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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 251–260 of 272 items
They Were Good Soldiers Book Cover

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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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Book cover for Vicious and Immoral featuring the title in a script font at the top, a depiction of Robert Newburgh wearing a purple waistcoat, purple pants, and a tri-corner hat, then the author's name at the bottom.

Vicious and Immoral

Posted: May 22, 2024
Read an excerpt from John Gilbert McCurdy's book, Vicious and Immoral: Homosexuality, the American Revolution, and the Trials of Robert Newburgh.
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