Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara

[gilda_elise]

In 1770, the fuse of revolution is lit by a fateful command—“Fire!”—as England’s peacekeeping mission ignites into the Boston Massacre. The senseless killing of civilians leads to a tumultuous trial in which lawyer John Adams must defend the very enemy who has assaulted and abused the laws he holds sacred.

The taut courtroom drama soon broadens into a stunning epic of war as King George III leads a reckless and corrupt government in London toward the escalating abuse of his colonies. Outraged by the increasing loss of their liberties, an extraordinary gathering of America’s most inspiring characters confronts the British presence with the ideals that will change history.

John Adams, the idealistic attorney devoted to the law, who rises to greatness by the power of his words . . . Ben Franklin, the elderly and audacious inventor and philosopher who endures firsthand the hostile prejudice of the British government . . . Thomas Gage, the British general given the impossible task of crushing a colonial rebellion without starting an all-out war . . . George Washington, the dashing Virginian whose battle experience in the French and Indian War brings him the recognition that elevates him to command of a colonial army . . . and many other immortal names from the Founding Family of the colonial struggle—Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Joseph Warren, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee— captured as never before in their full flesh-and-blood humanity.

As the author notes, by definition this book is a novel. As true as he tries to be in telling the story through the voices of the characters, in their own words and through their own experiences, the dialogue and thoughts must be read as fiction. Yet it’s very apparent that so very much research has gone into its writing.

For some, there might too much information, because the book does skirt the line between fiction and nonfiction, but that made it perfect for me. I haven’t read a lot about the Revolution War, a few novels over the years and a couple of Jefferson biographies, but most of what I know of it comes from what I learned in school. Wanting to know more about this particular period in history, I fell back onto my usual course, which is to read novels set during that time, and moving on to nonfiction later. This book is like getting both at the same time, the ease of a novel with the preponderance of information of a nonfiction book.

I learned a lot from this book. While the main story was familiar to me, there were lesser known occurrences, glossed over in school, that gave more depth and breadth to the events, and to the people who brought them about.

I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series, and to Shaara’s other books, dealing with America’s wars.



Mount TBR 2016 Book Links

Links are to more information regarding each book, not to the review.

1. Alexander's Lovers
2. The Border
3. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
4. Green Darkness
5. The Return of the Wolf to Yellowstone
6. Rise to Rebellion

Comments

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

Did you ever read "Arundal" by Kenneth Roberts? It was one of my favorites from this time period.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't, but I did read Rabble In Arms many years ago, so I think I'll have to add it to my list. Reading this book has definitely peaked my interest in the Revolutionary War. Another old favorite is The Tree Of Liberty, by Elizabeth Page.

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

I need to re-read it because I've lost most of it, but I remember loving it, along with the Mutiny on the Bounty trilogy.

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

I'll look for this book. Ever since I saw "1776" [also fiction based on fact] I fell in love with the American Revolution. I particularly love Adams, Jefferson and Franklin and I truly respect Washington. He could have been king ---twice ---and he declined. He truly is the father of the country.

And we visit Williamsburg every few years where there's a great Jefferson impersonator.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

My interest has definitely been reignited by this book. spikesgirl58 recommended one, and it turned out I had already read another by the same author, so my list is growing.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

You're going great guns on your Mount TBR - go you! I'm a bit the opposite of you when it comes to reading (you may have spotted... *g*) - I think I'd be a bit frustrated by a novel that was vastly non-fictiony... though I'm bound to come across an exception, now that I've typed that... *g*

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

After reading the author's note, I was a bit anxious about it, so I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed the book...which is lucky since I own nine more of his books! *g*

[tinny]

It's funny because this falls right into the time where everyone is gushing about Hamilton.

I totally do the same thing: first read fiction to learn something, and then later do some research to separate the fiction from the non-fiction. It's the perfect way for me.

For this particular topic, I decided I really don't want to know much about it - not being an American, it's not really dear to my heart.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I've never been all that interested in American history, either, being an American notwithstanding. My fields of interest are the Plantagenets and Medieval England, especially Richard III. I'm not even sure why I thought to read this author's books. Some review or comment made somewhere. In any event, I'm glad I did. I doubt I'll get into it the way I have English history (which I'm being drawn more into because of Bernard Cornwell's books about Alfred the Great,) but I'm sure I'll be reading more about it than I was. You just never know. :-)

Yes, I've heard a lot about the play, too. It had nothing to do with me reading this book, as Hamilton doesn't even show up yet. I have to say, I'm not all that interested in seeing the play, either.