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Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

Female Genius

Read an excerpt from Mary Sarah Bilder's book, Female Genius: Eliza Harriot and George Washington at the Dawn of the Constitution.

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King Hancock

Read an excerpt from Brooke Barbier's book, King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father.

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Witness to Revolution Exhibit Reading List

See five books recommended by the Museum that explore key people connected to George Washington’s tent and were critical to researching and constructing the exhibition.

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The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley

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

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Brothers in Liberty

Read an excerpt from Phillip Thomas Tucker's book, Brothers in Liberty: The Forgotten Story of the Free Black Haitians Who Fought for American Independence.

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    Book cover for Female Genius written in a wavy font across the bottom third features Columbia holding the American flag.
    Book cover for King Hancock book featuring a large portrait of John Hancock's face with the title King Hancock in gold and Hancock written in his famous signature.
    Introductory wall panel in the Witness to Revolution special exhibit with white text on a red background.
    Cover for David Waldstreicher's book The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley with the book title and author name in bold black font against an orange background with a colorized version of Phillis Wheatley's portrait in the center.
    Book cover for Brothers in Liberty features the book title in yellow on a red background in the middle of the cover with the subtitle right below in white.

    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 241–250 of 262 items
    These Truths by Jill Lepore book cover
    History

    These Truths

    Posted: June 28, 2023
    Read an excerpt from Jill Lepore's book, These Truths: A History of the United States.
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    They Were Good Soldiers Book Cover
    History

    They Were Good Soldiers

    Posted: July 22, 2020
    In these excerpts from John Rees, Black veterans share details of their service, emancipation, and freedom in the midst of revolutionary ferment.
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    Cover for Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word by Sarah Jane Marsh.
    Children & Young Adults

    Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word

    Posted: December 28, 2022
    Read an excerpt from Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word, written by Sarah Jane Marsh and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham.
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    This image shows the book cover of Treacherous Beauty: Peggy Shippen, The Woman Behind Benedict Arnold’s Plot to Betray America by Mark Jacob and Stephen Case. The top of the cover shows a Revolutionary War battle. Treacherous is written in blue font and Beauty is written in red. There is a black and white circular portrait of Peggy in the middle of the image.
    Biography & Memoir

    Treacherous Beauty

    Posted: March 24, 2015
    Read an excerpt from a biography by Mark Jacob and Stephen H. Case highlighting the life of Peggy Shippen, the wife of the treasonous Benedict Arnold.
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    Book cover for True For The Cause Of Liberty Gilbert with two men riding horses from left to right and dark green and brown coloring.
    History

    True for the Cause of Liberty

    Posted: January 10, 2024
    Read an excerpt from Oscar E. Gilbert and Catherine R. Gilbert's book, True for the Cause of Liberty: The Second Spartan Regiment in the American Revolution.
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    Image 101320 Rtr163 Brumwell Turncoat Cover
    Biography & Memoir

    Turncoat

    Posted: January 22, 2020
    Read an excerpt from Stephen Brumwell's Turncoat: Benedict Arnold and the Crisis of American Liberty.
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    Journal of the American Revolution Book Cover
    History

    Turning Point

    Posted: December 17, 2013
    This excerpt from Todd Andrlik features an article by Thomas Fleming revealing a turning point for General George Washington during the American Revolution
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    Until Justice Be Done by Kate Masur teal book cover with white text.
    History

    Until Justice Be Done

    Posted: July 26, 2023
    Read an excerpt from Kate Masur's book, Until Justice Be Done: America's First Civil Rights Movement, from the Revolution to Reconstruction.
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    Unveiling Memories book Cover by Iberdrola
    History

    Unveiling Memories

    Posted: October 05, 2022
    Read an excerpt from Iberdrola's book Unveiling Memories: Spain and the Hispanic Contribution to American Independence edited by José Manuel Guerrero Acosta.
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    Valiant Ambition Book Cover
    History

    Valiant Ambition

    Posted: August 03, 2016
    This excerpt from Nathaniel Philbrick tells the story of the rise of George Washington and the fall of Benedict Arnold during the American Revolution
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