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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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.

Children & Young Adults

Summer Reading List: 2022 Young Readers Edition

Posted: July 13, 2022

Check out the Museum education team's 2022 summer reading list selections for young readers ages 6-12.

History

Rebels at Sea

Posted: June 22, 2022

Read an excerpt from Eric Jay Dolin's book, Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution.

Biography & Memoir

Charity and Sylvia

Posted: June 08, 2022

Read an excerpt from Rachel Hope Cleves' book, Charity and Sylvia: A Same-Sex Marriage in Early America.

Biography & Memoir

The Last King of America

Posted: May 25, 2022

Read an excerpt from Andrew Roberts' book, The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of King George III.

History

Hessians

Posted: May 11, 2022

Read an excerpt of Friederike Baer's new book, Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War.

Biography & Memoir

Sentiments of a British-American Woman

Posted: April 27, 2022

Read an excerpt from Owen S. Ireland's book, Sentiments of a British-American Woman: Esther DeBerdt Reed and the American Revolution.

Reading List

Reading List: Authors Featured at 2022 Conference on Collecting the Revolutionary War

Posted: April 06, 2022

Read a selection of excerpts from books written by 2022 Conference on Collecting the American Revolution presenters.

Biography & Memoir

The Widow Washington

Posted: March 23, 2022

Read an excerpt from Martha Saxton's book, The Widow Washington: The Life of Mary Washington.

History

Memory's Daughters

Posted: March 09, 2022

Read an excerpt from Susan Stabile's book, Memory's Daughters: The Material Culture of Remembrance in Eighteenth-Century America.

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