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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

Showing 21–30 of 40 items
British Soldiers American War

British Soldiers, American War

Posted: December 11, 2019
Read an excerpt from Don Hagist's book, British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution.
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A Fool's Errand book cover

A Fool's Errand

Posted: October 09, 2019
This excerpt of Lonnie Bunch intertwines his personal experiences with the long road that led to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
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Rush book cover

Rush

Posted: July 10, 2019
Read an excerpt from Stephen Fried's biography of Dr. Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence and surgeon-general in the Continental Army.
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Image 10012020 Sally Wisters Journal

Sally Wister's Journal

Posted: September 12, 2018
This excerpt from Sally Wister's journal begins as the British marched towards Philadelphia and she fretted over the uncertainty of her place in the war
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A Hessian Diary of the American Revolution Book Cover

A Hessian Diary of the American Revolution

Posted: February 22, 2017
This excerpt includes a journal entry of a young Hessian soldier during the month of July 1781, the summer before the surrender at Yorktown.
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The Swamp Fox Book Cover

The Swamp Fox

Posted: February 08, 2017
Read an excerpt from John Oller's biography on Francis Marion, that seeks to unpack and debunk some of the myths on the "Swamp Fox" of the Revolutionary War
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This image shows the book cover of Washington's General: Nathanael Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution by Terry Golway.

Washington's General

Posted: January 11, 2017
Read an excerpt from Terry Golway's biography of Nathanael Greene, who was appointed by Washington as commander of the Southern Army.
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Financier of the Revolution Book Cover

Financier of the Revolution

Posted: October 12, 2016
Read an excerpt from Charles Rappleye about the rise and fall of Founding Father and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Robert Morris.
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Benjamin Franklin in London book cover

Benjamin Franklin in London

Posted: July 20, 2016
Read an excerpt from George Goodwin that highlights Benjamin Franklin's role as a colonial representative, actively engaged in British politics.
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The Revolution's Last Men Book Cover

The Revolution's Last Men

Posted: April 21, 2015
Read an excerpt from Don Hagist in which he updated biographies on the last living American Revolution veterans for a more accurate take.
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