The dogs got their long Monday walk today, but I can't say I didn't rush it at the end. I couldn't find my sock cap, my scarf or my warm gloves.I am now well ahead on my 8 week/10 book challenge, with #9---
Clearly I'm going to meet the deadline, but things don't look good for future challenges--it took me eleven days to complete a 294-page book. Mind you, it wasn't entirely "light" reading. And I did waste a little time browsing onto online map sites to try to figure out the tortuous routes taken by the Continental Army during their numerous hasty retreats. But I didn't dawdle, either.
So enough about me...what about the book?
It's a shocker--I never knew how close Americans came to speaking with a British accent. The book is the story of a single year in the war that lasted eight years. Eight years! I never knew it. (And note: I went though the public school system, took the required one-and-one-half years of American history, and as a consequence--I didn't know squat about the revolution. The French were our allies? Washington was self-educated and had no experience commanding an army? Some of his best generals ratted him out? He gave up Boston, New York City, AND Philadelphia? Bunker Hill was a British victory?)
Sorry for failing to raise the spoiler alert--I assume you read it ten years ago when everyone else did. Or else you paid attention in history class.
Given the narrow focus of the book--one year, two armies and 400 square miles of terrain--John Jakes did a great job and made me want him to write out the war. Before now, most of what I knew about the war came from the historical novel Drums Across the Mohawk (which I also highly recommend). And while 1776 maybe wasn't the best war book I've ever read, it was well worth the reading.
I just wish it had better maps.
Note: if there's a decent biography of Mercy Otis Warren out there, it ought to go on my wish list. She opposed ratification of the constitution because it lacked a bill of rights. Any recommendations?
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