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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.

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Prisoners of Congress

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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    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

    Showing 1–10 of 252 items
    Image 010721 Rtr186 1774 Long Year Revolution Norton Cover
    History

    1774: The Long Year of Revolution

    Posted: January 13, 2021
    Read an excerpt from Mary Beth Norton's book, 1774: The Long Year of Revolution.
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    This image shows the book cover of 1776 by David McCullough. 1776 is written in large red font in the center of the image. On the bottom, there is a painting depicting the Continental Army.
    History

    1776

    Posted: July 01, 2014
    Read an excerpt from David McCullough's book that captures American reactions in the immediate aftermath of the Declaration of Independence.
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    A Bard of Wolfe's Army Book Cover
    Biography & Memoir

    A Bard of Wolfe's Army

    Posted: November 23, 2022
    Read an excerpt from the book, A Bard of Wolfe’s Army: James Thompson, Gentleman Volunteer, 1733-1830, edited by Earl John Chapman and Ian Macpherson McCulloch.
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    This image depicts A Crisis of Peace by David Head book cover. It is a colored portrait of General Washington.
    History

    A Crisis of Peace

    Posted: July 14, 2021
    Read an excerpt from David Head's book, A Crisis of Peace: George Washington, the Newburgh Conspiracy, and the Fate of the American Revolution.
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    A Fool's Errand book cover
    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.
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    Book cover for A Fragile Freedom by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
    History

    A Fragile Freedom

    Posted: June 14, 2023
    Read an excerpt from Erica Armstrong Dunbar's book, A Fragile Freedom: African American Women and Emancipation in the Antebellum City.
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    A Generous and Merciful Enemy book cover
    History

    A Generous and Merciful Enemy

    Posted: July 15, 2014
    This excerpt from Daniel Krebs reveals the experience of the tens of thousands of German-speaking soldiers, called "Hessians" hired by the British Crown.
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    A Gentleman of Color book cover
    Biography & Memoir

    A Gentleman of Color

    Posted: February 11, 2014
    Read an excerpt from Julie Winch's biography of free Black Philadelphian James Forten, who would grow to become a prominent businessman, abolitionist and a celebrated Revolutionary.
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    A Gentleman of Color book cover
    Biography & Memoir

    A Gentleman of Color

    Posted: April 05, 2023
    Read an excerpt from Julie Winch's groundbreaking book, A Gentleman of Color: The Life of James Forten.
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    A Hessian Diary of the American Revolution Book Cover
    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.
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