Random House New Releases - History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800) - Between May 22, 2012 and June 21, 2013.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 | May 8, 2013 | 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Fallen Timbers 1794 by Peter Dennis

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

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

After the formidable Ohio Indians destroyed the US Army at Wabash in 1791, the Washington administration created a new US Army to defeat them. The famous Revolutionary War commander Major-General “Mad” Anthony Wayne organized and trained the new army, and then led it into the Ohio wilderness in 1794. To defeat the Indians, he had to overcome not just the logistical and intelligence problems that had doomed his predecessor's 1791 campaign, but also a conspiracy of officers and contractors led by his principal subordinate, and threatened opposition by British and Spanish forces. On August 20, 1794, Wayne defeated the Indians at Fallen Timbers. His decisive victory led to the 1795 Treaty of Greeneville, which ended 20 years of conflict between the Americans and the Ohio Indians, and opened to American settlement the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Madison and Jefferson by Nancy Isenberg

2013-01-29T00:30:00-05:00

Madison and Jefferson
Written by Andrew Burstein and Nancy Isenberg

Trade Paperback, 848 pages | Random House Trade Paperbacks | History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); Biography & Autobiography - Presidents; Political Science - Government - National | $20.00 | January 29, 2013 | 978-0-8129-7900-8 (0-8129-7900-1)

“[A] monumental dual biography . . . a distinguished work, combining deep research, a pleasing narrative style and an abundance of fresh insights, a rare combination.”—The Dallas Morning News

The third and fourth presidents have long been considered proper gentlemen, with Thomas Jefferson’s genius overshadowing James Madison’s judgment and common sense. But in this revelatory book about their crucial partnership, both are seen as men of their times, hardboiled operatives in a gritty world of primal politics where they struggled for supremacy for more than fifty years. With a thrilling and unprecedented account of early America as its backdrop, Madison and Jefferson reveals these founding fathers as privileged young men in a land marked by tribal identities rather than a united national personality. Esteemed historians Andrew Burstein and Nancy Isenberg capture Madison’s hidden role—he acted in effect as a campaign manager—in Jefferson’s career. In riveting detail, the authors chart the courses of two very different presidencies: Jefferson’s driven by force of personality, Madison’s sustained by a militancy that history has been reluctant to ascribe to him.

Supported by a wealth of original sources—newspapers, letters, diaries, pamphlets—Madison and Jefferson is a watershed account of the most important political friendship in American history.

“Enough colorful characters for a miniseries, loaded with backstabbing (and frontstabbing too).”—Newsday

“An important, thoughtful, and gracefully written political history.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Mr. President by Ray Raphael

2013-01-22T00:30:00-05:00

Mr. President How and Why the Founders Created a Chief Executive
Written by Ray Raphael

The dramatic and penetrating story of the political maneuverings and personalities behind the creation of the office of the president, with ramifications that continue to this day.

For the first time, by focusing closely on the dynamic give-and-take at the Constitutional Convention, Ray Raphael reveals how politics and personalities cobbled together a lasting, but flawed, executive office. Remarkably, the hero of this saga is Gouverneur Morris, a flamboyant, peg-legged delegate who pushed through his agenda with amazing political savvy, and not a little deceit. Without Morris’s perseverance, a much weaker American president would be appointed by Congress, serve for seven years, could not be reelected, and have his powers tightly constrained.

Charting the presidency as it evolved during the administrations of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson, Raphael shows how, given the Constitution’s broad outlines, the president’s powers could easily be augmented but rarely diminished. Today we see the result—an office that has become more sweeping, more powerful, and more inherently partisan than the framers ever intended. And the issues of 1787—whether the Electoral College, the president’s war powers, or the extent of executive authority—continue to stir our political debates.

Trenton and Princeton 1776-77 by Graham Turner

2012-12-18T00:30:00-05:00

Trenton and Princeton 1776-77 Washington crosses the Delaware
Written by David Bonk
Illustrated by Graham Turner

Following the battle of White River and the fall of Forts Washington and Lee during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), George Washington withdrew his army, crossing the Delaware River to regroup. However, with morale at a critical low and the terms of enlistment of many of his troops set to expire, Washington decided on one more strike before the winter weather made military operations impossible. Re-crossing the Delaware on Christmas night, 1776, Washington's army surprised the Hessian garrison at Trenton and managed to kill, wound or capture 1,000 of the enemy for the loss of only four men. Then, avoiding a major engagement with the British Army under General Cornwallis that had been sent to track him down, Washington attacked and defeated another small British force at Princeton. Having inflicted two costly and embarrassing defeats on the British forces, Washington withdrew his army into winter quarters at Morristown.

Using a combination of modern photographs and period artwork, this book tells the story of the legendary campaign that restored the morale of American forces, caused the British to abandon large parts of New Jersey, and established General George Washington's reputation as a daring military strategist.

That's Not What They Meant! by Michael Austin

2012-10-09T00:30:00-05:00

That's Not What They Meant! Reclaiming the Founding Fathers from America's Right Wing
Written by Michael Austin

This book is essential reading for anyone seeking the accurate historical background to many of the today's hot-button political debates. In 2011, Glenn Beck released a "modern translation" of the Federalist Papers and a new biography of George Washington. In the same year, Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, published a book in which he argued that the Founding Fathers intended the individual states to be more powerful than the federal government. Each of these books, and many others published over the past few years, presents the Founding Fathers as a group of wise, philosophically indistinguishable statesmen who spoke about timeless issues with a unified voice. In the place of rigorous history, the authors substitute out-of-context proof texts; in the place of real analysis of the remarkable individuals who created America, they offer us a collective mythology of the founding era. This book examines dozens of books, articles, speeches, and radio broadcasts by such figures as Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Sean Hannity, Larry Schweikart, and David Barton to expose the deep historical flaws in their use of America's founding history. In contrast to their misleading method of citing proof texts to serve a narrow agenda, Austin allows the Founding Fathers to speak for themselves, situating all quotations in the proper historical context. What emerges is a true historical picture of men who often disagreed with one another on such crucial issues as federal power, judicial review, and the separation of church and state. As Austin shows, the real legacy of the Founding Fathers to us is a political process: a system of disagreement, debate, and compromise that has kept democracy vibrant in America for more than two hundred years.

Random House New Releases - History - United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800) - Between May 22, 2012 and June 21, 2013.

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

Fallen Timbers 1794 by Peter Dennis

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

Madison and Jefferson by Nancy Isenberg

Madison and Jefferson Written by Andrew Burstein and Nancy Isenberg

Mr. President by Ray Raphael

Mr. President How and Why the Founders Created a Chief ExecutiveWritten by Ray Raphael

Trenton and Princeton 1776-77 by Graham Turner

Trenton and Princeton 1776-77 Washington crosses the DelawareWritten by David Bonk Illustrated by Graham Turner

That's Not What They Meant! by Michael Austin

That's Not What They Meant! Reclaiming the Founding Fathers from America's Right WingWritten by Michael Austin

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

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

Madison and Jefferson
Written by Andrew Burstein and Nancy Isenberg

Mr. President How and Why the Founders Created a Chief Executive
Written by Ray Raphael

Trenton and Princeton 1776-77 Washington crosses the Delaware
Written by David Bonk
Illustrated by Graham Turner

That's Not What They Meant! Reclaiming the Founding Fathers from America's Right Wing
Written by Michael Austin