Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

Black Jacks

Read an excerpt from W. Jeffrey Bolster's book, Black Jacks: African American Seamen in the Age of Sail.

Liberty's Daughters

Read an excerpt from Mary Beth Norton's groundbreaking book, Liberty's Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women, 1750-1800.

Summer Reading List: 2023 Young Readers Edition

See our summer reading list of Revolutionary books that will encourage young readers to explore the past and the people who shaped it.

A Gentleman of Color

Read an excerpt from Julie Winch's groundbreaking book, A Gentleman of Color: The Life of James Forten.

The Grimkes

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

Cover of W. Jeffrey Bolster's book Black Jacks.

Image 091520 1776x2652 Libertysdaughters

A collection of books featured in the Museum's 2023 summer reading list for young readers.

The Grimkes by Kerri Greenidge Book book cover.

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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Biography & Memoir

Memoir of a Revolutionary Soldier

Posted: July 16, 2013

Read an excerpt from Joseph Plumb Martins memoir describing leaving the safety of home for his first deployment for the American Revolution in 1776.

History

Memories of War

Posted: May 27, 2020

In this excerpt, historian Thomas A. Chambers explores how people visited and commemorated battlefields between independence and the Civil War.

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.

History

Monmouth Court House

Posted: June 23, 2015

This excerpt from authors Joseph Bilby and Katherine Bilby Jenkins shows George Washington receiving recommendations from his generals regarding the readiness of American troops

History

Most Blessed of the Patriarchs

Posted: January 24, 2018

This excerpt from authors Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter Onuf dissects the life of Thomas Jefferson and explores his attachment to home and to family.

Image 090220 Museum Of American Revolution Guidebook Cover

History

Museum of the American Revolution Official Guidebook

Posted: December 18, 2019

Read two excerpts from the Museum of the American Revolution's Official Guidebook published in 2019.

Children & Young Adults

Never Caught

Posted: January 23, 2019

Read an excerpt from Dr. Erica Armstrong Dunbar and Kathleen Van Cleve's young reader adaptation of the story of runaway slave Ona Judge.

History

Never Caught

Posted: August 22, 2018

This excerpt from Erica Armstrong Dunbar examines the growth of anti-slavery sentiment in Philadelphia during the 1780s and 1790s.

History

Occupied America

Posted: December 23, 2020

Read an excerpt from Donald F. Johnson's book, Occupied America: British Military Rule and the Experience of Revolution.

History

Of Arms and Artists

Posted: April 25, 2018

This excerpt from Paul Staiti discusses artist and Revolutionary War veteran John Trumbull’s effort to create the paintings for the US Capitol Building.

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