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

All Books

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History

Common Sense

Posted: January 06, 2015

This excerpt comes from the section "Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs" from Common Sense, the influential pamphlet by Thomas Paine.

History

The Secret Six

Posted: December 31, 2014

This excerpt from authors Kilmeade and Yaeger shows George Washington's use of intelligence and counterintelligence, including Culper Spy Ring

Biography & Memoir

Washington: A Life

Posted: December 23, 2014

Read an excerpt from Ron Chernow's biography on George Washington, Washington: A Life.

Biography & Memoir

The Shoemaker and the Tea Party

Posted: December 09, 2014

Read an excerpt from Alfred Young's essays about the contributions of ordinary people, specifically a shoemaker, to the American Revolution.

History

The Divided Ground

Posted: November 18, 2014

Read this excerpt from Alan Taylor that tells of an important ally in the American Revolution: the Oneida Nation, a nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.

Biography & Memoir

John Adams

Posted: November 04, 2014

Read an excerpt from David McCullough about the Founding Fathers negotiating with the British as they begin talks to officially end the war.

History

The American Revolution: A Historical Guidebook

Posted: October 21, 2014

This excerpt from Frances H. Kennedy describes more than 100 landmarks from the American Revolution in the chronology of their importance to the war.

History

Saratoga

Posted: October 07, 2014

Read an excerpt from Richard Ketchum's Saratoga: Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War.

Image 111320 Rtr First American Brands Cover

Biography & Memoir

The First American

Posted: September 23, 2014

Read an excerpt from H. W. Brands about about Ben Franklin presenting the first draft for the Articles of Confederation to the Continental Congress.

History

Almost A Miracle

Posted: September 09, 2014

This excerpt from John Ferling recounts how British troops led by General Howe defeated Washington's American army in the gruesome Battle of Brandywine

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