Rating: 
Summary: A Better Understanding
Review: The Revolutionary War (at least that's what we Americans call it) has been written about extensively, but in my experience Mr Shaara's novel does the best job of combining research with a story.The novels of Kenneth Roberts were, in my opinions, better novels, but not as strong in explaining the political background of the time. Mr Roberts works explored the times and culture better, but not the political history. Mr Shaara's characters are a little one dimensional and it is hard at times realize that you are discussing different characters, but even so, his book is a fascinating read and at times a real eye opener. For example, his insights into Ireland, through the eyes of Benjamin Franklin are compelling and also help explain today's situation in Ireland. The book explains complex subjects that were often presented in the most arcane manner by our educational system and makes them interesting. If you want to understand our history and background, pick this up and read it, you will come away with a better understanding and have had quite an enjoyable read while gaining the understanding.
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Summary: Formula writing.
Review: Mr. Shaara writes by formula: Pick a few important historical characters, do thorough research, and tell a story through the eyes of the various characters. The result is a historically accurate telling of a story BUT IT'S BORING. The only pace in this book comes from the events themselves. Each character's section sounds pretty much like the last one with the result being a numbing tone to the book. Anyone interested in a first-rate historical novel about the American Revolution should run to his or her nearest library and check out Kenneth Roberts' classic Oliver Wiswell. Through the eyes of the title character Roberts covers the causes of the war as well as each of the war's three theatres. Along the way Roberts offers a refreshing view of the events; e.g., he sees the Sons of Liberty as terrorists. Mr. Shaara has written a mildly interesting book. Mr. Roberts wrote a great one. How nice it would be for Mr. Shaara to take his obvious talents and work more on his craft rather than depend upon what has become a tired formula.
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Summary: times that try men's souls
Review: Shaara has written a solid historical novel. He surveys the prelude to the American revolution as seen by John Adams (who dominates the book), Benjamin Franklin, British General Thomas Gage, and George Washington. The story Shaara tells begins in 1770 and ends shortly after July 4, 1776. The first half of this book was slow. Shaara didn't inject much new life into the familiar stories of the Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, etc. The novel began to pick up momentum with Paul Revere's ride and the entry into the story of the Virginians: George Washington, TJ, Patrick Henry, and a couple of Lees. But the most enlightening part of the novel for me was Benjamin Franklin's visit to Ireland where he observes the horrible poverty and desolation in spirit of the Irish and realizes that the same fate is in store for the Americans if they remain under English rule. I read this book with impatience because this is just the prelude to what will (hopefully) be a much more exciting Shaara book about the Revolutionary War in which Washington, Benedict Arnold, and other characters come to the fore. I look forward to the sequel.
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Summary: Sharaa works his way back to the start of the Revolution
Review: "Rise to Rebellion" is the first of two volumes telling the story of the American Revolution from the perspective of several key participants and covering the period of time from the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770 to the reading of the Declaration of Independence to the colonial troops under the command of George Washington in New York City on July 9, 1776. Jeff Shaara focuses primarily on four key figures: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, George Washington and Lieutenant General Thomas Gage. A few other figures are employed at various times in order for Shaara to take the reader to the Boston Tea Party, Lexington and Concord, Breed's Hill and other key moments in the early part of the war for independence. The focus is not so much on the details of these key events, but on the thinking of the famous figures, and that is indeed the chief value of the book: in making historical figures who have been transformed into marble monuments and American icons into more human figures. Ironically, however, I found myself most impressed with what I learned about some of the supporting figures in the tale, especially Sam Adams and John Dickinson. Having been reading up on the Revolutionary War in more detail than I have ever paid to it before, I appreciated Shaara's efforts to get beyond the details into the thought processes of these characters.
For Jeff Shaara his father's Pulitzer Prize winning novel "The Killer Angels" has been a twin edged sword. In writing a prequel ("Gods and Generals") and sequel ("The Last Full Measure") to Michael Shaara's story of the Battle of Gettysburg, as well as a story of the Mexican American War ("Gone for Soldiers"), Jeff Shaara has emulated his father's approach in focusing on a few key participants. However, in "The Killer Angels" not only was the focus on just four participants (Lee, Longstreet, Armistead and Chamberlain), the event being covered was a three-day battle. My main complaint with Jeff Shaara's books is the conceit is stretched too thin; we move from significant event to significant event to catch the highpoints. Reading "Rise to Rebellion" reminds me of going back and rereading my favorite parts of a beloved novel. The ebb and flow of the times are lost and it seems like everything is at high tide from start to finish.
Please do not take this to mean that I did not enjoy the novel and am not recommending it to those interested in historical fiction in general or this time period in particular. "Rise to Rebellion" is a fine read and I really feel I have learned more about the people and the period. Certainly I developed a better sense for how the myopic views of the British government facilitated the spirit of rebellion. However, I think I would have enjoyed a book using this format that had focused just on Lexington/Concord or on the debate over the Declaration of Independence (yes, I am a big fan of "1776"). Ultimately, because so much is covered in "Rise to Rebellion," I feel a bit disappointed. There is so much more to learn about not only these four major characters but also the supporting figures, such as Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who have but a brief scene or two on Shaara's stage. So, while I am waiting for the second half of Shaara's saga to be published, I think I will finally get around to devouring that biography of John Adams that has been doing well.
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Summary: History Comes Alive
Review: I loved this book!!! It truly made history come alive. The reader got such a sense of the way life was at the time of the Revolution. WE met the characters, we talked with them, listened to them and felt their feelings as the momentous day of our independence came closer. Ben Franklin was a most interesting character. Truly well written and inspiring.
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Summary: The Revolution from a vastly different perspective...
Review: The American Revolution story has been told and re-told many times, which leads me on a constant search for different "slants" with respect to how this story is told. My search has succeeded magnificently with Jeff Shaara's latest historical novel. This "old" story is re-interpreted here with the help of fictitious conversations and thoughts from many of the legendary Founding Fathers that add a whole new (and exciting) perspective...and, I might add, a whole new learning experience. The details of such legendary events as the Boston Massacre and Tea Party, the battles of Lexington, Concord and Bunker/Breed's Hill are richly and colorfully presented here with emphasis on the first person perspective that elevates the reader right into the action in a manner that I've never read before. It's interesting to note how just adding some perceived thoughts and discussions (fictitous though they are) add so much texture to the story...this is really the point that makes this book stand out. I could actually see and feel what it was like for the British soldiers facing the angry mob in front of the Boston Custom House prior to the Massacre...I felt like one of the sailors aboard the tea ship in Boston Harbor when the "Indians" came aboard and destroyed the East India Tea Company's load...I was breathlessly taken to "war" at Lexington and Concord (told from both the Colonial and British perspective)and then "camped" with the rebels at the siege of Boston as they were molded into the Colonial Army. The political side is covered equally as well with an enlightening version of how the Continental Congress was formed and how that esteemed body developed the Declaration of Independence. One could argue the historical accuracy of some of Shaara's assumptions, but I tend to accept them as part of the "novel" and, admittedly, enjoy the "fun" that these portray. Lastly, I greatly enjoyed Shaara's Epilouge where he presented the outcome for all the main characters...this was an amazing learning experience (to me) as most histories that I've read fail to disclose these events...at least in this context. So, after reading this wonderful account, I join with my contemporaries in saying that I too can't wait for the sequal and look forward to reading the other works by Shaara. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: History
Review: The Mexican War is not the most recognized part of American history atleast in the New England area. I thought the story was good but would have pefered that the characters were developed more in preperation for his follow on novels which I think, were all 5 stars.The Mexican War was condensed into one book unlike his Civil War books about specific battles. All in all a good read and a good brief insight into the Mexican War.
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Summary: Painless History
Review: I was an American History major in university (lo, these many years ago). Maybe I was sleeping during my American Revolution class, but I don't remember learning a lot of what I found in this book. If one of the major reasons you enjoy history is your interest in people--how and why people shape history and how major historical events affect people's personal lives--this is a really good book for you. You won't get in depth historical analysis, but this fictional account of the American rise to rebellion against British Colonial rule is a painless way to get a sense of the currents and personalities of the time.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable but...
Review: I bought this book with great expectations of settling comfortably into my favorite period -- Revolutionary America/ Georgian England -- with some of my favorite historical personages. Though the story itself was well paced and readable, and provided a fascinating account of the geneis of the Declaration of Independence, Shaara's portrayals of some of the key characters detracted from my enjoyment of the story. Franklin, Adams, and Washington were well-drawn, but I felt as though other characters, in particular, General Warren, were given short shrift. For instance, Shaara never quite captures the true essence of Warren's personality: his charisma, his popularity with his contemporaries, and the high energy that made him such an ardent supporter of the patriot cause; furthermore, he makes references to Dr. Warren's "small" form. Had Mr. Shaara done his research on Joseph Warren (i.e., I recommend that he reads Esther Forbes' wonderful book, _Paul Revere And The Times He Lived In_), he would not have made such a mistake: Dr. Warren was considered to be a very handsome, well-built man (as proven by Copley's portrait of him) and was never referred to as being small in stature. Furthermore, I feel as though Shaara did not do justice to Warren's heroic death, but took his third-person account of it straight from the romanticized painting (The Battle Of Bunker Hill) featured on the cover of his book. After being shot, Warren did not have time to see shadows or think about the fact that he "couldn't feel the ground beneath him." He took a bullet through the brain and died instantly. Hutchinson was also portrayed as a very weak man, which goes against all interpretations I have ever encountered of him. Aristocratic, yes. Weak, no. The fact that Shaara did not do his homework with regard to people such as Warren and Hutchinson, and allowed an anachronism or two (i.e., 18th century cooks did not prepare their food over "stoves" -- they used hearths!) to creep in, robbed me of the full enjoyment this book would have otherwise provided. Still, though, it was nice to see a big historical novel set in this time period, and I hope we will see more of them.
Rating:
Summary: Rise to Rebellion - A review
Review: In "Rise to Rebellion", Jeff Shaara takes his successful style from the Civil War venue to the era of the Revolutionary War. Written in a style which is more like a novel, we get to understand the persons and personalities which shaped this vital part of our nation's history. I would recommend it to any reader, particularly those who consider themselves to be students of history. As with the works of both he and his father, Shaara leaves the reader feeling that they are right on the battlefield or among the those writing the Declaration of Independence.
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