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Expertly written with a high degree of craftmanship and scholarship, the audio version of this work takes the listener on a journey through the year 1776 and all of its military exploits with ear-catching detail. His narrative, which is almost melodic at times, is punctuated with eyewitness accounts to the American Revolution through the use of diaries, letters, documents. Being visually impaired, the audio version of this work was a God-send and comprised five separate CD's with a total of approximately six hours of enjoyable listening. It is also a real treat to hear the author himself reading from his own work in a clear and deliberate voice. His character descriptions, especially of George Washington and King George III, as well as the various generals involved, is superbly done. His main thesis that the American Revolution succeeded only against all odds is a point well taken and dramatically depicted in this great work.
It end with the stunning military victory at Trenton, where the Christmas offensive caught the British and their hated mercenaries, the Hessians. Let's face it. And when you have material such as '1776', the material is elevated beyond the merely excellent.McCullough has the ability to completely explore a subject, be it Truman or Theodore Roosevelt. It was a year of great victories (driving the Redcoats out of Boston), and of stupid decisions that almost cost America the war almost as it got started (the Battle of Brooklyn). If only McCullough had done the entire American Revolution. He captures the tenor of the times by the frequent citation of contemporary diaries, letters, or autobiographies dating from the period.
Yet he persevered and almost single-handedly brought just enough success to keep the army intact, and the 'gentleman generals' of the Continental Congress at bay.I thoroughly enjoyed this 10 CD pack. There's something about David McCullough's voice that just elevated any material. Along the way, George Washington, a widely admired and revered man even that early in America's history, had to contend with desertions, spies, illness, unhealthy camps, rampant fevers and epidemics, and a rag-tag bunch of American who just didn't like taking orders (what else is new). This is history of the beginning of the American Revolution, the most important political event in the last 500 years. The year 1776 was before Yorktown, before Valley Forge, and before many of the other campaigns of this very long war. It's long, yes, but you're unhappy when it's over.
Sigh.
McCullough is scholarly, but presents a book that anyone will enjoy. is beyond inspiring.
Recently I began reading more about our nation's history and am learning so much more along the way. I read a lot of fiction and many sports history books.
Not only the ultimate victory of freeing our country, but what they faced in terms of the trials and tribulations of injury, illness, terrain, fierce weather conditions, etc. 1776 is one of those books that often reads like a novel, it is so compelling.
Having grown up in NJ, being so very familiar with the "route" Washington and his troops took, working for years in Trenton and now living 5 miles from Washington's Crossing on the PA/NJ border, I am in awe of what our forefathers accomplished. A read of this book gives one a far greater appreciation for what we have been given in the United States by those who fought for our independence.
It certainly should be required reading in our high school history classes.
David McCullough always does great research for his books and "1776" is no exception. The detail of the battles was very informative. I knew the overall American Revolution story, but enjoyed reading about the battles and just how close we were to losing this war.
This book makes the reader want to find out more about each of the characters discussed. The American Revolutionary period is my favorite historical period to read about and study. One point of history to mention is the fact that the author does not treat the Americans as the heroes and the British/Hessians as the bad guys. 1776 by McCullouch does not necessarily break new ground, but he is such a master storyteller that this is a must read for all fans of history. His narrative style of combining great history with the backgrounds and actual words of the historical characters truly reads like a novel. He is fair to all. A great read, and one I would recommend to high school teachers to assign as summer work for honors or advanced placement students.
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