Tag: American Revolution
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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…
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Washington (History Channel)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Washington: Eh, it’s fine. Quick synopsis: The life of George Washington, mostly focused on his British and American military careers and the presidency. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: George Washington’s teeth were not made of wood. They were made of ivory and other people’s teeth (slaves mostly). Fun Fact for…