Patriots The Men Who Started The American Revolution Summary

929 Words4 Pages

Patriots: The Men Who Started The American Revolution
Patriots: The Men Who Started The American Revolution is a nonfiction novel by A. J. Langguth. The title of the book reflects the theme of the book. The book focuses on the revolutionaries who played a significant role in the American Revolution. The work brings the combats, the treasons, and the vibrant characters of the individuals that forged the freedom of the United States of America to life. It features revolutionaries such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Patrick Henry, and John Adams. These heroes were individuals of velour, ambition, intellect, and passion. From the underground assemblies at the Sons of Liberty to the ultimate triumph at the …show more content…

It follows several figures that made a great contribution to the establishment of the United States. The book opens in 1761 where Otis challenges the authority of the British Empire and concludes in 1783 with the resignation of George Washington as the commander-in-chief. In between the two events, the author gives a detailed account of several characters and events that shaped the revolution (Langguth 14). Each event is vividly narrated as much as possible, through the words and actions of the characters and individuals that took part in the revolution. Through the incorporation of minor and major persons and characters from both divides of the Atlantic, the author displays that it was the combined efforts and actions of many women and men that determined the course of history. In addition, Langguth shows that the path to independence was not easy, in spite of the heroism and vision of the Founding Fathers. In some instances, a miscalculation by the British King George was significant and contributed to the success of the revolution. Apart from the central figures of the struggle, Langguth also provides a vivid and fascinating portrayal of the minor characters of the revolutionary struggle (Langguth 16). I believe the author’s opinions about the patriots are correct. Similarly, Greene (29) held the same views as …show more content…

The chapters of the book describe numerous battles and mainly summarize the engagements. It skillfully re-enacts the battles and conquests of the revolutionary struggle that piques and arouses the readers to read and research more details on the subject. Although the novel covers several military campaigns on the revolutionary struggle its central theme is not military history, neither is it social. In addition, although it scantly mentions those patriots that were against slavery, it pays little attention to the status of women and blacks in the revolution. The author deftly handles the changes in locale and time; moreover, the novel evidently portrays the author’s commitment to detail, accuracy, and thorough research skills. However, some sections of the book are clogged with unnecessary niceties and in some places; the needless information interrupts the flow and pace of the narrative. Nonetheless, the novel is a well-researched and naturally accessible narrative of the American Revolution that should be recommended to any avid reader (Greene

Open Document