David McCullough's 1776 manages to be suspenseful and gripping—despite the fact that we all know how the story comes out. Perhaps even more surprising is that it also manages to be beautiful. The beauty is not so much the result of McCullough's vivid prose (though the prose is sharp and elegant) or his poetic descriptions (these are appropriately sparse), but due to the clear light by which McCullough illuminates the lives of the combatants, from the soldiers in the lines all the way up to George Washington, with artfully-chosen snippets of correspondence. The sacrifice of the war, the doubt, the danger of enlistment are rendered to produce not a cheap, hazy-light pastoral scene sort of beauty, but the kind of beauty Goya sometimes managed—beautiful despite, or in, a sort of horror.
Beyond the style, the story itself paints a clear and brutal picture of the war for independence and the sometimes muddled (on both sides and all the way to the top), mix of political objectives that led to it. It leaves one amazed that the continental army survived that first year of campaigning, and that relatively untried leaders like Washington and his young and inexperienced lieutenants were able to rally after some grievous early errors, and regain the confidence (and eventually worshipfulness) of the fledging nation’s soldiers, political leaders and people.
My favorite character? The young Henry Knox, who proved himself worthy of Washington’s faith by organizing an expedition to recover artillery from Fort Ticonderoga and bring it all the way to Boston via ox sled—an almost surreal accomplishment as McCullough describes it. And Knox, beyond being robust and an energetic leader, was also a bookstore owner and avid reader, probably part of the reason his character so endears itself to me so well—he bore traits and tastes I'd like to imagine in myself. (Can macho heroism go hand in hand with bookishness? Let's hope...)
Article comments
1 - DrPat
Nice encapsulation of the book in terms of luminescence: clear light by which McCullough illuminates the lives of the combatants... rendered to produce not a cheap, hazy-light pastoral scene sort of beauty... the story itself paints a clear and brutal picture of the war for independence...
2 - dietdoc
Ernesto writes: "The young Henry Knox, who proved himself worthy of Washington’s faith by organizing an expedition to recover artillery from Fort Ticonderoga and bring it all the way to Boston via ox sled " an almost surreal accomplishment as McCullough describes it."
Reply: I haven't read the book but it sounds as if I should. Thanks for the review. As for the Ticonderoga expedition, the infamous Benedict Arnold deserves most of the credit for that little venture. Despite the blundering and chest-beating of Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, it was Benedict Arnold's imagination and grit that enabled the "capture" (hardly a miltary confrontation as it turns out) of the cannon and munitions. I totally agree Knox did the heavy lifting back, though getting there was an even more monumental quest.
Cheers,
Ron
3 - Ernesto
The whole Arnold/Allen chapter of the story is interesting ... and being a Vermonter I've always gotten a kick out of the Allen stories, both the ones that glorify him and the ones that make him out to be a scoundrel...
4 - dietdoc
Ernesto, I am happy to hear there is a chapter on Arnold/Allen. That must have been an interesting chapter. As a general point, the more I read about Benedict Arnold, the more enigmatic he becomes to me. How can someone who virtually saved the war effort for the first few yesrs end up with the final, ultimately-inglorious label "traitor?" I am leaning toward just an incredible sense of vanity and it, in the end, led him to his Hudson River treachery.
I look forward to reading "1776" as it sounds like a book that might help exmplain some of the puzzle.
Cheers and, again, thanks for the excellent review.
Ron
5 - Pat Cummings
This book review has been selected for Advance.net. You’ll be able to find this and other Blog Critics reviews at such places as Cleveland.com’s Book Reviews column.
6 - Angela
So far as I remember, Arnold only got a passing reference. But in any case, this is an absolutely superb book; I loved every minute of it.
7 - Ernesto
"The whole Arnold/Allen chapter of the story is interesting ... " Sorry ... I was referring to the broader story ... didn't mean to imply there was an Arnold chapter in the book. Responded too carelessly...
8 - irene
yeah--how is it that a book on the American Revolution has you up late at night because you want to see what happens next? But I was frustrated at the ending, and wanted, instead of 25 pages of bibliography, a simple, "go here for the rest of the story." I feel like I have met these Founding Fathers and walked with them on this mad adventure.
9 - Mary Ann Austin
Hey, I'm reading John Adams...makes my heart sing...what a poet you are...I read slowly so I make the book last...thank you...you are so lucky.
10 - david
I had to read this book for Political Science, and I must say i was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable it was. I don't plan on selling it back to the bookstore at the end of the semester. I'm quite sure I will read it again sometime in the future.
11 - Bie
David McCullough's style of writing is SO readable and he is a great narrator, too. He made history alive in his newest book 1776.
12 - STM
Arnold was a hero. He enough balls to stand up for what he believed in.
13 - STM
In fact Arnold was such a good general, the US may not now exist today had it not been for him. The main issue in his decision to turn allegiance (apart from the fact he kept getting passed over and was bummed off) to Britain was that the continental army had forged an alliance with the French, which he opposed.