Seven Days in June: A Novel of the American Revolution

Fictionalizing the experiences of British commanders, loyalists to the crown and a motley collection of American revolutionaries, Fast ( Citizen Tom Paine ; Spartacus ) fashions this dramatic look at a week of profound tension that will erupt in historic carnage at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In June 1775, some six weeks after the armed clashes at Lexington and Concord, the British have increased their force in Boston under General Howe as thousands of disorganized colonial troops gather nearby. At the center of Fast's story stands Evan Feversham, an English surgeon who has married an American and made a fresh start in Connecticut. Having volunteered to aid the revolutionaries, the doctor finds himself at the heart of their preparations for battle. Fast portrays key colonial figures largely through the eyes of Feversham, who, though amazed and frightened by the seeming chaos of the Yankees, ultimately comes to admire their character and leadership. Meanwhile, Howe and the rest of the British command are depicted as complacent and scarcely more unified or prepared than the colonials, spending much of their time seducing other men's wives and arguing among themselves. While the narrative is rarely subtle, neither is it melodramatic. Fast's accomplished storytelling draws the reader ever faster into the turmoil and ekes genuine suspense from events whose outcome is a matter of historical fact. Maps not seen by PW. 35,000 first printing. (Aug.)