Myke Cole's Reviews > 1776

Hands down one of the best narrative histories I have ever read. My opinion is biased, since most of the action in the story takes place around New York City and coastal New Jersey (including White Plains, where I grew up and Brooklyn, where I currently live), but this is the most sympathetic, even-handed and downright thrilling account of the year of the Declaration and the founding of this country.

Focused squarely on the American struggle, McCullough is nonetheless even-handed in his treatment of the British, and draws heavily on journal entries and letters from both sides of the contest. In addition to well-rounded and sympathetic portraits of the principal players, he does a fabulous job of capturing the incredible tension of the events, a "Darkest Hour" that feels more fraught than the end of The Empire Strikes Back. How close we came to failure after the dramatic reversals at Brooklyn, White Plains, Fort Washington and Fort Lee put us inches away from remaining a British colony, but just how close you will not truly understand until you read this stunning book.

Great history, great characters, great storytelling. Bravo.