Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

Memory Wars

Read an excerpt from A. Lynn Smith's book, Memory Wars: Settlers and Natives Remember Washington’s Sullivan Expedition of 1779.

The Bill of Obligations

Read an excerpt from Richard Haass's book, The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens.

One Minute A Free Woman

Read an excerpt from Emilie Piper and David Levinson's book, One Minute A Free Woman: Elizabeth Freeman and the Struggle for Freedom.

The Contagion of Liberty

Read an excerpt from Andrew M. Wehrman's book, The Contagion of Liberty: The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution.

Making the Presidency

Read an excerpt from Lindsay M. Chervinsky's book, Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic.

This image shows the book cover for the book Memory Wars with a red background textured with Native American symbols and the book title and author name in white font to the left side.

This image shows the book cover for The Bill of Obligations with black text on a cream background and an American flag sown back together with a needle and thread in the center.

This image shows the book cover for One Minute A Free Woman with the title in large navy blue serif font over script writing on beige paper.

This image shows the book cover for The Contagion of Liberty featuring the book title large in blue and white font over a brown beige background on the top half with an engraving of a crowd of people getting vaccinated against smallpox.

This image shows the book cover for Making the Presidency by Lindsay Chervinsky featuring a portrait of John Adams.

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.

Subscribe Now

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

Filter By:

Showing 31–40 of 48 items

Sort by:

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.

Book cover for The Blind African Slave, Jeffrey Brace's Memoir, originally published in 1810 and Edited By Kari Winter

Biography & Memoir

The Blind African Slave (originally 1810)

Posted: February 09, 2022

Read an excerpt from Kari Winter's 2004 edited edition of The Blind African Slave: Memoirs of Boyrereau Brinch, Nicknamed Jeffrey Brace by Jeffrey Brace as told to Benjamin F. Prentiss, Esq. (1810).

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.

Biography & Memoir

The Grimkes

Posted: March 22, 2023

Read an excerpt from Kerri K. Greenidge's book, The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family.

Children & Young Adults

The Journal of Charlotte L. Forten

Posted: March 08, 2023

Read an excerpt from The Journal of Charlotte L. Forten, edited by Ray Allen Billington.

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.

Biography & Memoir

The Marquis: Lafayette Reconsidered

Posted: July 24, 2024

Read an excerpt from Laura Auricchio's book The Marquis: Lafayette Reconsidered.

Biography & Memoir

The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley

Posted: March 13, 2024

Read an excerpt from David Waldstreicher's book, The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley: A Poet’s Journeys Through American Slavery and Independence.

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.

Biography & Memoir

The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams

Posted: January 24, 2024

Read an excerpt from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stacy Schiff's book, The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams.

4 of 5 pages