Our First Civil War: Patriots and Loyalists in the American Revolution

Some books we read for pleasure. Other, we read out of necessity. This magnus opus by H.W. Brands is both. There is no single period of American history I know (or knew) so little about was the period just before and just after our American Revolution. Prof Brands changed that.This is not a happy read...most history is not happy...but an important read (I am not in favor of making verbs into nouns but language changes, too)While I have read Prof Brands, "The First American" re Benjamin Franklin, this book goes into detail of his political actions throughout the aforementioned period.This is a must read for those that teach and a must must book for those that want to learn, this reader falling into the latter.Finally, reading 99% of this book won't do. One has to read every page until the very last page. You will be cheated otherwise.

So far, l am only about halfway thru the book, & Mr. Brands, as always, has held my attention almost from page one. He has a very unique style of writing & an interesting manner of relating historical facts, that just keeps the reader wanting to turn the next page. I have read & studied a lot of history over the years, but I am learning new information that l never knew before. For me, personally, it is hard for me to stop reading & put the book down. I would certainly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys this kind historical reading material.

A fine review of the revolutionary period. It relies heavily on quotes from the correspondence of Washington, Adams, and most especially Franklin, revealing their doubts and inner thoughts about the war, and this great experiment of independence. One knock is that the title of the book is very deceptive. Other than re. Ben Franklin’s loyalist son William, there is very little information on Loyalists, who they were, their roles or their fates. I suspect the title was a marketing ploy to draw a parallel with the divisive times we are in the midst of. Nonetheless, a very good read.

Well entitled because the war Americans refer to as ‘Revolutionary’ was less that than a Civil War. No better example was the split between Benjamin Franklin and his only son William, his steadfast companion through his many years in London as agent for the Province of Pennsylvania to the British government. Great insights into the personalities we are familiar with as icons on currency rather than human. The book gives a comprehensive context to events of an implausible revolt against the most powerful Empire in history to that time. It’s a consequential Revolution whose outcome has reverberated through the centuries like no other and notwithstanding its many potentially fatal flaws, missed opportunities and heartbreaking failings, remains the exemplar of what men and women of good will can create from the aftermath of a shattered society.Chaos need not be the only outcome.

As usual a history book written by H. W. Brands is a page turner. Well written and very informative. I highly recommend this and any other book by this author.

There are some very nice observations and quotes in this book about the Revolutionary War. I was hoping for more information on the Loyalists as this book tittle seems to suggest so. And lastly these Revolutionary War books never do justice to the story telling of the war in the southern colonies (I am from New England) for without their pushing Cornwallis north & east we would not have the surrender at Yorktown

Great overview of the American Revolution. Reads like a novel. I learned a lot.

I ordered two copies, one for myself and one for my AP US History teacher from high school and wow is it captivating.Dr Brands knows how to approach history from an interesting angle to tell familiar stories in exciting and new perspectives. I am lucky enough to be in his history course where I also read his book, The Heartbreak of Aaron Burr. Just as in his lectures, his books are captivating, engaging, and unique. I definitely recommend that anyone at least slightly involved in US History give them a shot.

Bon condition (neuf).

This book, whilst an excellent history of the Revolution, is not what it purports to be. Loyalists are covered extremely sparsely, with very little mention being made of their numbers, beliefs or exploits during the War. There is also an almost total lack of any anecdotes or evidence concerning the 'Civil War' between Patriots and Loyalists. The author does not appear to have made much use of primary sources outside the US and as a result his story is rather one-sided.