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Chargement... Victory at Yorktown: The Campaign That Won the Revolutionpar Richard M. Ketchum
Chargement...
Inscrivez-vous à LibraryThing pour découvrir si vous aimerez ce livre Actuellement, il n'y a pas de discussions au sujet de ce livre. In the late middle it gets, unavoidably, rather technical. This is where he has pulling together 5 campaigns at once so this can't really be avoided. Other then that the book is truly excellent. I want to give extra props for the integration of information from "Washington's Spys" and also the beautifully written ending that gives a real understanding of the social and political standing post war. A REALLY good read. READ IT NAOW. Despite the title, this book covers far more than just the Battle of Yorktown. Instead, the work addresses the entire Southern Campaign, a little known and rarely covered aspect of the war. I particularly appreciated the discussion of the British command failures, including the total breakdown between Clinton and Cornwallis, as well as the often confounding but ultimately significant participation of the British and French fleets. No doubt the author knows his stuff, however in my opinion at times book drifted with unnecessary detail. More focus on the significant events, battles and political aspects and less on minutiae would have increased the book's effectiveness. In any case, an enjoyable and worthwhile read. What many people find disturbing about the general populace today is its lack of knowledge of our country’s past. Certainly an understanding of how our country came to be is essential for us to be clear-sighted citizens. The historical information that Victory at Yorktown provides is targeted for adult readers more than it is people of high school age. Reading the book and appreciating its content requires a discipline not found among a majority people of high school age, in my opinion. Accurate historical fiction would be much more appropriate for adolescent readers. If the reader is patient, if he reads each chapter after a sufficient time has elapsed to allow him to return refreshed, he will be rewarded. The book takes up the narrative of the military struggle between American and British forces in 1780, five years after redcoat soldiers and Massachusetts militiamen had fired at each other at Lexington and Concord. Ketchum must set the stage for what is to follow, a difficult task because he has much to cover. I found the first two chapters and chapter 4 rather dull, due mainly to the fact that Ketchum had to present diverse information, I wanting him to focus on two, three, or four aspects. Thereafter, the chapters became more concise with the last chapter being perhaps his best. I took away from this book a better appreciation of the extreme hardships suffered by those who served their states and their united cause, the absolute necessity of France’s assistance, George Washington’s indefatigability, integrity, and willingness to take chances, and the Continental Congress’s utter incapacity to govern. My awareness of the amazing incompetency of the British military leaders and the extreme obduracy of George III was reinforced. I appreciated as well the role that chance played in the outcome of events, be it who individually lived or died or what broad opportunities were successfully or not successfully utilized. If no other conclusion stays with the reader, the one that should remain is that our forefathers were extremely fortunate to have won their independence. I wish most Americans today had that appreciation. Mr. Ketchum gives an excellent account of the campaigns in the southern states and then he carries through with the events leading to the Battle at Yorktown and the succeeding two years after Cornwallis’s surrender. Ketchum, also gives the reader an analysis of why events developed as they did. The author’s writing style is terrific. The battles and the events flow very well from one chapter to the next. I was able to follow the story, and it kept my interest throughout the book. The one fault I did find was that the book could have used a few more descriptive maps. I found myself doing numerous rereads just so I could figure out where I was located in any one particular state. Overall, the book gave me an excellent well-rounded education on the campaign to and including Yorktown. aucune critique | ajouter une critique
From "the finest historian of the American Revolution" comes the definitive account of the battle and unlikely triumph that led to American independence (Douglas Brinkley) In 1780, George Washington's army lay idle for want of supplies, food, and money. All hope seemed lost until a powerful French force landed at Newport in July. Then, under Washington's directives, Nathanael Greene began a series of hit-and-run operations against the British. The damage the guerrilla fighters inflicted would help drive the enemy to Yorktown, where Greene and Lafayette would trap them before Washington and Rochambeau, supported by the French fleet, arrived to deliver the coup de gracirc'ce. Richard M. Ketchum illuminates, for the first time, the strategies and heroic personalities-American and French-that led to the surprise victory, only the second major battle the Americans would win in almost seven horrific years. Relying on good fortune, daring, and sheer determination never to give up, American and French fighters-many of whom walked from Newport and New York to Virginia-brought about that rarest of military operations: a race against time and distance, on land and at sea. Ketchum brings to life the gripping and inspirational story of how the rebels defeated the world's finest army against all odds. The acclaimed author of "Saratoga" illuminates, for the first time, the strategies and heroic personalities--American and French--that led to the surprise victory, only the second major battle the Americans would win in almost seven horrific years. Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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Google Books — Chargement... GenresClassification décimale de Melvil (CDD)973.337History and Geography North America United States Revolution and confederation (1775-89) Operations Campaigns of 1781Classification de la Bibliothèque du CongrèsÉvaluationMoyenne:
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The book does not focus on the events of Yorktown as the title may suguest. Instead, it is a broad overview of the major events that ultimately led to the allied victory at Yorktown. ( )