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Read the Revolution

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

Sponsored by The Haverford Trust Company

Featured Books

Charity and Sylvia

Read an excerpt from Rachel Hope Cleves' book, Charity and Sylvia: A Same-Sex Marriage in Early America.

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Rebels at Sea

Read an excerpt from Eric Jay Dolin's book, Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution.

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Liberty is Sweet

Read an excerpt from Woody Holton's book, Liberty is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American Revolution.

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Summer Reading List: 2022 Young Readers Edition

Check out the Museum education team's 2022 summer reading list selections for young readers ages 6-12.

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The Last King of America

Read an excerpt from Andrew Roberts' book, The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of King George III.

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    Charity and Sylvia Book Cover
    Two ships on the cover of a took titled Rebels at Sea
    Book cover for Liberty is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American Revolution by Woody Holton.
    2022 Young Readers Summer Reading List
    The Last King Of America by Andrew Roberts

    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 171–180 of 222 items
    The Day the American Revolution Began Book Cover
    History

    The Day the American Revolution Began

    Posted: April 12, 2017
    In this excerpt from military historian William H. Hallahan he recounts April 19, 1775, the Day the American Revolution Began.
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    The Declaration of Independence Book Cover
    History

    The Declaration of Independence

    Posted: June 22, 2016
    This excerpt by David Armitage examines how the Declaration of Independence became a political and philosophical model for nations across the globe.
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    Rtr The Disaffected
    History

    The Disaffected

    Posted: September 25, 2019
    Read an excerpt from Aaron Sullivan's book, The Disaffected: Britain’s Occupation of Philadelphia during the American Revolution.
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    Image Rtr The Divided Ground
    History

    The Divided Ground

    Posted: November 18, 2014
    Read this excerpt from Alan Taylor that tells of an important ally in the American Revolution: the Oneida Nation, a nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.
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    The Expanding Blaze book cover
    History

    The Expanding Blaze

    Posted: March 14, 2018
    This excerpt from Jonathan Israel investigates radical ideas of self-government, liberty, and republicanism that challenged the Old World institutions.
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    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.
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    The First Congress Book Cover
    History

    The First Congress

    Posted: July 06, 2016
    Read this excerpt from Fergus Bordewich that covers the debates over Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan to the simple question of how we address the president.
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    The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn Book Cover
    History

    The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn

    Posted: September 13, 2017
    This excerpt from Robert Watson weaves together details of the horrifying conditions experienced aboard the HMS Jersey during the American Revolutionary.
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    This image depicts the book cover of The Gun, The Ship, and The Pen by Linda Colley. The text of the title is written in large blue letters. There is an illustration, pictures vertically on the left side of the book cover. It shows a sailor, with his back to the viewer, looking out at a ship on fire in the sea.
    History

    The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen

    Posted: May 12, 2021
    Read an excerpt from historian Linda Colley's new book, The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen: Warfare, Constitutions, and the Making of the Modern World.
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    Image 091820 Rtr179 Hemingses Monticello Annette Gordon Reed Screen Shot 2020 09 18 At 1131 56 Am
    History

    The Hemingses of Monticello

    Posted: September 23, 2020
    Read an excerpt from Annette Gordon-Reed's Pulitzer Prize-winning The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family.
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    Sponsored by The Haverford Trust Company