Tag: American Revolution
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The Swamp Fox by John Oller
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Swamp Fox: Leave my history alone, Mel Gibson. Quick synopsis: A biography of Francis Marion, American Revolutionary officer and guerilla warfare proponent. Fact for Non-History People: Francis Marion is (loosely) the inspiration for Mel Gibson’s character in The Patriot. Banastre Tarleton is the historical inspiration for the bad guy in…
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Marquis de Lafayette Returns by Elizabeth Reese
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Marquis de Lafayette Returns: That’s my boy right there! Quick synopsis: The story of the Marquis de Lafayette’s return to the U.S. years after the revolution. Fact for Non-History People: Lafayette spent about $250,000 of his own money during the revolution ($5 million today). Fact for History Nerds: The throat infection…
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God Save Benedict Arnold by Jack Kelly
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for God Save Benedict Arnold: Arnold sucks, but the book is good! Quick synopsis: A look at Benedict Arnold through the lens of his battlefield prowess. Fact for Non-History People: Arnold had two wives named Peggy. The similarities ended there, though. Fact for History Nerds: Arnold would have been paid 20,000 pounds…
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Founding Partisans by H.W. Brands
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Founding Partisans: Always Team Hamilton. Quick synopsis: A look at just how much partisan politics affected the early U.S. Fact for Non-History People: Hamilton crammed his legal studies into 6 months and then passed the NY bar. Fact for History Nerds: In the first election without Washington, Adams beat Jefferson by…
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To Rescue the Constitution by Bret Baier
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for To Rescue the Constitution: Oh look, we’ve always argued with each other. Quick synopsis: A look at how the U.S. Constitution survived because of George Washington. Fact for Non-History People: George Washington had no middle name. Fact for History Nerds: The story of Washington and the cherry tree was made up…
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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness by Peter Moore
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Not everyone loved Benjamin Franklin. Quick synopsis: The story of how the phrase, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” came to be in American culture. Fact for Non-History People: 12 of the original colonies voted yes on the Declaration of Independence on July…
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Revolutionary Roads by Bob Thompson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Revolutionary Roads: American Revolution ROAD TRIP! Quick synopsis: A literal walk-through of major places during the American Revolution. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Every American knows Lexington and Concord, but the most deaths on the day the Revolution started was in Menotomy (now Arlington), Massachusetts. Fun Fact for History Nerds:…
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Guest Post! Ryan Woolf’s Review of Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution by Mike Duncan
Alternate Tagline for Hero of Two Worlds: I thought there would be more rap battles. Quick synopsis: The fascinating life story of The Marquis de Lafayette. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Marquis de Lafayette was childhood friends with King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette; he had a surrogate father/son relationship with George…
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The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams: He’s more than just a beer! Quick synopsis: A biography of the overshadowed Adams, Samuel. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: He was never called “Sam.” Always Samuel. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Adams was gifted a slave from his mother-in-law. He immediately had her emancipated. Surrey…