A review by rwilliab
1774: The Long Year of Revolution by Mary Beth Norton

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.