War for America: The Fight For Independence 1775-1783 - Hardcover

Jeremy Black MBE is Professor of History at the University of Exeter. He has written extensively on the eighteenth century and military history, with titles including 'The English Press', 'Culloden and the' 45' and 'War: Past, Present and Future.

"A German officer, who has served in America of high rank, has assured the King that if the coast of America . . . was burnt, and reduced to desert, a thing entirely practicable, the war would soon be over." This quote, repeated in War for America , is indicative of the mentality that would help foster colonial American anger at an overbearing British government. Such anger allowed early Americans to continue a prolonged, sometimes agonizing fight and drowned out the voices of moderation in England. Black contends--as others have before--that had negotiation been the tactic, America would not have become the United States, at least not in such a violent birth. Black traces the evolution of the disastrous British policy in a straightforward, readable style, but fails to examine personalities in any detail. He has distilled a great deal of information, given much background material, and in general been successful, but there is relatively little consideration of the far-reaching precedents being created. This is a supplementary text, primarily British in orientation.
- Katherine Gillen, Mesa P.L., Ariz.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.