Ronald Keeler's Reviews > 1776

Each time I read a McCullough work I leave with a different impression of his writing; all his work is not equally impressive for me. 1776 is impressive, entertaining, informative and (for a historical work) very well referenced. The referencing alone takes several forms and makes up one-half the Kindle ebook. The writing is so good that I was actually surprised when the narrative stopped and the referencing began. This was despite the fact that the presentation was chronological (1776, OK?) so as the story continued in a day by day manner and I had already reached Christmas day, 1776; I should have anticipated a conclusion.

This is not a period of time I focus on, so there was a lot of new information for me. The early and long standing indecisiveness of Washington was new; the idea that he had huge self-doubts as to his own inability to manage such an undisciplined and poorly resourced military force was not surprising. It was logical. It was not clear to me that participants on both sides of the conflict considered many of his decisions to be ill advised to the degree that McCullough claims at several points. Those claims and my doubts make the references valuable.

The character sketches provide the entertainment in the midst of serious historical stuff. Primary Washington rival General Lee seems to have changed sides a few times, British to American to British after final British capture. For a British supremely egocentric official to have risen so high in the American command structure surprised me. Descriptions of the officers and men of the Hessian mercenaries were complete (and new) for me.

This is not a book about George Washington, but of necessity h is a central character. As this well written and balanced book relates the loyalty and doubts of his closest advisors, such as General Greene, it lives up to the very appropriate title.