Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

African Founders

Read an excerpt from Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Hackett Fischer's book, African Founders: How Enslaved People Expanded American Ideals.

The Journal of Charlotte L. Forten

Read an excerpt from The Journal of Charlotte L. Forten, edited by Ray Allen Billington.

The Grimkes

Read an excerpt from Kerri K. Greenidge's book, The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family.

Double Feature: First Martyr of Liberty and The Remarkable Cause

Read excerpts from Mitch Kachun's First Martyr of Liberty: Crispus Attucks in American Memory and Jean O'Connor's The Remarkable Cause: A Novel of James Lovell and the Crucible of the Revolution.

Flora MacDonald: "Pretty Young Rebel"

Read an excerpt from Flora Fraser's new book, Flora MacDonald: “Pretty Young Rebel”: Her Life and Story.

African Founders book cover by David Hackett Fischer

Cover of The Journal of Charlotte L. Forten featuring a photograph of an older Charlotte.

The Grimkes by Kerri Greenidge Book book cover.

Book covers for First Martyr of Liberty and The Remarkable Cause.

Flora Macdonald Pretty Young Rebel book cover by Flora Fraser

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

All Books

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History

Indigenous Continent

Posted: November 02, 2022

Read an excerpt from Pekka Hämäläinen's book, Indigenous Continent: The Epic Contest for North America.

History

Insignia of Independence

Posted: June 27, 2018

This excerpt from artist Don Troiani and author James L. Kochan looks at the armies of the American Revolution and further divides each by regiment to take a closer look.

History

Invisible Ink

Posted: May 23, 2018

This excerpt from John Nagy shows the spycraft of a Philadelphia family during British occupation and their assistance in helping Washington prepare battle

History

Journal of the American Revolution

Posted: December 17, 2013

Read an excerpt from the Journal of the American Revolution.

History

Kidnapping the Enemy

Posted: July 14, 2015

This excerpt from Christian McBurney shows Lieutenant Colonel Barton preparing for the successful July 10, 1777 raid on General Prescott's sleeping quarters.

History

Learning to Stand and Speak

Posted: May 13, 2020

Read an excerpt of historian Mary Kelley's book Learning to Stand and Speak: Women, Education, and Public Life in America's Republic.

History

Lexington and Concord

Posted: April 10, 2019

This excerpt from Arthur Tourtellot takes us on a journey into the events of Lexington and Concord starting with an overview of the British Army in Boston

History

Liberty

Posted: October 13, 2021

Read an excerpt from Don Troiani and the Museum's book Liberty: Don Troiani's Paintings of the Revolutionary War, which accompanies the exhibit of the same name.

History

Liberty is Sweet

Posted: July 27, 2022

Read an excerpt from Woody Holton's book, Liberty is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American Revolution.

History

Liberty's Daughters

Posted: August 13, 2013

Read an excerpt from Mary Beth Norton's book, Liberty's Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women, 1750-1800.

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