligence, chance, communication, supplies, recruitment efforts, and luck played important roles in the outcomes. I found it interesting and laughable how both sides kept declaring their victories or lucky breaks were God's will. George Washington is front and center in the book but the author also focuses on others who have been lost to history except to the most avid history buffs. On the American side, such important figures as Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, and Joseph Reed are given credit for their efforts. On the British side, the central figure is General William Howe. '1776' avoids myth building by explaining in detail the condition of the troops, Loyalist who hoped Washington and his small ragtag army would be defeated, military successes and blunders, the states' reluctance to risk their troops on what many viewed as a lost cause, acts of courage as well as cowardice, and horrible acts done by both sides.

Great history makes an effort of giving an accurate representation of what was and not what people wish it to be. The United States is no different than any other country in trying to whitewash uncomfortable aspects of our past. Politicians and demagogues are especially zealous at spreading the patriotic manure of our country’s complete moral purity. Mr. McCullough is a necessary corrective to their jingoistic bilge. He is one of those historians who not only tells a compelling story but shows our past's successes, failures, and mixed results. '1776' only covers one year but what a year it was. The reader will conclude the book truly understanding how close we were to remaining under British rule.

86 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Hande Z

Present at the creation

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2019

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The world knows the year, 1776. Americans know and revere the founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. In this captivating book, MCCullough reminds readers of American history, that important as they were, the founding fathers were politicians first, leaders, second. Their decision to declare independence from Great Britain in 1776 was crucial, but that year was pivotal on the battlefield.

McCullough emphasises the contribution on the battlefield, for without victory there, the declaration of independence would be just a mocked document down the path of history. Yet, the initial battles were not easy, and many of the men who fought for America were either too young or too old. America was also in dire shortage of guns and ammunition. Britain had a large professional army, complemented by the feared Hessian troops.

In the second half of the year 1776, George Washington, Nathanael Green, and Henry Knox became the unlikely heroes of all time. They had their share of defeat and humiliation - one of Washington's generals (Lee) was captured and taken prisoner by the British. Losses at the Battle of Brooklyn and the surrender of Fort Washington were low points told with a dash of the thrill of war and the shame of men new to warfare, but McCullough produced stunning accounts of the reversal of fortunes at Trenton and Princeton that makes this book so interesting. McCullough produced the shock of stunning reversals of fortune that readers may feel the battle heat as if she had been right there at the frontline.

3 people found this helpful

Walter

Nice historical novel, but with limitations

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2019

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The books is written as a historical novel and is entirely focused on a series of events in 1776. No broader setting is given (a thorough introduction on the histories leading up to 1776 would be nice). The book in my view lacks true and comprehensive historical frame and is more an entertaining writing on the way the 'Americans' under the lead of George Washington went through hardships etc. Definitely biased.

As for the physical quality of the book: not great, my version in the end fell apart.

4 people found this helpful

JohnDorset

Very small typeface

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2019

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Avid fan of McCullough having read all his other books except The Johnstown Flood. Every other book was a version published by Simon & Schuster. This book however is the Penguin version and, in order to make the book smaller, has a much much smaller typeface.
My recommendation would be not to buy this version but to look around for a Simon & Schuster version.
Content will no doubt be worthy of 5 stars, Presentation however only worth 1 star. Hence on balance 3 stars.

One person found this helpful

Milanche

Most vivid story I have ever read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2018

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In this book you find out that American Revolution is more than a rebellion against British rule. It's an inspiring story of a few revolutionaries with no experience in combat, but they had the necessary great courage and holy cause to fight for their liberty an independence. This book is well written by an author who knows his craft. I would highly recommend it to all history enthusiasts with no exception. Everyone should hear this noble story of the founding fathers of the USA. I never liked America and their policy but this book shows a total different story and a more friendly America.

3 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Historical masterpiece

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2016

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Brilliantly written, bringing to life the reality of the war. The book shows what a close call the war really was and what a huge effort the crown made, especially from the naval perspective. Washington was lucky, he had a rag bag army but he did have unity of command. It was a riveting read, competing with any work of fiction. One of the best historical accounts of warfare I have ever read. 1776 was an epic year in the history of the western world and the book is a work of genius. This is how history should be told - a masterpiece.

2 people found this helpful

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