The following are history books (I tried to stick to more recent publications) focusing on the American Revolutionary Era.
Happy 4th of July!
The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America by Kostya Kennedy
Timed for the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s famous ride, The Ride by Kostya Kennedy offers a fresh, dramatic retelling of the events of April 18–19, 1775. Drawing on new research, Kennedy reveals the complexity behind the legend—showing it was a coordinated effort involving multiple riders, close calls, and key intelligence sharing. This vivid narrative reexamines a cornerstone of American history for modern readers.
Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution by Mike Duncan
The gripping story of the Marquis de Lafayette, a lifelong champion of liberty and equality. Spanning fifty years of revolution on both sides of the Atlantic, Lafayette’s extraordinary life—from fighting in the American and French Revolutions to challenging Napoleon and aiding in the 1830 uprising—made him a global symbol of freedom. This vivid biography captures his unwavering dedication to justice and human rights.
The Cause: The American Revolution and its Discontents, 1773-1783 by Joseph J. Ellis
Reimagines the American Revolution as a harsh, chaotic conflict driven by the mutable idea of “The Cause,” rather than the tidy “Spirit of ’76.” Using new sources, Ellis intertwines battlefield action with political intrigue while spotlighting voices often left out—women, Native Americans, Black soldiers, patriots, and loyalists alike. The result is a sweeping narrative that upends comforting myths and reveals the Revolution’s unresolved legacies.
Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics by HW Brands
Explores the fierce political battles that emerged at the very birth of the United States, despite the Founders’ hopes to avoid partisan strife. Tracing the rise of Federalists and Antifederalists—and later Republicans—he reveals how early leaders clashed over the nation’s future, shaping the contentious political landscape we still navigate today. This lively history reminds us that political division is as old as the republic itself.
Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution by Eric Jay Dolin
Highlights the overlooked role of privateers in the American Revolution, arguing they were essential to its outcome. These privately owned, armed ships—ranging from small whaleboats to large warships—harassed British forces and embodied the new nation’s bold, entrepreneurial spirit. Full of gripping battles and daring exploits, the book offers a fresh maritime perspective on the war.
The Taking of Jemima Boone: Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations, and the Kidnap That Shaped America by Matthew Pearl
Recounts the dramatic 1776 kidnapping of Daniel Boone’s daughter and her friends by a Cherokee-Shawnee raiding party. Their capture—and the daring rescue that followed—highlights the violent, complex clashes between Native Americans and settlers during America’s westward expansion. Pearl’s gripping narrative sheds light on a pivotal, often overlooked episode in the Revolutionary era.
To Rescue the Constitution: George Washington and the Fragile American Experiment by Bret Baier
Traces how George Washington’s leadership saved the fledgling United States at three pivotal moments: winning the Revolutionary War, guiding the Constitutional Convention, and serving as the first president. Amid deep postwar divisions, Washington’s steady presence helped unify the nation and bring the Constitution to life. Baier offers a vivid portrait of early America’s fragility—and the leader who held it together.
God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America’s Most Hated Man by Jack Kelly
A fresh, gripping portrait of America’s most infamous traitor, revealing him first as the Revolutionary War’s most daring and successful soldier. From bold victories to battlefield brilliance, Arnold’s heroism helped lay the foundation for independence—before his stunning betrayal. Kelly explores the paradox of a fearless leader whose brilliance was ultimately eclipsed by treason.
Liberty is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American Revolution by Woody Holton
A richly detailed retelling of the American Revolution, spotlighting the vital roles played by women, African Americans, Native Americans, and religious dissenters. Drawing on over a thousand eyewitness accounts, Holton challenges traditional narratives and reveals how these often-overlooked groups shaped the fight for independence. This sweeping history reframes the Revolution as a shared struggle for liberty far beyond the Founding Fathers.
Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution: The True Story of Robert Townsend and Elizabeth by Claire Bellerjeau & Tiffany Yecke Brooks
This powerful narrative follows Elizabeth, an enslaved Black woman sold south in 1785, as she endures separation from her child and the trauma of bondage—only to be unexpectedly reunited through the efforts of Robert Townsend, a Revolutionary War spy turned abolitionist. Their intertwined story, set against the backdrop of major Revolutionary events and figures, offers a vital new perspective on America’s founding. The updated edition includes fresh insights into Elizabeth’s eventual path to freedom.
Shots Heard Round the World: America, Britain, and Europe in the Revolutionary War by John Ferling
A sweeping global reassessment of the Revolutionary War, revealing it as a true world conflict that extended far beyond America. He explores key turning points, overlooked failures, and international involvement that prolonged the war and shaped its uncertain outcome. Ferling’s comprehensive account highlights the Revolution’s lasting global impact 250 years later.
Revolutionary Roads: Searching for the War That Made America Independent… and All the Places It Could Have Gone Terribly Wrong by Bob Thompson
A lively, on-the-ground exploration of the American Revolution, blending travelogue, history, and journalism. As Thompson visits battlefields and interviews passionate experts across more than 20,000 miles, he uncovers the war’s pivotal moments and fragile turning points. The result is a fresh, entertaining, and deeply human retelling of America’s fight for independence.
Washington’s Marines: The Origins of the Corps and the American Revolution, 1775-1777 by Jason Q. Bohm
The little-known story of the Continental Marines’ creation and their crucial role in the American Revolution from 1775 to 1777. As George Washington struggled to hold the Continental Army together, these early Marines fought on land and sea, conducting daring operations that helped turn the tide of war. Drawing on primary sources and military expertise, Bohm offers the first comprehensive account of the Corps’ origins, brought to life with original maps and illustrations.
A Revolutionary Friendship: Washington, Jefferson and the American Republic by Francis D. Cogliano
The first full account of the complex relationship between George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, revealing a long period of cooperation before their eventual estrangement. Though they differed on key issues like federal power and elite leadership, they shared a deep commitment to independence, republicanism, and national growth. Francis Cogliano uses their friendship to illuminate the founding tensions of the United States and the compromises that shaped its future.
Our First Civil War: Patriots and Loyalists in the American Revolution by HW Brands
Reframes the American Revolution as not just a fight against Britain, but a bitter civil war among Americans themselves. Through vivid portraits of figures like George Washington, Benjamin and William Franklin, and John Adams, Brands explores why some chose rebellion while others remained loyal to the Crown. This compelling history highlights the personal and national divisions that shaped the fight for independence.
Blood and Treasure: Daniel Boone and the Fight for America’s First Frontier by Bob Drury
Follows Daniel Boone’s daring expeditions beyond the Appalachians to reveal how colonists, Native nations, the French, and eventually the British clashed over America’s “First Frontier.” Drawing on diaries and eyewitness accounts, Bob Drury and Tom Clavin craft a fast‑paced chronicle of exploration, brutal warfare, and sacrifice that shaped the Revolutionary era.
Betsy Ross and the Making of America by Marla R. Miller
The first fully researched biography of the iconic seamstress, offering a vivid portrait of her life and Revolutionary-era Philadelphia. Marla R. Miller goes beyond legend to explore Ross’s world among the artisan families who helped build the young nation. Richly detailed and deeply human, this book brings long-overdue depth to one of America’s most beloved patriots.
Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Liberty by Jack Kelly
The gripping, little-known story of the 1776 Battle of Valcour Island, where a ragtag American fleet on Lake Champlain, led by Benedict Arnold, stalled a major British invasion from Canada. Against overwhelming odds, citizen sailors mounted a daring three-day stand that helped save the Revolution. Jack Kelly’s fast-paced narrative highlights the strategy, personalities, and stakes behind this pivotal but often overlooked campaign.
1776 by David McCullough
Brings to life the dramatic first year of the American Revolution, focusing on the soldiers who followed George Washington through hardship and uncertainty. Drawing from American and British archives, he paints a vivid portrait of the men—farmers, shopkeepers, and boys—who became soldiers, as well as the disciplined British forces they faced. At the heart of the story is Washington himself, leading an inexperienced army in a desperate fight to keep the revolutionary cause alive.
Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
Explores the turbulent relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold during the Revolutionary War, tracing America’s internal struggles as much as its fight against Britain. From defeat in New York to Arnold’s betrayal and Washington’s emergence as a steady leader, the book reveals how the real battle for American liberty often came from within. It’s a gripping, character-driven account of loyalty, ambition, and the fragile birth of a nation.
George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution by Brian Kilmeade
The gripping story of the Culper Spy Ring, a secret network that helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War by gathering intelligence behind British lines in New York. Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger profile six courageous individuals—including a mysterious female agent—whose covert efforts were so well hidden that some remained anonymous for centuries. This fast-paced account finally gives these unsung heroes the recognition they long deserved.
Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence by Joseph J. Ellis
Captures the pivotal months of 1776 when America declared independence while facing the largest British invasion fleet ever assembled. Ellis masterfully weaves together the political and military struggles of key figures like Washington, Jefferson, and Howe, showing how their decisions shaped the nation’s fate. This fresh and vivid narrative brings new life to a well-known chapter of American history.
The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff
Restores Adams to his rightful place as a driving force behind the American Revolution—a master of civil resistance who helped spark the Boston Tea Party and rally the colonies. With vivid storytelling, Schiff traces his evolution from an unremarkable young man to the most wanted rebel in America. This gripping biography reveals the passion and strategy behind the Revolution’s moral backbone.
The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington by Brad Meltzer
Uncovers a hidden plot in 1776 by members of George Washington’s own guard—alongside New York officials—to assassinate him before the Revolutionary War had fully begun. Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch reveal a suspenseful tale of treason, deception, and survival that nearly altered the course of American history. This gripping true story also marks the birth of America’s counterintelligence efforts.
Valley Forge by Bob Drury
Tells the gripping story of how George Washington, facing defeat and despair, transformed a battered Continental Army into a disciplined force during the brutal winter of 1777–78. With help from key figures like Hamilton, Knox, and Martha Washington, he turned the tide of the Revolution from a frozen encampment outside Philadelphia. This powerful narrative brings to life one of America’s greatest comeback stories and a pivotal moment in the nation’s founding.
Scars of Independence: America’s Violent Birth by Holger Hoock
Recasts the American Revolution as a brutal civil war, detailing massacres, torture, and atrocities committed by Patriots, Loyalists, British troops, and their Native and African‑American allies. Grounded in extensive archival research, the book shows how this pervasive violence shaped both the fledgling United States and the British Empire, challenging the tidy myth of a noble, bloodless rebellion.
A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America by Stacy Schiff
The remarkable story of Benjamin Franklin’s daring diplomatic mission to France, where—at age 70 and with limited French—he secured crucial support for America’s fight for independence. Navigating spies, intrigue, and internal rivalries, Franklin forged the alliance that helped turn the tide of the Revolution. This vivid account reveals the international stakes and personal brilliance behind one of the Revolution’s most critical chapters.
A People’s History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence by Ray Raphael
A powerful, ground-level view of the war, told through the voices of ordinary Americans—farmers, soldiers, women, Native Americans, and the enslaved—often left out of traditional narratives. Drawing on overlooked diaries, letters, and memoirs, it reveals a raw and complex struggle filled with sacrifice, injustice, and unwavering conviction. This is the American Revolution as lived by the people who fought it.
1774: The Long Year of Revolution by Mary Beth Norton
Explores the transformative 16 months between the Boston Tea Party and the battles of Lexington and Concord, when Americans effectively shifted from loyal subjects to revolutionaries. Drawing on rich primary sources, Norton reveals how growing political unrest and grassroots resistance led to a quiet but profound break from British authority—well before the Declaration of Independence. This groundbreaking work reframes the origins of the Revolution as a gradual, contested process already underway by early 1775.
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