★ 08/20/2018
Philbrick follows up his previous popular history illuminating lesser-known aspects of the Revolutionary War (Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution) with another insightful and accessible account of its by-no-means-inevitable success. Instead, he argues, drawing extensively on primary sources, the “bitter truth was that by the summer of 1781 the American Revolution had failed.” The Revolutionary Army was underfunded by the 13 states, whose posture of limited support was not challenged effectively by the Continental Congress. That contributed to thousands of “able-bodied citizens refusing to serve,” leaving the army understaffed and the fate of the colonies dependent on the French military. Philbrick’s narrative builds toward a dramatic recreation of what he deems “the most important naval engagement in the history of the world,” the Battle of the Chesapeake. In that undeservedly obscure encounter, French ships under the command of Adm. François de Grasse defeated a British fleet, which made Washington’s victory at Yorktown a “fait accompli.” Philbrick depicts Washington warts and all, including his responsibility for the rift with Alexander Hamilton and his slave ownership, highlighting the disconnect between the ideals of the revolution and its leaders’ enslavement of kidnapped Africans. This thought-provoking history will deepen readers’ understanding of how the U.S. achieved its independence. (Oct.)
"[Philbrick], an accomplished popular historian…excels when writing about sailors and the ocean. He vividly renders the interplay of skill and chaos in naval combat by massive fleets, as well as the fury of hurricanes...In the Hurricane’s Eye delivers on the author’s promise to 'put the sea where it properly belongs: at the center of the story.'"—Wall Street Journal
"Nathaniel Philbrick is a masterly storyteller. Here he seeks to elevate the naval battles between the French and British to a central place in the history of the American Revolution. He succeeds, marvelously. He can relate in a word or two what others might take a chapter to expound...As a writer, I’m envious of Philbrick’s talents, but as a reader, I’m grateful."—The New York Times Book Review
"A tension-filled and riveting account of the alliance that assured American independence...Philbrick is a master of narrative, and he does not disappoint as he provides a meticulous and often hair-raising account of a naval war between France and England."—The Washington Post
“Nathaniel Philbrick’s masterful new look at the American Revolutionary War’s end days isn’t quite revisionist history, but it comes close. With both hands, he grabs the reader’s head and turns it towards the sea…. It’s a startling take on a familiar history that one might expect from this author.”—NPR.org
"Told with all the zest and eloquence [Philbrick’s] millions of readers have come to expect. Philbrick is right to observe that this epic afternoon of cannon fire on the coastal sea-lanes is largely overlooked in popular accounts of the Revolution; In the Hurricane's Eye is exactly the kind of rousing narrative account it deserves.”—Christian Science Monitor
"A stirring but clear-eyed read."—The Guardian
"Packed with revealing information and high drama, In the Hurricane's Eye is a must-read for any aficionado of the American Revolution.”—Philadelphia Inquirer
"The final installment of Philbrick’s bestselling trilogy about the American Revolution covers the suspenseful final year of the war...Philbrick brings this turning point of American history to life with his obvious passion, expertise and superb storytelling skills."—NBC News
"Eminently satisfying and thoroughly engrossing...Philbrick has written another masterwork of narrative history with flowing prose and exciting descriptions of the events leading up to the climactic Battle of Yorktown in 1781."—The Providence Journal
"Philbrick is a consummate storyteller. He adds a human element to the granite statues of our national narrative, without toppling those statues. He shows the famous, the infamous, and the unknown foot soldiers in the light of their own personalities."—Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror
"A gripping narrative about the year that won the Revolutionary War.” —The New York Post
"Clear, vivid, and often revealing, In the Hurricane’s Eye returns the maritime elements of American victory in the Revolution to center stage. [Philbrick's] ability to find instructive quotations from the primary sources and the small details that introduce verisimilitude has been well-established in his writing on American history, and this new book does not disappoint."—War on the Rocks
“Magnificent… Philbrick’s writing is just superb, and while he manages to incorporate many marvelous and little know stories and vignettes, the book reads almost like a Tom Clancy thriller, with political intrigue, international machinations, and suspense keeping the pages turning even if the reader is already basically familiar with the story…This book will delight, educate, and entertain while it brings to light the genius, chance, and sacrifice that finally brought about America’s independence.”—NY Journal of Books
“A fast and often dramatically written account…Philbrick marshals his extensive research smoothly.”—The Dallas Morning News
"A well-researched and well-written book that offers a thrilling account of sea battles in the age of sail, as well as land battles and a portrait of the amazing historical characters who led and fought the battles of the American Revolution.”—The Washington Times
"A thoroughly enjoyable account of the moment that allowed the United States to morph from rebellious territory into an independent nation. It is another Philbrick masterpiece that will engage and entertain readers for generations...Philbrick’s exhaustive research into the events leading to Yorktown cast new light on Washington’s value as a strategic military planner and his understanding of naval warfare."—HistoryNet
"Provides significant lessons as we seek to understand the complex international world we face today...Yorktown is another reminder that big doors can swing on seemingly small hinges."—Bloomberg Opinion
"A vivid, richly detailed account of the final battles that educates and entertains while it also makes very clear the colonists’ risks and sacrifices that led to America’s independence...Nathaniel Philbrick’s writing is impeccable. The book incorporates many little-known vignettes about the war and reads like a thriller."—Missourian.com
"A great read. In true Philbrick style, it features a flowing narrative with engaging details and interesting anecdotes about America’s struggle to gain its independence while providing insight into Washington’s brilliance as one of the leading military commanders of his era.”—The Patriot Ledger
"A gripping account of the campaigns of 1781."—Chapter16.org
“Engrossing…a compelling, detailed look at the jigsaw puzzle of events that led to the end of the war.”—Brown University Alumni Magazine
"A tense, richly detailed narrative of the American Revolution...Philbrick reprises the protagonists of his last history of the War of Independence in a meticulously researched recounting of the events leading up to the colonists' victory at the Battle of Yorktown...Philbrick, a sailor himself, recounts the strategic maneuvering involved in the many naval encounters: ships' positions, wind direction and strength, and the "disorienting cloud of fire and smoke" that often imperiled the fleet."—Kirkus Reviews
"Readers of Revolutionary War history will be enrapt by the blow-by-blow detail of this lively narrative, which is supported by countless letters and journal entries from key participants."—Library Journal
"Another insightful and accessible account…This thought-provoking history will deepen readers’ understanding of how the U.S. achieved its independence.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Philbrick manages to impart the immediacy of breaking news to his descriptions of marches, skirmishes and battles...He places the reader in the midst of the fray."—Bookpage
"All readers interested in the Revolutionary War, and especially fans of naval history, will find Philbrick's fresh account rewarding, right through the epilogue."—Booklist
Praise for Valiant Ambition:
"Clear and insightful, it consolidates his reputation as one of America's foremost practitioners of narrative nonfiction." —The Wall Street Journal
"May be one of the greatest what-if books of the age—a volume that turns one of America's best-known narratives on its head."—The Boston Globe
"A suspenseful, richly detailed, and deeply researched book"—The New York Review of Books
"History at its most compelling: political machinations, military jostling and outright treachery. And Philbrick's vivid writing brings the whistling cannon balls and half-frozen soldiers to life (and death) in vivid detail."—The Seattle Times
"The near-tragic nature of the drama hinges not on any military secrets Arnold gave to the British but on an open secret: the weakness of the patriot cause....Arnold's betrayal still makes for great drama, proving once again that the supposed villains of a story are usually the most interesting."—The New York Times Book Review
"Philbrick wants his readers to experience the terror, the suffering and the adrenaline rush of battle, and he wants us to grit our teeth at our early politicians who, by their pettiness and shortsightedness, shape military events as profoundly as generals and admirals do. Finally, he reveals the emotional and physical cost of war on colonial society. He succeeds on all fronts."—The Washington Post
Praise for Bunker Hill:
"A masterpiece of narrative and perspective."—The Boston Globe
"A tour de force."—Chicago Tribune
"Popular history at its best—a taut narrative with a novelist's touch, grounded in careful research."—Miami Herald
"A story that resonates with leadership lessons for all times."—Walter Isaacson, The Washington Post
A talented narrator combined with fascinating material makes for enjoyable listening. While Scott Brick probably could make a dictionary sound interesting, his voice exactly suits this work about the key role the French navy played in the American Revolution. He narrates with an even tone but varies his pace and adds touches of excitement in key passages, especially battle scenes. His facility with French names makes them easy to understand and keeps the text flowing. The author’s straightforward, almost journalistic, style also makes the narrative easy to follow. The audiobook explores a part of the war effort seldom covered in textbooks but, as the author shows, was vital to the victory at Yorktown. R.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
2018-08-13
In 1781, discouraged after five years of war, George Washington finally saw the tide turn.
National Book Award winner Philbrick (Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution, 2016, etc.) reprises the protagonists of his last history of the War of Independence in a meticulously researched recounting of the events leading up to the colonists' victory at the Battle of Yorktown. Focusing on naval and military strategy, Philbrick—like Tom Shachtman in How the French Saved America (2017)—reveals the critical contributions made by the French navy, a fleet that had improved substantially since its defeat by Britain in the Seven Years' War. In France's Académie de Marine, students were taught "to think of a naval battle in terms of a chess game rather than a brawl," inciting, "for the first time in centuries, a whisper of doubt" in the "collective psyche of the British navy." Although British commanders were determined to win, they were faced with passionate French military men, such as the young Marquis de Lafayette, the Comte de Grasse, and the Comte de Rochambeau, as well as recalcitrant colonists. British successes emboldened, rather than intimidated, patriots. "Broken up into thirteen largely self-sufficient entities," the author asserts, "the United States was a segmented political organism that was almost impossible for the British army to kill." However, American soldiers were in a weakened state, starving and unpaid. Washington, who had recently learned of Benedict Arnold's betrayal, feared mutiny. But, Philbrick argues persuasively, Arnold's treason actually strengthened the patriots' resolve "by serving as a cautionary tale during one of the darkest periods of the war." The author portrays Washington as an aggressive, undaunted leader—even when facing distressing personal problems—who emitted a "charismatic force field." One British officer reported feeling "awestruck as if he was before something supernatural" in Washington's presence. Philbrick, a sailor himself, recounts the strategic maneuvering involved in the many naval encounters: ships' positions, wind direction and strength, and the "disorienting cloud of fire and smoke" that often imperiled the fleet.
A tense, richly detailed narrative of the American Revolution.
