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miguelf's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t know about others who went through basic high school and college history courses and have a rudimentary grasp of the particulars of the American Revolution, but I consider myself under informed in this area and 1774 does quite a bit to remediate that shortcoming. Taking roughly 18 months before the infamous shooting started at Lexington, it gives a good background and many first hand sources to explore what was going on to the run-up to the country’s founding conflict.
rwilliab's review against another edition
4.0
I’m always a big fan of history, and particularly the American Revolution, so I was excited for a fresh look at a pivotal year in the lead-up to April 1775. I learned an immense amount and loved the numerous excerpts from private correspondence and contemporary newspapers and pamphlets. However, I wished for a stronger narrative structure to provide impetus to the book. The events described are compelling but sometimes receded into the minutiae reported. I found that the book seemed to end abruptly because there was not a strong shape to the overall narrative. Recommended for Revolutionary War fans, but not for the average reader.
donaldleitch's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Mary Beth Norton's book argues that 1774 was a pivotal year in the movement towards the American Revolution. Starting with the attempted importation of tea into Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Charleston in 1773, the book takes us step by step through the decisions and actions that led to the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. Mary Beth Norton discusses Loyalist actions and pamphleteering and makes it clear that people in the colonies were divided in their views towards the Empire. The book does not ignore mob violence practiced primarily by outlying individuals on the Patriot side. This violence and the threat of violence against individuals, their families and property is described as "Patriotic terrorism" in the book. 1774: The Long Year of Revolution was an illuminating read.
miguelf's review
4.0
I don’t know about others who went through basic high school and college history courses and have a rudimentary grasp of the particulars of the American Revolution, but I consider myself under informed in this area and 1774 does quite a bit to remediate that shortcoming. Taking roughly 18 months before the infamous shooting started at Lexington, it gives a good background and many first hand sources to explore what was going on to the run-up to the country’s founding conflict.
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