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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Excellent telling of the story of the battle of Breed's and Bunker's Hill in 1775, something about which I knew almost nothing previously.
informative
medium-paced
I listened to the audiobook through Audible.
Like other works by Philbrick, this is an incredibly detailed and well researched book on what he believes to be an important historical event. While the book is very well done, I believe my own ambivalence towards American Revolutionary history (as well as US civil war history) meant that I did not find the same enjoyment from this book that I have from other works by Philbrick.
Like other works by Philbrick, this is an incredibly detailed and well researched book on what he believes to be an important historical event. While the book is very well done, I believe my own ambivalence towards American Revolutionary history (as well as US civil war history) meant that I did not find the same enjoyment from this book that I have from other works by Philbrick.
1.5 stars - I didn't like it.
Far too detailed about the most mundane, uninteresting things, making for a boring and tedious read. DNF'd at 11%.
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First Sentence: On a hot, almost windless afternoon in June, a seven-year-old boy stood beside his mother and looked out across the green islands of Boston Harbor.
Far too detailed about the most mundane, uninteresting things, making for a boring and tedious read. DNF'd at 11%.
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First Sentence: On a hot, almost windless afternoon in June, a seven-year-old boy stood beside his mother and looked out across the green islands of Boston Harbor.
A well-written history of the battles of Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill and the siege of Boston, with a refreshingly objective view of the Patriots and the coming of the revolution. The author has insightful discussions about many of the principal characters including Joseph Warren, Thomas Gage and George Washington who, I shuddered to learn, was prepared to defy the advice of his various generals, invade Boston and, apparently, almost certainly destroy his army. GW was saved from his own folly by bad weather forestalling the Brit's attack on Dorchester Heights. Mr. Philbrick also points out the Patriot's hypocritical denunciation of their "slavery" to Britain, while thinking nothing of owning slaves themselves, and he has fascinating mention of the colonists' fear that the British soldiers would incite a slave rebellion.
Very well written and very interesting historical view of the instigation of hostilities around Boston to start the Revolutionary War. Especially interesting to me after I found out a relative of mine (James Taggart) may have fought in (or arrived there for the aftermath) the Battle of Bunker Hill.
In 1775 the city of Boston in the colony of Massachusetts was occupied by British troops. After the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party, those troops and the American colonists viewed each other with suspicion until violence finally broke out on April 19th in Lexington and Concord. After April 19th, the city of Boston was cut off from re-supply by a British blockade and the Patriot militia decided to go on the offensive and take military possession of both Bunker and Breed's Hill. Holding those hills would give the Patriots the ability to fire cannon directly into the British army and naval positions in and around the city. The Battle of Bunker Hill, fought primarily on Breed's Hill, would be the bloodiest battle of the Revolutionary War and after the contest was over, there was really no turning back for the colonists. Philbrick skillfully draws character portraits of the major and minor players of the era--Joseph Warren, a leading Patriot who was killed during the battle, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, George Washington, General Thomas Gage, and his successor, General William Howe, and many more. Philbrick views the Battle of Bunker Hill as a crucial moment in the early days of the Revolutionary War and he has empathy for all of the individuals on both sides who are caught up in the events surrounding the conflict between the British and the residents of their rebellious colonies.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
I...I really wanted to like this book. I had all of Philbrick's books on hold. Hell, I was going to buy them at one point. But man, this one was a tough one. Maybe this is just not meant to me an audiobook listen, but I had a really hard time keeping track of the names and events that Philbrick was describing. He goes on tangents, and his descriptions are very verbose and it's just very dense to get through. I'm bummed!
I learned a few things. I think a biography of Joseph Warren, who would fight with Alexander Hamilton for not getting enough credit in history for the role he played in the revolution. Also lol at the American political leaders for trying to prosecute Benjamin Church, a spy, for treason when they in fact, were the ones committing treason to the crown. Sigh. Welcome to America.
I learned a few things. I think a biography of Joseph Warren, who would fight with Alexander Hamilton for not getting enough credit in history for the role he played in the revolution. Also lol at the American political leaders for trying to prosecute Benjamin Church, a spy, for treason when they in fact, were the ones committing treason to the crown. Sigh. Welcome to America.
informative
slow-paced
If you ever left a history class in high school with more questions than when you entered class, this is the book for you. This book offers a deep dive into the beginning of the American Revolution and a far more comprehensive understanding then any school course.
It does have a tendency to read as a textbook occasionally (I mean, it is an info-dense nonfiction book), but it also incorporates many interesting stories and events that it has you flipping pages and not falling asleep (like some textbooks I know).
As a new Massachusetts resident, I enjoyed reading about places and towns that I can recognize.
It does have a tendency to read as a textbook occasionally (I mean, it is an info-dense nonfiction book), but it also incorporates many interesting stories and events that it has you flipping pages and not falling asleep (like some textbooks I know).
As a new Massachusetts resident, I enjoyed reading about places and towns that I can recognize.