Rating: 
Summary: Good, readable account; lots of detail.
Review: This book is an excellent source for anyone who is interested in the history of Washington, DC or the War of 1812. It was extensively researched but presents the story without getting bogged down. Leaves you with a real feel for the emotions of the people on both sides. The only thing that I felt would have added to the book would be more diagrams and maps to go along with the descriptions.
Rating: 
Summary: The U.S. almost lost its second war of independence!
Review: This fast-paced, incredibly well-researched book changed my view of American history. I never appreciated that the War of 1812 was, in fact, our second war of independence, one which we came close to losing. I never knew that the terrified U.S. government, in fleeing Washington, allowed the British Army to literally amble into town virtually unopposed and burn most of the government buildings (yet treat the populace with unimagined civility!). I never knew much about the inspiration and writing of the Star Spangled Banner and the importance of the Battle of Baltimore. And I was fascinated to learn that the Battle of New Orleans, in addition to being one of the worst defeats ever suffered by the mighty British Army (mostly at the hands of Andrew Jackson and a bunch of Kentucky and Tennessee hillbillys, no less), was a battle that never should have been fought. I have generally found history books to be ponderous reading, written more for the benefit of academic historians than for popular consumption -- often only giving me added details about things I already knew about. This book is different. It's crisp, fast-moving and very authoritative. Anthony Pitch has written a focused and important book about a pivotal period of American History about which most Americans, I suspect, know little. And after you read it, when you sing "The Star Spangled Banner", you'll appreciate with greater depth, possibly for the first time, what you're singing about. I loved the book!
Rating: 
Summary: interesting revisit
Review: This is an excellent study into the social and political aspects of the incident. Details the actions of the people of Washington and each, and it would seem every, dish that was broken. The battles are cover only mildly to bring you to the 'burning' and afterwards to bring conclusion. A wonderful book for the interested reader, but not so much for military battle analysis. This book only goes into details of the 'burning' making it more of a tour guide than a history of the invasion. On the invasion there are far better titles.Honestly, I found Walter Lord's book to be worth a second read and not happy with this title. Make SURE this book is what you want to read about.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating chapter in US history that is too little known
Review: Well-written & fascinating slice of history. Not dry at all, and I really felt like I was there, since the author mined many primary sources -- diaries, letters, newspapers of the time & so forth. Not the first book I've read from the Navy Institute Press. They are a small gold mine!!
Rating:
Summary: Momentous event but a difficult read!
Review: You know that saying, " I couldn't put the book down"? Well, I couldn't wait to put it down. How many ways can you explain a building burning? A ceiling melting? Who cares what committee rooms were spared from the fire? What the grand room of the Library of Congress looked like in great detail after the fire? The real story is on the battlefield. The depiction of these dramas, the strategies, and battles are not as vivid as others I read. The characters clearly not developed as well as they could be. What the blacksmith, butler, or shoemaker were doing and how they escaped were not of significant interest to me. Mr. Pitch expressed a hope that " readers will not think this a dry academic book because it is so deeply researched. It is a popular read and the narrative moves with a fast momentum in coultless sequences of suspense". Sorry, not in this readers mind! The book is very descriptive and detailed and Mr. Pitch obviously has love for the topic. His research is rather incredible. However, the litany of antecdotes resulting from this immense reseach bogs down any hope that this epic could read like a novell. It was well intentioned but fell short of my expectations of a exciting, fast-paced historical drama.
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