Random House New Releases - History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800)

The Swamp Fox - Francis Marion's Campaign in the Carolinas 1780 by David Higgins

2013-10-22T00:30:00-05:00

The Swamp Fox - Francis Marion's Campaign in the Carolinas 1780
Written by David Higgins

Trade Paperback, 80 pages | Osprey Publishing | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); History - Military - United States; History - Military | $18.95 | 978-1-78200-614-5 (1-78200-614-1)

Opposed by "Bloody" Tarleton's Raiders, American Revolution patriots under Francis Marion fought a brutal guerrilla war throughout South Carolina and North Carolina.

The American Revolution was deadlocked in the north, and after the battle at Monmouth Courthouse in 1778 the focus of the conflict shifted south. Following-up on his decisive May 12, 1780 victory at Charleston, South Carolina, Cornwallis launched a campaign through the Carolinas that was designed to expel American Continental and militia forces from the southern theater. With a second British victory at Camden in August, conventional American forces adopted a policy of avoiding another large battle in favor of smaller, more limited operations. As regular forces were constrained by traditional logistics and organization, soldiers like Francis Marion were able to inflict numerous raids and skirmishes against British and Loyalist forces, after which they would dissolve to form and fight at a later time. Cornwallis subsequently directed contingents to secure the countryside and capture such leaders, but the Patriot victory at King's Mountain (October), forced him to withdraw into South Carolina in what was one of the turning points in the Revolutionary War.

To the southeast, Francis Marion continued his hit-and-run operations in which his band rescued American prisoners at Nelson's Ferry, dispersed Loyalist forces at Blue Savannah (September), and defeated a British outpost at Black Mingo (September). When Marion defeated Loyalist militia at Tearcoat Swamp in October, Cornwallis responded to this string of raids across northeastern South Carolina by assigning his aggressive cavalry commander, Banastre Tarleton, to capture or kill the rebel guerrilla commander. What followed was an unsuccessful two-week pursuit of the elusive Marion, in which Tarleton practiced a scorched-earth policy that ultimately disillusioned Loyalist sympathizers and hurt the British cause in the Carolinas.

Unlike much of the Revolutionary War in the north, the fighting in the Carolinas was generally less civilized and brutal, with Loyalists and Rebels in roughly equal numbers. Except for Cornwallis' British regulars and Greene's Continental army, militias and irregular forces were the norm. A Raid book covering the Marion/Tarleton (British) struggle would be used to showcase this style of frontier warfare, and how its combatants were supplied, organized, and operated. Although not a single, defined raid, the series of actions between August and November 1780 illustrate Marion's unconventional, yet successful, efforts to hinder their enemy's war effort in the south, and Tarleton's equally irregular efforts to counter it.

George Washington: Gentleman Warrior by Stephen Brumwell

2013-10-08T00:30:00-05:00

George Washington: Gentleman Warrior Gentleman Warrior
Written by Stephen Brumwell

Hardcover, 512 pages | Quercus | Biography & Autobiography - Presidents; History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); History - Military - United States | $30.00 | 978-1-62365-100-8 (1-62365-100-X)

George Washington is a vivid recounting of the formative years and military career of "The Father of his Country," following his journey from brutal border skirmishes with the French and their Native American allies to his remarkable victory over the British Empire, an achievement that underpinned his selection as the first president of the United States of America. The book focuses on a side of Washington that is often overlooked: the feisty young frontier officer and the early career of the tough forty-something commander of the revolutionaries' ragtag Continental Army.

Award-winning historian Stephen Brumwell shows how, ironically, Washington's reliance upon English models of "gentlemanly" conduct, and on British military organization, was crucial in establishing his leadership of the fledgling Continental Army, and in forging it into the weapon that secured American independence. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including original archival research, Brumwell brings a fresh new perspective on this extraordinary individual, whose fusion of gentleman and warrior left an indelible imprint on history.

George Washington: Gentleman Warrior by Stephen Brumwell

2013-10-08T00:30:00-05:00

George Washington: Gentleman Warrior Gentleman Warrior
Written by Stephen Brumwell

eBook | Quercus | Biography & Autobiography - Presidents; History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); History - Military - United States | $30.00 | 978-1-62365-101-5 (1-62365-101-8)

Book of Ages by Jill Lepore

2013-10-01T00:30:00-05:00

Book of Ages The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin
Written by Jill Lepore

Hardcover, 464 pages | Knopf | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); Biography & Autobiography - Women; Biography & Autobiography - Historical | $27.95 | 978-0-307-95834-1 (0-307-95834-5)

From one of our most accomplished and widely admired historians--a revelatory portrait of Benjamin Franklin's youngest sister, whose obscurity and poverty were matched only by her brother's fame and wealth but who, like him, was a passionate reader, a gifted writer, and an astonishingly shrewd political commentator.

It is a life that has never been examined before: that of the sister of one of the most remarkable men of their time, living unknown to the world at large, but a constant presence and influence in her brother's life through their correspondence (he wrote more letters to her than to anyone else). Making use of an astonishing cache of little-studied material, including documents, objects, and portraits only just discovered, Jill Lepore brings Jane Franklin to life in a way that illuminates not only this one extraordinary woman but an entire world. Lepore's life of Jane Franklin, with its strikingly original vantage on Benjamin Franklin, is at once a wholly different account of the founding and one of the great untold stories of American history and letters.

Book of Ages by Jill Lepore

2013-10-01T00:30:00-05:00

Book of Ages The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin
Written by Jill Lepore

eBook, 464 pages | Knopf | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); Biography & Autobiography - Women; Biography & Autobiography - Historical | $13.99 | 978-0-307-95835-8 (0-307-95835-3)

Duel with the Devil by Paul Collins

2013-06-04T00:30:00-05:00

Duel with the Devil The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder Mystery
Written by Paul Collins

Hardcover, 304 pages | Crown | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); True Crime - Murder; Biography & Autobiography - Political | $26.00 | 978-0-307-95645-3 (0-307-95645-8)

Duel with the Devil is acclaimed historian Paul Collins’ remarkable true account of a stunning turn-of-the-19th century murder and the trial that ensued – a showdown in which iconic political rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr joined forces to make sure justice was done. Still our nation’s longest running “cold case,” the mystery of Elma Sands finally comes to a close with this book, which delivers the first substantial break in the case in over 200 years.
            In the closing days of 1799, the United States was still a young republic. Waging a fierce battle for its uncertain future were two political parties: the well-moneyed Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, and the populist Republicans, led by Aaron Burr. The two finest lawyers in New York, Burr and Hamilton were bitter rivals both in and out of the courtroom, and as the next election approached—with Manhattan likely to be the swing district on which the presidency would hinge—their animosity reached a crescendo. Central to their dispute was the Manhattan water supply, which Burr saw not just as an opportunity to help a city devastated by epidemics but as a chance to heal his battered finances.
             But everything changed when Elma Sands, a beautiful young Quaker woman, was found dead in Burr's newly constructed Manhattan Well. The horrific crime quickly gripped the nation, and before long accusations settled on one of Elma’s suitors, handsome young carpenter Levi Weeks. As the enraged city demanded a noose be draped around the accused murderer’s neck, the only question seemed to be whether Levi would make it to trial or be lynched first.
             The young man’s only hope was to hire a legal dream team. And thus it was that New York’s most bitter political rivals and greatest attorneys did the unthinkable—they teamed up.
            At once an absorbing legal thriller and an expertly crafted portrait of the United States in the time of the Founding Fathers, Duel with the Devil is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction.

Duel with the Devil by Paul Collins

2013-06-04T00:30:00-05:00

Duel with the Devil The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder Mystery
Written by Paul Collins

eBook, 304 pages | Crown | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); True Crime - Murder; Biography & Autobiography - Political | $12.99 | 978-0-307-95647-7 (0-307-95647-4)

Revolutionary Summer by Joseph J. Ellis

2013-06-04T00:30:00-05:00

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American Independence
Written by Joseph J. Ellis

Hardcover, 240 pages | Knopf | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); History - Modern - 18th Century; History - Revolutionary | $26.95 | 978-0-307-70122-0 (0-307-70122-0)

A distinctive portrait of the crescendo moment in American history from the Pulitzer-winning American historian, Joseph Ellis.

The summer months of 1776 witnessed the most consequential events in the story of our country’s founding. While the thirteen colonies came together and agreed to secede from the British Empire, the British were dispatching the largest armada ever to cross the Atlantic to crush the rebellion in the cradle. The Continental Congress and the Continental Army were forced to make decisions on the run, improvising as history congealed around them. In a brilliant and seamless narrative, Ellis meticulously examines the most influential figures in this propitious moment, including George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Britain’s Admiral Lord Richard and General William Howe. He weaves together the political and military experiences as two sides of a single story, and shows how events on one front influenced outcomes on the other.
Revolutionary Summer tells an old story in a new way, with a freshness at once colorful and compelling.

Revolutionary Summer by Joseph J. Ellis

2013-06-04T00:30:00-05:00

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American Independence
Written by Joseph J. Ellis

eBook, 240 pages | Knopf | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); History - Modern - 18th Century; History - Revolutionary | $13.99 | 978-0-385-34962-8 (0-385-34962-9)

From the Hardcover edition.

Revolutionary Summer by Joseph J. Ellis

2013-06-04T00:30:00-05:00

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American Independence
Written by Joseph J. Ellis

Trade Paperback, 400 pages | Random House Large Print | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); History - Modern - 18th Century; History - Revolutionary | $27.00 | 978-0-8041-2090-6 (0-8041-2090-0)

From the Hardcover edition.

Revolutionary Summer by Stefan Rudnicki

2013-06-04T00:30:00-05:00

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American Independence
Written by Joseph J. Ellis
Read by Stefan Rudnicki

Unabridged Compact Disc | Random House Audio | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); History - Modern - 18th Century; History - Revolutionary | $35.00 | 978-0-307-94375-0 (0-307-94375-5)

From the Hardcover edition.

Revolutionary Summer by Stefan Rudnicki

2013-06-04T00:30:00-05:00

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American Independence
Written by Joseph J. Ellis
Read by Stefan Rudnicki

Unabridged Audiobook Download | Random House Audio | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); History - Modern - 18th Century; History - Revolutionary | $17.50 | 978-0-307-94376-7 (0-307-94376-3)

From the Hardcover edition.

Declaration of Independence by Carl L. Becker

2013-05-08T00:30:00-05:00

Declaration of Independence A Study in the History of Political Ideas
Written by Carl L. Becker

eBook, 316 pages | Vintage | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800) | $12.99 | 978-0-307-82372-4 (0-307-82372-5)

The Declaration of Independence

Carl L. Becker's important study is an analysis of the concepts expressed in the Declaration. Here is a lucid explanation of what the Declaration really is, what views it sets forth, where those views arose, and how they have been accepted or modified by succeeding generations. A book that every American should read.

American War of Independence Commanders by Richard Hook

2013-04-23T00:30:00-05:00

American War of Independence Commanders
Written by Rene Chartrand
Illustrated by Richard Hook

eBook, 64 pages | Osprey Publishing | History - Military; History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); History - Military - United States | $14.95 | 978-1-4728-0315-3 (1-4728-0315-9)

The commanders who led the opposing armies of the American War of Independence (1775–1783) came from remarkably different backgrounds. They included not only men from Britain and America, but from Germany, France and Spain as well. Some were from the great families of the "Old World," while others were frontiersmen or farmers in the "New World." Despite their differing origins, all were leaders in the events that led to the establishment of the United States of America. This book details the appearance, careers and personalities of the commanders on both sides. It covers such famous figures as George Washington and Lord Cornwallis along with less well-known men such as Admiral Suffren and Bernando de Galvez.

Defiant Brides by Nancy Rubin Stuart

2013-04-23T00:30:00-05:00

Defiant Brides The Untold Story of Two Revolutionary-Era Women and the Radical Men They Married
Written by Nancy Rubin Stuart

Hardcover, 264 pages | Beacon Press | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); Biography & Autobiography - Historical | $26.95 | 978-0-8070-0117-2 (0-8070-0117-1)

The story of two Revolutionary–era teenagers who defy their Loyalist families to marry radical patriots, Henry Knox and Benedict Arnold, and are forever changed

When Peggy Shippen, the celebrated blonde belle of Philadelphia, married American military hero Benedict Arnold in 1779, she anticipated a life of fame and fortune, but financial debts and political intrigues prompted her to conspire with her treasonous husband against George Washington and the American Revolution. In spite of her commendable efforts to rehabilitate her husband’s name, Peggy Shippen continues to be remembered as a traitor bride.

Peggy’s patriotic counterpart was Lucy Flucker, the spirited and voluptuous brunette, who in 1774 defied her wealthy Tory parents by marrying a poor Boston bookbinder simply for love. When her husband, Henry Knox, later became a famous general in the American Revolutionary War, Lucy faithfully followed him through Washington’s army camps where she birthed and lost babies, befriended Martha Washington, was praised for her social skills, and secured her legacy as an admired patriot wife.

And yet, as esteemed biographer Nancy Rubin Stuart reveals, a closer look at the lives of both spirited women reveals that neither was simply a “traitor” or “patriot.” In Defiant Brides, the first dual biography of both Peggy Shippen Arnold and Lucy Flucker Knox, Stuart has crafted a rich portrait of two rebellious women who defied expectations and struggled—publicly and privately—in a volatile political moment in early America.

Drawing from never-before-published correspondence, Stuart traces the evolution of these women from passionate teenage brides to mature matrons, bringing both women from the sidelines of history to its vital center. Readers will be enthralled by Stuart’s dramatic account of the epic lives of these defiant brides, which begin with romance, are complicated by politics, and involve spies, disappointments, heroic deeds, tragedies, and personal triumphs.

Defiant Brides by Nancy Rubin Stuart

2013-04-23T00:30:00-05:00

Defiant Brides The Untold Story of Two Revolutionary-Era Women and the Radical Men They Married
Written by Nancy Rubin Stuart

eBook | Beacon Press | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); Biography & Autobiography - Historical | $26.95 | 978-0-8070-0118-9 (0-8070-0118-X)

Framing a Legend by M. Andrew Holowchak

2013-04-16T00:30:00-05:00

Framing a Legend Exposing the Distorted History of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings
Written by M. Andrew Holowchak

Hardcover, 275 pages | Prometheus Books | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); History - Historiography | $25.00 | 978-1-61614-729-7 (1-61614-729-6)

A penetrating critical perspective on the question of Thomas Jefferson's paternity that will make you rethink recent conventional wisdom. It is accepted by most scholars that Jefferson had a lengthy affair with his slave Sally Hemings and fathered at least one of her children, a conclusion based on a 1998 DNA study published in Nature and on the work of historian Annette Gordon-Reed. Framing a Legend argues compellingly that the DNA evidence is inconclusive and that there are remarkable flaws in the leading historical scholarship purporting to show such a liaison. It critically examines well-known books by Fawn Brodie, Annette Gordon-Reed, and Andrew Burstein. Among other defects in these authors' works, Holowchak notes selective use of evidence, ungrounded speculation, tendentious psychologizing, and unpersuasive argumentation. He delves into what we know about Thomas Jefferson's character by showing that the historical facts do not suggest any romantic interest on Jefferson's part in his female slaves. Turning to the genetic evidence, Holowchak points out that, though DNA analysis indicates the presence of a Y-chromosome from some Jefferson male in the Hemings family line, it is unwarranted to conclude that this must have come from Thomas Jefferson. Finally, he discusses Jefferson's racial attitudes and says that they argue against any liaison with Sally Hemings.

Framing a Legend by M. Andrew Holowchak

2013-04-16T00:30:00-05:00

Framing a Legend Exposing the Distorted History of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings
Written by M. Andrew Holowchak

eBook | Prometheus Books | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); History - Historiography | $12.99 | 978-1-61614-730-3 (1-61614-730-X)

Fallen Timbers 1794 by Peter Dennis

2013-03-19T00:30:00-05:00

Fallen Timbers 1794 The US Army's first victory
Written by John F. Winkler
Illustrated by Peter Dennis

eBook | Osprey Publishing | History - Military - United States; History - Modern - 18th Century; History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800) | $15.95 | 978-1-78096-377-8 (1-78096-377-7)

Following the defeat at Wabash, in 1792 the Washington administration created a new US Army to replace the one that had been destroyed. The man chosen to lead it was the famous Major-General “Mad” Anthony Wayne. Having trained his new force, Wayne set out in 1793 to subdue the Ohio Indians. Wayne faced many of the same problems as St Clair including the logistical and intelligence problems of campaigning in the wilderness, not to mention the formidable Ohio Indians. Wayne faced additional problems including the likelihood that he would have to fight both British and Spanish forces, not to mention an American army led by the celebrated commander George Roger Clark. He also faced an insurrection in western Pennsylvania, “Whiskey Rebellion”, and a conspiracy led by many of his officers and contractors. Despite all these difficulties, Wayne managed to defeat the Ohio Indians at the battle of Fallen Timbers. This was a decisive defeat that led directly to the Treaty of Greeneville the following year which ended 20 years of conflict between the Americans and the Ohio Indians.

American Loyalist Troops 1775-84 by Gerry Embleton

2013-02-19T00:30:00-05:00

American Loyalist Troops 1775-84
Written by Rene Chartrand
Illustrated by Gerry Embleton

eBook, 48 pages | Osprey Publishing | History - Military; History - Military - United States; History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800) | $13.95 | 978-1-4728-0032-9 (1-4728-0032-X)

To celebrate the 450th title in the Men-at-Arms series, this book examines in depth the units and the uniforms of a still-controversial army: the many thousands of American colonists who chose to fight for King George during the Revolution. In addition to the better-known corps from the Atlantic seaboard, the author also covers the units raised for service against the Spanish in the Floridas, the Caribbean islands and Central America. The text is illustrated with portraits, photographs of rare surviving artifacts, and features color reconstructions by Gerry Embleton, the respected expert on 18th century American forces whose work was recently exhibited in the Smithsonian Institute.

Random House New Releases - History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800)

The Swamp Fox - Francis Marion's Campaign in the Carolinas 1780 by David Higgins

The Swamp Fox - Francis Marion's Campaign in the Carolinas 1780 Written by David Higgins

George Washington: Gentleman Warrior by Stephen Brumwell

George Washington: Gentleman Warrior Gentleman WarriorWritten by Stephen Brumwell

George Washington: Gentleman Warrior by Stephen Brumwell

George Washington: Gentleman Warrior Gentleman WarriorWritten by Stephen Brumwell

Book of Ages by Jill Lepore

Book of Ages The Life and Opinions of Jane FranklinWritten by Jill Lepore

Book of Ages by Jill Lepore

Book of Ages The Life and Opinions of Jane FranklinWritten by Jill Lepore

Duel with the Devil by Paul Collins

Duel with the Devil The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder MysteryWritten by Paul Collins

Duel with the Devil by Paul Collins

Duel with the Devil The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder MysteryWritten by Paul Collins

Revolutionary Summer by Joseph J. Ellis

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American IndependenceWritten by Joseph J. Ellis

Revolutionary Summer by Joseph J. Ellis

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American IndependenceWritten by Joseph J. Ellis

Revolutionary Summer by Joseph J. Ellis

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American IndependenceWritten by Joseph J. Ellis

Revolutionary Summer by Stefan Rudnicki

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American IndependenceWritten by Joseph J. Ellis Read by Stefan Rudnicki

Revolutionary Summer by Stefan Rudnicki

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American IndependenceWritten by Joseph J. Ellis Read by Stefan Rudnicki

Declaration of Independence by Carl L. Becker

Declaration of Independence A Study in the History of Political IdeasWritten by Carl L. Becker

American War of Independence Commanders by Richard Hook

American War of Independence Commanders Written by Rene Chartrand Illustrated by Richard Hook

Defiant Brides by Nancy Rubin Stuart

Defiant Brides The Untold Story of Two Revolutionary-Era Women and the Radical Men They MarriedWritten by Nancy Rubin Stuart

Defiant Brides by Nancy Rubin Stuart

Defiant Brides The Untold Story of Two Revolutionary-Era Women and the Radical Men They MarriedWritten by Nancy Rubin Stuart

Framing a Legend by M. Andrew Holowchak

Framing a Legend Exposing the Distorted History of Thomas Jefferson and Sally HemingsWritten by M. Andrew Holowchak

Framing a Legend by M. Andrew Holowchak

Framing a Legend Exposing the Distorted History of Thomas Jefferson and Sally HemingsWritten by M. Andrew Holowchak

Fallen Timbers 1794 by Peter Dennis

Fallen Timbers 1794 The US Army's first victoryWritten by John F. Winkler Illustrated by Peter Dennis

American Loyalist Troops 1775-84 by Gerry Embleton

American Loyalist Troops 1775-84 Written by Rene Chartrand Illustrated by Gerry Embleton

The Swamp Fox - Francis Marion's Campaign in the Carolinas 1780
Written by David Higgins

George Washington: Gentleman Warrior Gentleman Warrior
Written by Stephen Brumwell

George Washington: Gentleman Warrior Gentleman Warrior
Written by Stephen Brumwell

Book of Ages The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin
Written by Jill Lepore

Book of Ages The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin
Written by Jill Lepore

Duel with the Devil The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder Mystery
Written by Paul Collins

Duel with the Devil The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder Mystery
Written by Paul Collins

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American Independence
Written by Joseph J. Ellis

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American Independence
Written by Joseph J. Ellis

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American Independence
Written by Joseph J. Ellis

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American Independence
Written by Joseph J. Ellis
Read by Stefan Rudnicki

Revolutionary Summer The Birth of American Independence
Written by Joseph J. Ellis
Read by Stefan Rudnicki

Declaration of Independence A Study in the History of Political Ideas
Written by Carl L. Becker

American War of Independence Commanders
Written by Rene Chartrand
Illustrated by Richard Hook

Defiant Brides The Untold Story of Two Revolutionary-Era Women and the Radical Men They Married
Written by Nancy Rubin Stuart

Defiant Brides The Untold Story of Two Revolutionary-Era Women and the Radical Men They Married
Written by Nancy Rubin Stuart

Framing a Legend Exposing the Distorted History of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings
Written by M. Andrew Holowchak

Framing a Legend Exposing the Distorted History of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings
Written by M. Andrew Holowchak

Fallen Timbers 1794 The US Army's first victory
Written by John F. Winkler
Illustrated by Peter Dennis

American Loyalist Troops 1775-84
Written by Rene Chartrand
Illustrated by Gerry Embleton