1776 book review new york times

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by David McCullough ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2005

Thus the second most costly war in American history, whose “outcome seemed little short of a miracle.” A sterling account.

A master storyteller’s character-driven account of a storied year in the American Revolution.

Against world systems, economic determinist and other external-cause schools of historical thought, McCullough ( John Adams , 2001, etc.) has an old-fashioned fondness for the great- (and not-so-great) man tradition, which may not have much explanatory power but almost always yields better-written books. McCullough opens with a courteous nod to the customary villain in the story of American independence, George III, who turns out to be a pleasant and artistically inclined fellow who relied on poor advice; his Westmoreland, for instance, was a British general named Grant who boasted that with 5,000 soldiers he “could march from one end of the American continent to the other.” Other British officers agitated for peace, even as George wondered why Americans would not understand that to be a British subject was to be free by definition. Against these men stood arrayed a rebel army that was, at the least, unimpressive; McCullough observes that New Englanders, for instance, considered washing clothes to be women’s work and so wore filthy clothes until they rotted, with the result that Burgoyne and company had a point in thinking the Continentals a bunch of ragamuffins. The Americans’ military fortunes were none too good for much of 1776, the year of the Declaration; at the slowly unfolding battle for control over New York, George Washington was moved to despair at the sight of sometimes drunk soldiers running from the enemy and of their officers “who, instead of attending to their duty, had stood gazing like bumpkins” at the spectacle. For a man such as Washington, to be a laughingstock was the supreme insult, but the British were driven by other motives than to irritate the general—not least of them reluctance to give up a rich, fertile and beautiful land that, McCullough notes, was providing the world’s highest standard of living in 1776.

Pub Date: June 1, 2005

ISBN: 0-7432-2671-2

Page Count: 656

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2005

HISTORY | UNITED STATES | GENERAL HISTORY

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KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

The osage murders and the birth of the fbi.

by David Grann ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 18, 2017

Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.

Greed, depravity, and serial murder in 1920s Oklahoma.

During that time, enrolled members of the Osage Indian nation were among the wealthiest people per capita in the world. The rich oil fields beneath their reservation brought millions of dollars into the tribe annually, distributed to tribal members holding "headrights" that could not be bought or sold but only inherited. This vast wealth attracted the attention of unscrupulous whites who found ways to divert it to themselves by marrying Osage women or by having Osage declared legally incompetent so the whites could fleece them through the administration of their estates. For some, however, these deceptive tactics were not enough, and a plague of violent death—by shooting, poison, orchestrated automobile accident, and bombing—began to decimate the Osage in what they came to call the "Reign of Terror." Corrupt and incompetent law enforcement and judicial systems ensured that the perpetrators were never found or punished until the young J. Edgar Hoover saw cracking these cases as a means of burnishing the reputation of the newly professionalized FBI. Bestselling New Yorker staff writer Grann ( The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession , 2010, etc.) follows Special Agent Tom White and his assistants as they track the killers of one extended Osage family through a closed local culture of greed, bigotry, and lies in pursuit of protection for the survivors and justice for the dead. But he doesn't stop there; relying almost entirely on primary and unpublished sources, the author goes on to expose a web of conspiracy and corruption that extended far wider than even the FBI ever suspected. This page-turner surges forward with the pacing of a true-crime thriller, elevated by Grann's crisp and evocative prose and enhanced by dozens of period photographs.

Pub Date: April 18, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-385-53424-6

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2017

GENERAL HISTORY | TRUE CRIME | UNITED STATES | FIRST/NATIVE NATIONS | HISTORY

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by David Grann

BOOK TO SCREEN

by Elie Wiesel & translated by Marion Wiesel ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 16, 2006

The author's youthfulness helps to assure the inevitable comparison with the Anne Frank diary although over and above the...

Elie Wiesel spent his early years in a small Transylvanian town as one of four children. 

He was the only one of the family to survive what Francois Maurois, in his introduction, calls the "human holocaust" of the persecution of the Jews, which began with the restrictions, the singularization of the yellow star, the enclosure within the ghetto, and went on to the mass deportations to the ovens of Auschwitz and Buchenwald. There are unforgettable and horrifying scenes here in this spare and sombre memoir of this experience of the hanging of a child, of his first farewell with his father who leaves him an inheritance of a knife and a spoon, and of his last goodbye at Buchenwald his father's corpse is already cold let alone the long months of survival under unconscionable conditions. 

Pub Date: Jan. 16, 2006

ISBN: 0374500010

Page Count: 120

Publisher: Hill & Wang

Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2006

BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | HOLOCAUST | HISTORY | GENERAL BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | GENERAL HISTORY

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by Elie Wiesel ; edited by Alan Rosen

by Elie Wiesel ; illustrated by Mark Podwal

by Elie Wiesel ; translated by Marion Wiesel

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1776 (Book Review)

Reviewed by Harris J. Andrews By David McCullough Simon and Schuster, 2005

David McCullough’s 1776 is one of those well-crafted popular histories that is certain to feature prominently on every history buff’s reading list this summer. The Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer brings all of his formidable writing skills into play, recounting the tumultuous military campaigns of a year that saw the fortunes of George Washington’s fledgling Continental Army—and with it those of the new American republic—rise and fall: from a brilliant and unexpected success at the siege of Boston through failure and defeat in the fighting around New York and New Jersey to redemption in the freezing streets of Trenton.

McCullough’s book is pure, traditional narrative history. He bases much of his account on the actions and experiences of the great leaders: Patriot Generals George Washington, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox and their British opponents the Howe brothers, Sir Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis.

But McCullough also includes a chorus of spear-carriers—common soldiers, camp followers, civilian bystanders and politicians. The author employs a poet’s ear in his selection of wonderful quotes drawn from more than 50 diaries, memoirs and collections of correspondence to support his own lively narration. McCullough’s primary focus, however, remains firmly fixed on George Washington’s conduct of military operations and his constant determination to create a well-organized, professional fighting force out of the dispirited, sick and ragged volunteers and militiamen who formed his army.

As enjoyable as the book is, 1776 recounts an oft-told tale, one that has attracted the attention of many historians over the years. While McCullough ably pulls together masses of information, 1776 does not offer much that is new, nor does it offer fresh insights into the lives and character of the primary actors.

McCullough’s descriptions of military operations are fairly clear but suffer from a lack of the informative maps required for military historiography. The inclusion of reproductions of three period maps in the illustration sections does not adequately fill the void.

1776 remains a riveting and moving tale of the year that saw the proclamation of American independence and the descent of the full might of the British empire to crush it. Overall, David McCullough tells a powerful and well-crafted story that is worth the read.

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1776 Paperback – June 27, 2006

• 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
• See all details

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About the author, excerpt. © reprinted by permission. all rights reserved..

Copyright © 2005 by David McCullough

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; First 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 ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1 x 9.25 inches
• #8 in American Revolution Biographies (Books)
• #14 in U.S. Revolution & Founding History
• #48 in American Military History

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About the author

David mccullough.

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.

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Customers say

Customers find the book interesting, well-written, and gripping. They also describe the historical setting as engaging and restoring troop morale. Readers praise the content as thoroughly researched, stirring humanity, and authentic. They describe the pace as fast and good service. Customers also appreciate the rich characters to follow. Opinions differ on the entertainment value, with some finding it captivating and others saying it's boring.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book well-written, fascinating, and gripping. They also say it's an accessible introduction to the American Revolution, its early battles, and a good to excellent work.

" So well written - if you’re struggling having a bad day thinking you can’t do your life because it’s too hard - or if you don’t believe in America..." Read more

" Very entertaining and informative read. My 5th grade social studies instruction will improve greatly this year due to the contents of this book...." Read more

"...The book is very interesting and tells history in a way that makes the familiar but lifeless face on our all quarter coins come alive as a fallible,..." Read more

"...1776 is popular history at its best. It is easy to read, yet filled with information ...." Read more

Customers find the historical setting engaging, full of researched historical details, and interesting. They also say the book is a timeless classic that focuses completely on one year and restores troop morale.

"...I like that it focuses completely on one year ...." Read more

"Set in the busy year of 1776, the author narrates a compelling story full of the intricacies of war, rebellion, and intrigues that naturally occur..." Read more

"...have to do with the fact that he writes very entertaining and engaging histories , not the the typical dry-as-dust academic fare that is standard in..." Read more

Customers find the book insightful, definitive, and full of real historical details. They also say the author presents a very complete review of the independence fights. Readers also mention that the book includes many proud and heroic moments.

"Very entertaining and informative read . My 5th grade social studies instruction will improve greatly this year due to the contents of this book...." Read more

"...alive as a fallible, brave, committed, weary, frustrated, patient, inspiring , indecisive man...." Read more

"... McCullough's research is prodigious , and the journal entries and letters from "regular" soldiers were rather interesting...." Read more

"...As with everything else McCullough has written, 1776 is both informative and enjoyable...." Read more

Customers find the book fast paced, with vivid imagery and a good flow. They also mention that the service was excellent.

"A quick , informative, interesting read about the start of the Revolutionary War with a focus on George Washington. Definitely worth it." Read more

"...It is a very quick read , being just under 300 pages, but it is a fresh, personal and sometimes amazing look at the birth of the U.S. Very different..." Read more

"... It started slowly , as all good historical novels do...." Read more

"...It is a fast moving book packed with quotations , from many military players such as Howe, Knox and Greene and many others." Read more

Customers find the characters and leadership in the book rich, authentic, and great examples of true leadership. They also say the narrator is great.

"...was made by Washington and his troops, and how the heroic Washington was so very human ." Read more

"...and the journal entries and letters from "regular" soldiers were rather interesting ...." Read more

"...become real characters in a real play, and McCullough gives us rich characters to follow ..." Read more

"...And it was. The detail, the personality descriptions , the details of battle, etc., etc. Couldn't ask for much better, McCullough at his best...." Read more

Customers find the documentation in the book clear, concise, and engaging. They also appreciate the reproductions of founding documents and letters.

"...He shows in remarkable clarity how George Washington struggled both outwardly and inwardly to create a well-organized, professional fighting force..." Read more

"...As if McCullough's style wasn't realistic enough, there are ample portraits , graphics, and maps in this book to give the reader a real feel for the..." Read more

"...It is filled with personal letters of Washington , American officers, and excerpts from diaries of many different soldiers; revealing how..." Read more

"...He also paints very vivid of pictures of battles , placing the reader in the middle of the action to the point where you can almost hear the cannon..." Read more

Customers find the book hard to put down and easy to follow while walking. They also say the pieces fit together seamlessly.

"...Full of real, researched historical details and hard to put down (not many heavily researched history books can claim that)...." Read more

"...They just fit together so seamlessly , and again, the man is so real. One feels as if they know him. Amazing!!! what a talent." Read more

"...No idea, my bad. OK so once I started this book it was difficult to put down . I've read 25+ books covering 1776 alone. Seen the moves and TV shows...." Read more

"...Easy to read, hard to put down , and concise to the specific subject. Look forward to reading other books by Mr. McCullough" Read more

Customers are mixed about the entertainment value of the book. Some find it captivating and accurate, while others say parts are bland and boring.

"...The way the whole year was narrated was done in an entertaining way and made all of the people involved in the events of the year come to life." Read more

"...For a while, the book can seem a little repetitive , as Washington leads his "army"..." Read more

"...McCullough's style was easy to read and entertaining and he even brought the British perspective somewhat to light...." Read more

"...The focus on details is, most of the times, an unnecessary distraction ...." Read more

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Table of Contents

• Rave and Reviews

About The Book

About the author.

David McCullough (1933–2022) 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 was 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 (July 4, 2006)
• Length: 400 pages
• ISBN13: 9780743226721
• Lexile ® 1300L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

Browse Related Books

• Lexile ® 1291 - 1390
• History > United States > General
• History > United States > Revolutionary Period (1775-1800)
• Biography & Autobiography > Military

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Raves and Reviews

"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

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