Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

The Overflowing of Friendship

Read an excerpt from Richard Godbeer's book, The Overflowing of Friendship: Love Between Men and the Creation of the American Republic.

Prisoners of Congress

Read an excerpt from Norman E. Donoghue II's book, Prisoners of Congress: Philadelphia’s Quakers in Exile, 1777-1778.

Freedom's Prophet

Read an excerpt from Richard S. Newman's book, Freedom’s Prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the Black Founding Fathers.

Give Me a Fast Ship

Read an excerpt from Tim McGrath's book, Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America's Revolution at Sea.

The Cutting-Off Way

Read an excerpt from Wayne E. Lee's new book, The Cutting-Off Way: Indigenous Warfare in Eastern North America, 1500–1800.

Image 100223 Rtr251 Overflowing Of Friendship Godbeer Cover

Cover for Norman Donoghue's book Prisoner's of Congress which features a blue illustration of the top of Independence Hall atop the book title in blue over a beige background.

Book cover for Freedom's Prophet by Richard Newman featuring a large scale portrait of Bishop Richard Allen.

Book cover for Tim McGrath's book Give Me a Fast Ship featuring the title in black text over a goldish brown background with stars and a painting of naval ships.

Book cover for Wayne Lee's The Cutting-Off Way.

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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Biography & Memoir

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.

Biography & Memoir

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.

Biography & Memoir

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.

Biography & Memoir

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

Biography & Memoir

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.

Biography & Memoir

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

Biography & Memoir

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.

Biography & Memoir

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.

Biography & Memoir

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.

Biography & Memoir

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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