Read the Revolution

A curated collection of thought-provoking books about the American Revolution.

Featured Books

Brothers in Liberty

Read an excerpt from Phillip Thomas Tucker's book, Brothers in Liberty: The Forgotten Story of the Free Black Haitians Who Fought for American Independence.

Female Genius

Read an excerpt from Mary Sarah Bilder's book, Female Genius: Eliza Harriot and George Washington at the Dawn of the Constitution.

King Hancock

Read an excerpt from Brooke Barbier's book, King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father.

The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley

Read an excerpt from David Waldstreicher's book, The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley: A Poet’s Journeys Through American Slavery and Independence.

Death or Liberty

Read an excerpt from Douglas Egerton's book, Death or Liberty: African Americans in the Revolutionary War.

Book cover for Brothers in Liberty features the book title in yellow on a red background in the middle of the cover with the subtitle right below in white.

Book cover for Female Genius written in a wavy font across the bottom third features Columbia holding the American flag.

Book cover for King Hancock book featuring a large portrait of John Hancock's face with the title King Hancock in gold and Hancock written in his famous signature.

Cover for David Waldstreicher's book The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley with the book title and author name in bold black font against an orange background with a colorized version of Phillis Wheatley's portrait in the center.

The book cover of Death or Liberty by Douglas Egerton featuring John Singleton Copley's painting depicting Black Loyalist Boston King.

About

Curated by Museum staff since 2013, Read the Revolution features excerpts from thought-provoking books about the American Revolution. Read the Revolution was created with thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Subscribe to get the biweekly Read the Revolution featured excerpts emailed right to your inbox for free.

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Speaker Series

Inspired by the Read the Revolution featured excerpts, the Read the Revolution Speaker Series brings celebrated authors and historians to the Museum for lively, facilitated discussions of their work. Each Read the Revolution Speaker Series program, hosted by Museum President & CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, includes a special talk and audience Q&A.

About the Series

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History

Eyewitness Images from the American Revolution

Posted: April 11, 2018

Read an excerpt from Arthur Lefkowitz that introduces less-celebrated figures of the war and reveals their methods for creating art amidst the war.

History

Fatal Sunday

Posted: June 28, 2017

Read this excerpt that offers a glimpse into the aftermath of Battle of Monmouth, detailing the gruesome task left to victors of burying the dead.

History

Feeding Washington's Army

Posted: January 11, 2023

Read an excerpt from Ricardo A. Herrera's book, Feeding Washington's Army: Surviving the Valley Forge Winter of 1778.

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History

Financial Founding Fathers

Posted: November 19, 2013

This excerpt by authors Robert Wright and David Cowen reveals how Robert Morris brought order to the early American economy and created the first national bank.

History

Finding Charity's Folk

Posted: January 27, 2021

Read two excerpts from Jessica Millward's book, Finding Charity's Folk: Enslaved and Free Black Women in Maryland.

History

First Ladies of the Republic

Posted: March 25, 2020

Read an excerpt of Abrams' First Ladies of the Republic: Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, and the Creation of an Iconic American Role.

History

Following the Drum

Posted: April 22, 2014

This excerpt from Nancy Loane focuses on female camp followers during the American Revolution: nurses, cooks, laundresses, and even ladies of privilege.

History

Forged in Philadelphia

Posted: November 18, 2015

Read an excerpt from Rebecca Eckfeldt Gibby's children's book where she uncovers the history of her Revolutionary-era ancestor from Philadelphia.

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History

Forging Freedom

Posted: February 17, 2016

Read this excerpt from Gary Nash that details generations of free blacks as they pursued a secure and dignified existence based on self-employment.

History

Forgotten Allies

Posted: March 25, 2014

This excerpt recounts how Oneida tribal members found themselves facing increasing pressure to choose sides as the Anglo-American conflict intensified.

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