Archer captures the popular mobilization under the leadership of John Hancock and Samuel Adams that met the oppressive imperial measures--most notably the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act--with demonstrations, Liberty Trees, violence, and non-importation agreements. When the British government decided to garrison Boston with troops, it posed a shocking challenge to the people of Massachusetts. The city was flooded with troops; almost immediately, tempers flared and violent conflicts broke out. Archer's vivid tale culminates in the swirling tragedy of the Boston Massacre and its aftermath, including the trial and exoneration of the British troops involved.
A thrilling and original work of history, As If an Enemy's Country tells the riveting story of what made the Boston townspeople, and with them other colonists, turn toward revolution.
I'll keep an eye out for it. I have at least one book on Adams, who also interests me. Hopefully Tripster will post something on Hancock.
ReplyDeleteI recently ordered Empire of Liberty which is part of the Oxford Series on American history which always seems to be interesting.
I have James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom, which is volume 6 of this series and won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988.
ReplyDeletePlus, you can almost be guaranteed (like the McPherson)that it will be good history.
ReplyDeleteGintaras, you are a bad influence. Now I"m lining up to buy books that aren't even in print! This book looks very good, but it's not released until next month.
The later books in the series are very good as well, Freedom from Fear, Great Expectations, and Restless Giant. Sorry av.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's a way we could focus our group readings -- start a series like that?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to my local used bookstore today to pick up Bradbury's The History Man, which I think I may have read when it came out and, if it's the one I'm thinking of, is a complement of sorts to the Russo.
I'll try to stay out of the history section but it's right next to the fiction..... And they may have the Zinn, although it's not listed online.
Av, since I have 3 or 4 of Gordon Wood's books already, I find myself leaning toward Archer's book, as this is a part of history I'm not well acquainted with, even though I spent sometime up in the Boston area.
ReplyDeleteYes, the other sounds more interesting and focused. This one is more like a text book in its coverage -- although Wood is such a good writer I'm assuming it will be a good read. And good history.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should try for Archer (although it's not released until Feb). Something about occupation might have a double meaning these days. (I bought the William Polk book, Birth of America, for that reason -- he's a specialist in the Middle East.)
And Zinn could certainly be counted on to contribute to that story as well.
In the meantime, back to the History Man which looks like it's going to be a slice of history on its own.
This is in stock at Amazon, so I added it to my order with Wills et al.
ReplyDelete