George Washington's War: The Saga of the American Revolution

This fast-paced, vivid narrative enhances Leckie's reputation as a popular military historian ( Delivered from Evil ; None Died in Vain ). A storyteller in the tradition of Bruce Catton, he perceives the origins of the American Revolution in the colonists' increasingly pervasive drive for independence and describes the revolution's success as the consequence of American victories in battle. Leckie has high praise for the fighting men on both sides. The British adapted unfamiliar kinds of warfare; the Americans developed the endurance and discipline they needed to make good on their defiance of the crown. The work's principal strength, however, is its juxtaposition of colorful depictions of the war's principal figures with exciting accounts of the major campaigns. The book is a reminder of what history can be when written by a master. (Sept.)