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Thread: Good Books/Films About the American Revolution???

  1. #1

    Good Books/Films About the American Revolution???

    Specifically, I'm trying to find something that really makes the events and characters "come alive" and seem like more than pedantic old dudes in powdered wigs! I'd like to find something that isn't dry or academic (even though factual accuracy is certainly preferred!), but fresh, relevant, and inspiring.

    I just realized that my knowledge of the Revolution is sorely lacking. This realization was sparked when I read a piece on Aaron Russo in which someone called him "the Samuel Adams of our day" and my first thought was "isn't that the name of a beer?"

    I actually did pretty well at History in school, but it was only late 19th and 20th century history that I connected with. Anything before the Civil War always bored me to tears because the concerns and troubles of such distant eras seemed always so unrelatable to, and distant from, our own. Now 23 and out of school (temporarily I hope), I've just realized how urgently I need to bone up and not be just another ignorant sheep.

    Any recommendations here will be greatly appreciated!!!



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  3. #2
    http://www.history.com/minisites/revolution/

    as a former high school government teacher this is the best seris of films about the revolution I have ever seen
    Buy a house from me www.jg.remax.com

  4. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by remaxjon View Post
    http://www.history.com/minisites/revolution/

    as a former high school government teacher this is the best seris of films about the revolution I have ever seen
    Awesome! My Amazon.com order is already whizzing around through the intricate digital tubing of the Internets!

    Thanks for your help!!!

  5. #4
    Try Rise to Rebellion and The Glorious Cause by Jeff Shaara. While technically these novels are historical fiction, they do provide a very good, in-depth account of the American Revolution. Also, historian David McCullough has some written some excellent books and articles on the period.

  6. #5
    I enjoyed "John Adams" by David McCullough.

    http://www.amazon.com/John-Adams-Dav.../dp/0684813637

    The focus is not exactly on the revolution, but it does really bring to life Adams and Jefferson and major events of the early U.S.

  7. #6

  8. #7

    Thumbs up

    In regards to books which make the founding of this country come alive, I can't speak highly enough of the works of Allan W. Eckert. His Winning of America series is wonderful, as are The Frontiersmen, That Dark and Bloody River, Tecumseh, and The Court Martial of Daniel Boone.


    http://www.allaneck.com/index.html

    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/...0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

  9. #8
    Thanks for all of these recommendations guys, this is great stuff! I'm fortunate enough to live near a pretty great library which carries most of these titles.



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  11. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Spirit of '76 View Post
    In regards to books which make the founding of this country come alive, I can't speak highly enough of the works of Allan W. Eckert. His Winning of America series is wonderful, as are The Frontiersmen, That Dark and Bloody River, Tecumseh, and The Court Martial of Daniel Boone.


    http://www.allaneck.com/index.html

    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/...0&Go.y=0&Go=Go
    I second this. The Frontiersmen is a huge book, but is so good, it's hard to put down. Unfortunately, not many people outside of Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky have ever heard or read anything by Eckert.

    The Hornet's Nest, by, believe it or not, Jimmy Carter, was not a bad telling of the Revolution from a Georgia perspective. It's a bit long, and the side stories, supposedly his family, are a little bland, but the historical parts are well researched.

    Something we are not taught in school is the Revolutionary War was not only won by Washington's leadership. Nathaniel Greene should be looked at as almost an equal. Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse should be looked at as MAJOR battles, yet not many people know these battles as any more than minor skirmishes. Greene kept Cornwallis in the south and prevented him from reaching Clinton in New York. Meanwhile, Washington was able to slip out of the north and join Greene, forcing Cornwallis toward Yorktown.

    I'll give The Patriot credit. It got me interested in the true history of the Revolution in the South.

    The History Channel's Revolution mini-series is very good. It was on this past 4th of July, and I probably watched most of it.
    "You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on Earth, or we will sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness." -- Ronald Reagan, 1964



  12. #10
    for a small book (adolescent)-

    Johnny Tremain (or however it's spelled) is a great one for getting young people interested.
    Dude, I'm rich! Check out this tin can! Uber wealth, ftw!

  13. #11
    A dramatic movie that I've always loved is A&E's "The Crossing", starring Jeff Daniels as George Washington.

  14. #12
    ..
    Last edited by Darren McFillintheBlank; 09-01-2007 at 06:50 PM.



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