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pearl35's review against another edition
3.0
Nothing new to see here, especially obscured by the obnoxious "popular" citations in the back (pg. # and then the beginning of the sentence in which the cited material appears) that make it impossible to follow Daughan's work, and very old-school in its shrugging treatment of Native people and slavery. In the conclusion, Daughan throws in the bizarre, and supported by absolutely nothing statement that if George III had just presented himself in the colonies to negotiate, he could have headed off Revolution.
the_library_of_larry's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
I listened to the Audible audiobook version.
George Daughan has written a commendable and interesting military history of the American Revolutionary War, purporting to follow the supposed importance of the Hudson River Valley during the conflict. By his own admittance within the book, military commanders, both British and American, had an understandable if flawed focus on this region during the conflict. This is the case to such a degree that frankly, this book does not read like an in depth analysis of the Hudson River Valley during the war, but a general military history of the revolution.
Any well written general military history will be interesting to me, and technically this is the first book I've ever read that has covered the conflict start to finish (other books I've read have only focused on specific moments and times: 1776, or Valley Forge, or Yorktown for example). In that respect, it is a fun history read, well researched by all accounts, and fits well with other histories I've read. But if you are looking for a specific focus on the importance of the Hudson River Valley you won't find it here. I'm not entirely sure how this focus would have worked out anyway. The chapters covering the occupation and loss of New York City to the British were engaging for sure, and maneuvers around Connecticut, Rhode Island, and upstate New York are interesting for the little dramas that ensued there (Benedict Arnold's betrayal was discovered and he fled West Point for example). But frankly there were no giant, epic engagements in the valley or upstate for Daughan to cover in detail.
A good recommend from me: a solid, history of the American Revolution.
George Daughan has written a commendable and interesting military history of the American Revolutionary War, purporting to follow the supposed importance of the Hudson River Valley during the conflict. By his own admittance within the book, military commanders, both British and American, had an understandable if flawed focus on this region during the conflict. This is the case to such a degree that frankly, this book does not read like an in depth analysis of the Hudson River Valley during the war, but a general military history of the revolution.
Any well written general military history will be interesting to me, and technically this is the first book I've ever read that has covered the conflict start to finish (other books I've read have only focused on specific moments and times: 1776, or Valley Forge, or Yorktown for example). In that respect, it is a fun history read, well researched by all accounts, and fits well with other histories I've read. But if you are looking for a specific focus on the importance of the Hudson River Valley you won't find it here. I'm not entirely sure how this focus would have worked out anyway. The chapters covering the occupation and loss of New York City to the British were engaging for sure, and maneuvers around Connecticut, Rhode Island, and upstate New York are interesting for the little dramas that ensued there (Benedict Arnold's betrayal was discovered and he fled West Point for example). But frankly there were no giant, epic engagements in the valley or upstate for Daughan to cover in detail.
A good recommend from me: a solid, history of the American Revolution.
cj_lovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Both the title and summary are very misleading. I was expecting an in-depth look at the Hudson Valley and the varying battles and skirmishes along it. Instead, I got a summary of the entire war with a slight focus on the navel aspect.
It was an easy book to read, and I learned a bit about the naval history that I hadn’t heard before. The author’s take that ultimately the Hudson River strategy resulted in Yorktown and the end of the war was interesting but, in the end, seemed a bit of a stretch to me.
Also, I think anyone who is an avid history nerd has their favorite figures. It’s not hard to figure out who the authors are. On that note, I need to read more about Lord Admiral Howe.
It was an easy book to read, and I learned a bit about the naval history that I hadn’t heard before. The author’s take that ultimately the Hudson River strategy resulted in Yorktown and the end of the war was interesting but, in the end, seemed a bit of a stretch to me.
Also, I think anyone who is an avid history nerd has their favorite figures. It’s not hard to figure out who the authors are. On that note, I need to read more about Lord Admiral Howe.
mightync's review against another edition
4.0
A really enjoyable read, with a misleading title. This was not at all a book about the Revolution on the Hudson, but a telling of the Revolutionary War in all theaters, north and south. I even learned a thing or two. If you're looking for a great summary of the war, this is it.
atomecko's review against another edition
2.0
Despite the summary, this was the revolutionary war told from a naval perspective. Well written, but not what the summary proposed.