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Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

The Marquis: Lafayette Reconsidered

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

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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.

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Memory Wars

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

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The Bill of Obligations

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

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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.

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    This image shows the book cover for The Marquis: Lafayette Reconsidered with a large side profile portrait of Lafayette looking to the left with a blue to red gradient tint.
    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 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 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.

    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 272 items
    Scars of Independence Book Cover
    History

    Scars of Independence

    Posted: July 26, 2017
    This excerpt from author Holger Hoock examines the moral dilemmas posed by the all-pervasive violence of the American Revolutionary War.
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    Sealed with Blood Book Cover
    History

    Sealed with Blood

    Posted: April 26, 2017
    This excerpt from Sarah Purcell argues shared experiences of the Revolutionary War offered Americans an opportunity to create a sense of national identity
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    Sentiments Of A British American Woman by Owen Ireland book cover featuring a portrait of Esther de Bert Reed.
    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.
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    Sex Among the Rabble: An Intimate History of Gender & Power in the Age Revolution, Philadelphia, 1730-1830 book cover
    History

    Sex Among the Rabble

    Posted: April 22, 2020
    Read an excerpt from Clare A. Lyons' book, Sex Among the Rabble: An Intimate History of Gender & Power in the Age Revolution, Philadelphia, 1730-1830.
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    Slave Counterpoint book cover
    History

    Slave Counterpoint

    Posted: July 24, 2019
    This excerpt from Phillip Morgan explains the value of studying slave culture in the eighteenth century and “humanizing the institution of slavery.”
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    This image depicts the Standing in Their Own Light book cover by Judith Van Buskirk. The image is a painting of a person of African Descent in military clothing. He his wearing a blue jacket and carrying a rifle pointed upward in his right hand. His right leg is bent, giving the illusion that he is walking on a field.
    History

    Standing in Their Own Light

    Posted: June 23, 2021
    Read an excerpt from Judith L. Van Buskirk's book, Standing in Their Own Light: African American Patriots in the American Revolution.
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    Image 102620 Rtr128 Success To America
    History

    Success to America

    Posted: August 08, 2018
    Read an excerpt from the book, Success to America: Creamware for the American Market, featuring the S. Robert Teitelman Collection at Winterthur.
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    Image 101520 Rtr 2017 Summer Reading List Kids
    Children & Young Adults

    Summer 2017 Reading List

    Posted: July 12, 2017
    Check out the 45 titles featured in our summer 2017 reading list for children and young adults.
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    Hamilton and Peggy! A Revolutionary Friendship book cover
    Children & Young Adults

    Summer 2018 Reading List

    Posted: July 25, 2018
    View our list of 2018 Summer Reading Books about the American Revolutionary War to share stories of history with children of all ages!
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    My America The Beautiful book cover
    Children & Young Adults

    Summer 2019 Reading List

    Posted: June 26, 2019
    View our list of 2019 Summer Reading Books about the American Revolutionary War to share stories of history with children of all ages!
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