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Igniting the American Revolution: 1773-1775
Igniting the American Revolution: 1773-1775
Igniting the American Revolution: 1773-1775
Audiobook11 hours

Igniting the American Revolution: 1773-1775

Written by Derek W. Beck

Narrated by Jonathan Davis

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

Few Americans know that the Revolutionary War did not begin with the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 but over a year earlier in April 1775. Now historian Derek Beck draws on previously unpublished documents to tell the full story of the war before American independence-from both sides. Spanning the years 1773-1776, this sweeps readers from the Boston Tea Party to the halls of Parliament-where Ben Franklin was almost run out of England for pleading on behalf of the colonies-to the fateful Expedition to Concord that resulted in the shot heard round the world. Vividly detailed and meticulously researched, this captivating historyreveals in a new light the perspectives and events that altered the futures of not only England and America, but the whole world. Derek W. Beck is an historian whose history writing has appeared in multiple history journals, scholarly works, and reviews and has been cited by The Boston Globeamong other publications. He is a Major in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, and is the recipient of numerous medals and awards for his achievements. Beck's education includes a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He lives in Los Angeles, CA, with his wife, Vicky. AMERICA 1775 is his first book. Key Selling Points: - Includes groundbreaking research from never-before-seen documents, letters, diaries and other primary sources, including British perspectives - Strong comps, such as Revolutionary Summer and 1775: A Good Year for Revolution, show American Revolutionary history is as popular as ever - Offers a unique, unexplored angle by showcasing the year leading up to the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence
LanguageEnglish
Release dateOct 6, 2015
ISBN9781501902123
Author

Derek W. Beck

Award-winning author Derek W. Beck has always had a passion for military history, which inspired him to start his career in the U.S. Air Force. He has served as an officer on Active Duty in science roles and in space operations. In 2005, he earned a Master of Science degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he also fell in love with Boston’s revolutionary past. To more fully pursue writing, he later transitioned to the Air Force Reserves, though he still remains quite active, presently holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Derek’s first book, Igniting the American Revolution: 1773-1775, was published in October 2015 by Sourcebooks. When not working on future history books, Derek is a frequent contributor to the online Journal of the American Revolution. You can follow or connect with him through his website at www.derekbeck.com.

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Having grown up in Massachusetts, where we were taught the glorified version of the American Revolution, I was pleasantly surprised by the unbiased, detailed account Derek Beck gives us with this book. While the topic is complex, the ease and structure of the writing simplifies things. This isn't a light read, but it also isn't one requiring a dictionary, map, and Master's degree to sort through.The author has clearly done extensive research. We start when the Revolution, then barely a resistance, began simmering, with events leading us to the Boston Tea Party. This isn't a dry read, loaded with nothing but facts. Instead, we meet the key players of the time on a personal level, with their stories told through snippets of journals and letters. These bits are woven into the timeline, bringing history to life on the pages. I was surprised by how the Revolution came about almost by accident. Neither side truly understood the other, and this was complicated by distance and their inability to immediately communicate. Through the honest telling of this part of our history, the author offers compelling insight into the political and very human aspects of war.My quibbles are minor. For one, this 480 page book is only 272 pages of actual text. The rest of the book, nearly half, is the appendix, notes, etc. Consequently, some interesting and pertinent information is buried where most readers will never venture. I read a lot of nonfiction, but I'm one of those guilty of being bored by endless pages of notes at the end. I prefer the content to flow within the timeline of the book. My other minor complaint is that the ending felt abrupt. In fairness to the author, he does finish at the right spot for his purposes. We're left at the time when the militia join forces, taking things from a disorganized rebellion to a more organized war. I would have liked some sort of summation, in closing, of the war to come. Perhaps that will be a sequel to this book.Overall, this is straightforward, enlightening read perfect for anyone interested in the truth of how and why American became independent.*I was provided with an ebook copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*