The choicest bits are the unexpected details ... The book’s tone can be uneven, however. Bell’s occasional colloquialisms prove welcome...but his awkward direct addresses, not so much ... An apt guide for readers revisiting 'the shot heard round the world' ... A solid addition to any semiquincentennial reading list.
Propulsive, beautifully crafted ... [Bell] brings a mesmerizing outsider perspective to the Spirit of ’76 ... Rich with delectable trivia ... Bell’s trick here is one of organization: by moving between individuals and upheavals — by creating dioramas around actual characters and their respective peoples — he makes a broader argument.
