Pete’s Pick
December 2018
Rise to Rebellion
Jeff Shaara
Published by Ballantine Books
Introduction
This book by famed Civil War novelist Jeff Shaara is the first of a two volume set of novels telling the story of the American Revolution through the perspectives of several of the key people involved in the history of the American Revolution. This novel traces the history of the American Revolution from early in 1770 through the summer of 1776 when the Declaration of Independence has been ratified by the 13 colonies. It tells the history using the actual words or accounts of events that took place as recorded by these key participants.
Author
Jeff Shaara is well known for his Civil War novels Gods and Generals, The Last Full Measure, and Gone for the Soldiers. This novel is the first of two depicting the American Revolution.
Story
The novel tells the story of the time and events leading up to the beginning of the Revolution through the perspectives of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, George Washington, and Lieutenant General Thomas Gage (Great Britain’s Commander-in-Chief of the British soldiers stationed in America at the beginning of the Revolution).
We hear the story of the events that took place during the six-year time through the words and thoughts of these key actors. Shaara has used their letters and memoirs, their journals and diaries, their own written histories, and accounts written by others who were there during these times. Each chapter is through the eyes of one of the participants and we get an opportunity to switch back and forth between the players and get a different take on what happened during an event. It is awesome to begin to understand the reluctance of these key actors in American history to actually participate in events that lead up to the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Even as one who has always loved history, to be inside the minds of these individuals was incredibly sobering as they fretted and stewed over King George’s reluctance to understand their unique setting and circumstances—a world vastly different from 18th Century Europe and England. The whole frontier setting and the unique needs of relating to undeveloped territory simply did not register in the minds of the British Parliament or King George.
The story takes us from the first confrontation with British troops in Boston in early 1770 to the formation of the First Continental Congress where the great minds of American colonists begin debating what is to become of their relationship with Great Britain. We get an inside look at the corruption of British Parliamentary government and their absolute refusal to consider the unique situation of their American colonies. As the tensions build because of British taxation, and the American resistance to these unfair taxes, we relive the experience of the Tea Party in Boston which ultimately leads to the building up of the British military presence in America. We then see the tensions spill over into actual shooting during the Battle of Concord Hill and Lexington. We get to hear the debates during the Second Continental Congress as the colonists realize that the only effect way to respond to their situation is to band together as a union of 13 colonies and create their own army to defend against the increasing British military threat.
I sat on the edge of my seat as each episode unfolded and became a cheerleader for these great early Americans who founded our country.
Evaluation
This is a book for those who love American history and want an inside view of the events that led up to the American Revolution. It is for those who relish getting to know the key players in history and understanding the circumstances that surround the historical events that took place. It gets intensely personal in getting to know these key participants. As a lover of American history, I highly recommend this book. As an avid reader of Jeff Shaara, this book is very much in keeping with what he has done in telling us the story of the American Civil War. I highly recommend this book.