Tag: American Revolution
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The Martyr and the Traitor by Virginia Anderson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Martyr and the Traitor: The ending will leave you hanging. I am so sorry. I’ll do better. Quick synopsis: The stories of Nathan Hale (you know him, probably) and Moses Dunbar (you do not) who were both tried and executed for treason. It just turns out one was executed by…
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Rebels at Sea by Eric Jay Dolin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Rebels at Sea: Whoop’em by land, whoop’em by sea. Quick synopsis: The story of American privateers in the American Revolution. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: One of the privateer boats was named Tyrannicide. Name a better boat name. I dare you. Fun Fact for History Nerds: At the time of…
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Benedict Arnold: Revolutionary Hero by James Kirby Martin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: He still sucks. Quick synopsis: A look at why Benedict Arnold became the traitor we still love to hate. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Arnold had two wives named Peggy. Not at the same time. That would be scandalous. Oh, wait… Fun Fact for History Nerds: Arnold is often thought of…
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Liberty’s Chain by David Gellman
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Liberty’s Chain: A lot of mixed messages in this one. Quick synopsis: The story of Founding Father, John Jay, his descendants and their relation to slavery. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: John Jay still had slaves while serving as a prominent abolitionist. Fun Fact for History Nerds: In the six…
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Revolutionary Brothers by Tom Chaffin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Revolutionary Brothers: This is a lovely reminder of why Thomas Jefferson sucks. Quick synopsis: A shortened dual biography of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson after the American Revolution and leading to the French Revolution. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Thomas Jefferson had his own daughter kidnapped. Go ahead,…
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Hero of Two Worlds by Mike Duncan
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Hero of Two Worlds: Parisians definitely have made a habit of rioting. Quick synopsis: A biography of the Marquis de Lafayette. They keep writing them and I am going to keep reading them. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Good job, Hartford, Connecticut. When Lafayette and his family were trying to…
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Contest for Liberty by Seanegan Sculley
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Contest for Liberty: We should have lost. Quick synopsis: A look at the American Revolution through how the U.S. military matured from the beginning to end of the war. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Inflation of U.S. currency was so bad by the end of the war that many veterans…
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The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn by Robert Watson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn: This book made me want to punch a British person. Quick synopsis: A look inside one of the notorious British prison ships used during the American Revolution, the HMS Jersey. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: “HMS” in front of a British ship’s name stands for…
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Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Alexander Hamilton: I’m reviewing the book, not the play, dorks. Come at me. Quick synopsis: A (very) in-depth biography of Alexander Hamilton. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Hamilton was not born in the United States (or the colonies, actually). He was born in Nevis in the Caribbean. Fun Fact for…