Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

Captives of Liberty

Read an excerpt from T. Cole Jones's book, Captives of Liberty: Prisoners of War and the Politics of Vengeance in the American Revolution.

Black Founders

Read an excerpt from the Museum of the American Revolution's exhibit book, Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia.

The Cutting-Off Way

Read an excerpt from Wayne E. Lee's new book, The Cutting-Off Way: Indigenous Warfare in Eastern North America, 1500–1800.

The Words That Made Us

Read an excerpt from Akhil Reed Amar's book, The Words That Made Us: America's Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840.

Until Justice Be Done

Read an excerpt from Kate Masur's book, Until Justice Be Done: America's First Civil Rights Movement, from the Revolution to Reconstruction.

Book cover for Captives of Liberty features a painting that depicts a Hessian soldier and a British redcoat leading a Continental soldier away as a prisoner.

Black Founders Exhibit Catalog Cover featuring a portrait of James Forten.

Book cover for Wayne Lee's The Cutting-Off Way.

Book cover for Akhil Reed Amar's The Words That Made Us with black font on parchment colored background.

Until Justice Be Done by Kate Masur teal book cover with white text.

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

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

Children & Young Adults

Summer Reading List: 2023 Young Readers Edition

Posted: May 24, 2023

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

Children & Young Adults

The Journal of Charlotte L. Forten

Posted: March 08, 2023

Read an excerpt from The Journal of Charlotte L. Forten, edited by Ray Allen Billington.

Book covers for First Martyr of Liberty and The Remarkable Cause.

Children & Young Adults

Double Feature: First Martyr of Liberty and The Remarkable Cause

Posted: February 22, 2023

Read excerpts from Mitch Kachun's First Martyr of Liberty: Crispus Attucks in American Memory and Jean O'Connor's The Remarkable Cause: A Novel of James Lovell and the Crucible of the Revolution.

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.

Children & Young Adults

Summer Reading List: 2022 Young Readers Edition

Posted: July 13, 2022

Check out the Museum education team's 2022 summer reading list selections for young readers ages 6-12.

Double Feature Ten Crucial Days Read the Revolution book Covers

History

Double Feature: Countdown to the 10 Crucial Days

Posted: December 15, 2021

Read excerpts from William Kidder's Ten Crucial Days: Washington’s Vision for Victory Unfolds and Lynne Cheney's When Washington Crossed the Delaware: A Wintertime Story for Young Patriots.

The Museum’s 2021 Children’s Youth Reading List includes Why Longfellow Lied: The Truth About Paul Revere’s Ride, The Age of Phillis by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers, and A Parade for George Washington by David A. Adler and illustrated by John O’Brien.

Children & Young Adults

Summer Reading List: 2021 Young Readers Edition

Posted: August 25, 2021

View our list of new books about the American Revolutionary War to share stories of history with children of all ages for 2021 summer reading.

Children & Young Adults

Double Feature: Henry Knox's Winter Adventure

Posted: December 09, 2020

Read excerpts from Don Brown's Henry and the Cannons: An Extraordinary True Story of the American Revolution as well as Phillip Hamilton's The Revolutionary War Lives and Letters of Lucy and Henry Knox.

Image 101220 Rtr Wwltv Young Readers List

Children & Young Adults

When Women Lost the Vote: Young Readers Edition

Posted: October 14, 2020

View a reading list of books for young readers inspired by our special exhibition, When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776-1807.

Children & Young Adults

Summer Reading List: 2020 Young Readers Edition

Posted: July 08, 2020

View our list of 2020 Summer Reading Books about the American Revolutionary War to share stories of history with children of all ages!

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