Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

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.

Female Genius

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

King Hancock

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

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.

Death or Liberty

Read an excerpt from Douglas Egerton's book, Death or Liberty: African Americans in the Revolutionary War.

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.

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.

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.

The book cover of Death or Liberty by Douglas Egerton featuring John Singleton Copley's painting depicting Black Loyalist Boston King.

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.

Subscribe Now

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

Filter By:

Showing 81–90 of 261 items

Sort by:

History

Founding Friendships

Posted: June 09, 2015

This excerpt from Cassandra Good shows how women gained political access, influence, and information through their male friends in political office.

History

Founding Gardeners

Posted: May 11, 2016

This excerpt from Andrea Wulf introduces the founding fathers as promoters of an agrarian nation, sharing new farming methods and exotic plants.

Biography & Memoir

Founding Martyr

Posted: December 13, 2023

Read an excerpt from Christian Di Spigna's book, Founding Martyr: The Life and Death of Dr. Joseph Warren, the American Revolution’s Lost Hero.

History

Founding Mothers

Posted: January 28, 2014

Read this excerpt from Cokie Roberts that offers a comprehensive look at the many roles women played in American Revolutionary War.

History

Freedom's Prophet

Posted: November 22, 2023

Read an excerpt from Richard S. Newman's book, Freedom’s Prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the Black Founding Fathers.

History

From Slaves to Soldiers

Posted: February 13, 2019

This excerpt from Robert Geake highlights the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, an integrated unit composed of African American, Native American and white soldiers

History

Frontier Rebels

Posted: January 08, 2020

Read an excerpt from Patrick Spero's book, Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776.

Biography & Memoir

George Washington

Posted: February 25, 2014

Read an excerpt from Stephen Brumwell's biography of George Washington and learn how Washington secured the history-making position of Commander in Chief.

History

George Washington's America

Posted: December 07, 2016

This excerpt from Barnet Schecter shows the issues facing Washington and the Continental Army in 1776 as they began to defend the city from the British.

History

Give Me a Fast Ship

Posted: November 08, 2023

Read an excerpt from Tim McGrath's book, Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America's Revolution at Sea.

9 of 27 pages