Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

Black Jacks

Read an excerpt from W. Jeffrey Bolster's book, Black Jacks: African American Seamen in the Age of Sail.

Liberty's Daughters

Read an excerpt from Mary Beth Norton's groundbreaking book, Liberty's Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women, 1750-1800.

Summer Reading List: 2023 Young Readers Edition

See our summer reading list of Revolutionary books that will encourage young readers to explore the past and the people who shaped it.

A Gentleman of Color

Read an excerpt from Julie Winch's groundbreaking book, A Gentleman of Color: The Life of James Forten.

The Grimkes

Read an excerpt from Kerri K. Greenidge's book, The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family.

Cover of W. Jeffrey Bolster's book Black Jacks.

Image 091520 1776x2652 Libertysdaughters

A collection of books featured in the Museum's 2023 summer reading list for young readers.

The Grimkes by Kerri Greenidge Book book cover.

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 240 items

Sort by:

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

Grand Forage 1778

Posted: September 28, 2016

This excerpt from Todd Braisted details how the British Army gathered provisions and battled with American soldiers and civilians for supplies and loyalties

Biography & Memoir

Hero of Two Worlds

Posted: August 17, 2022

Read an excerpt from Mike Duncan's best-selling book, Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution.

History

Hessians

Posted: August 25, 2015

This excerpt from Brady Crytzer provides a look at the American Revolutionary War from the perspective of German Hessian soldiers who fought for the British

History

Hessians

Posted: May 11, 2022

Read an excerpt of Friederike Baer's new book, Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War.

History

Historians on Hamilton

Posted: October 10, 2018

In her essay, Renee C. Romano looks at how Hamilton: An American Musical sparked surprising conversations and unexpected results

History

Household Gods

Posted: March 24, 2021

Read an excerpt from Sara Georgini's book, Household Gods: The Religious Lives of the Adams Family.

Children & Young Adults

I Survived the American Revolution

Posted: January 10, 2018

Read an excerpt from Lauren Tarshis's children's book of a young boy's courage as he and the Continental Army prepare for the Battle of Brooklyn.

Fiction

I, Eliza Hamilton

Posted: November 14, 2018

Read an excerpt from Susan Holloway Scott's work of historical fiction about Eliza Schuyler, wife of Alexander Hamilton, during the Revolutionary War.

History

If These Stones Could Talk

Posted: February 24, 2021

Read an excerpt from Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills's recent book, If These Stones Could Talk: African American Presence in the Hopewell Valley, Sourland Mountain and Surrounding Regions of New Jersey.

9 of 24 pages