The book covers a vast terrain, chronologically and geographically. It is a sprawling canvas in every sense, including its generous use of paintings and maps ... Their narrative is interrupted six times, by interventions from well-known historians ... These essays bring sharpness. They also create a mild tension, at odds with the more lyrical tone that Ward and Burns bring to their narrative ... The wide angle helps to promote another recent strain of research, by showing the complexity.
Ward and Burns bring their uniquely erudite and dynamic expertise to the story of the American Revolution ... This gripping, in-the-moment, thought-provoking, visually exciting history profoundly deepens our understanding of our nation’s origins and how the past is shaping our volatile present.
