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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 205 items
Image 010721 Rtr186 1774 Long Year Revolution Norton Cover

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.

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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This image depicts A Crisis of Peace by David Head book cover. It is a colored portrait of General Washington.

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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Book cover for A Fragile Freedom by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

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

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 Perfect Union Book Cover

A Perfect Union

Posted: March 27, 2019
This excerpt from Catherine Allgor shows how Dolly Madison became a well known figure in the United States, even earning the title of “America’s Queen.”
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A Revolution In Color Book Cover

A Revolution in Color

Posted: September 27, 2017
This excerpt from Jane Kamensky provides an introduction into the world of artist John Singleton Copley and of the American Revolution as seen by him.
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A Revolution in Eating Book Cover

A Revolution in Eating

Posted: November 23, 2016
This excerpt from James McWilliams shows how the first American cookbook in 1796 led to introducing American recipes alongside the traditional British ones
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A Sweet Taste of History by Walter Staib

A Sweet Taste of History

Posted: November 25, 2020
Read an excerpt from Chef Walter Staib's cookbook, A Sweet Taste of History: More than 100 Elegant Dessert Recipes from America's Earliest Days.
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African Founders book cover by David Hackett Fischer

African Founders

Posted: February 08, 2023
Read an excerpt from Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Hackett Fischer's book, African Founders: How Enslaved People Expanded American Ideals.
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