Book Report

1776 by David McCullough

Or more aptly named: "Late 1775-Very Early 1777"

This book follows the adventures of one General George Washington, of the soon-to-be United States of America, leader of the Contenental Army. Fitting that I was able to finish the book today, not only because it's due at the library tomorrow, but also because it's George Washington's birthday today. (You know, the guy on the one dollar bill?)

I picked this book up because it was sitting there at the library. Also because the author came to campus this year for a forum. Also because I do read.

The book goes through the seige of Boston, the attempted defense of Brooklyn and New York, and retreats through there and all of New Jersey. The end of the book includes the 'crossing of the Delaware', and the successful recaptures of Trenton and Princton New Jersey. (This all happened in 1776, even if the begining of the seige of Boston started in 1775.)

The book focuses on George Washington as the 'central figure' of the book, he really was the leader of the army, so I guess it should. The book isn't the sort of "This is what happened all over the world this year" type of thing, but focused on the armies struggles against the British.

Reading the book, I am amazed again on how the Colonies ever won this war. They were so overpowered, Britian could easily have won many times over. Only the hand of the Lord got them through it, nothing else could have. (Well modern day weaponery could have, but that's the stuff of science fiction. This was a history book. Non-fiction.)

The begining of the book felt a little slow for me. If you pick it up, give it a little time, the story really picks up. A very interesting read.