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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 272 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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A Bard of Wolfe's Army Book Cover

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.

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

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

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 Gentleman of Color book cover

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

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

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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