Whirlwind: The American Revolution and the War That Won It (Bloomsbury, 2)

The conflict that occurred on the North American continent with Great Britain in the latter part of the 18th century began with a series of simple demands. The British Parliament enacted, totally without consultation with its colonies, a series of taxation laws. This policy, intended to further enrich Great Britain, the world’s great financial and military power, was increasingly unacceptable to the colonists and ultimately, as all of us know, led to the American Revolution. The war, stretching over six and a half years and costing 20,000 patriot lives, drew on a remarkable reservoir of American political and military minds. None of these was as critical to the success of the revolution as was the military leadership of George Washington. His conduct of the war was by no means without its disappointments and failures. But, as the war ground on and as the sentiments of the colonists became increasingly opposed to the concept of being governed by a distant power, so clearly interested in what the colonies could provide Britain, Washington’s skills in handling his army became very clear. Professor Ferling tells the history of this war, and the thoughts that guided the colonists in seeking independence from Britain, in this relatively concise and very readable book. Events flow by, all carefully explained by Ferling, and all centered on the book’s central theme: the Americans slowly became the match of the British forces, ultimately leading to General Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1782. It is a great story, particularly if you happen to be an American. For the British, it was a long slog through a war that became a tougher and tougher enterprise, particularly as the French injected more of its military power into the Revolution. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book. It tells one of our country’s great stories with a novelist’s skill and leaves one with a far fuller understanding of what happened, why it happened, and why it mattered.

A solid contribution.

I very much enjoyed Whirlwind. This single volume narrative history of the most significant event in American history is nearly on par with James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom, the definitive single volume history of the Civil War, in my opinion. My knowledge of the specifics of the American Revolution and the War wasn't nearly as comprehensive as my knowledge of other aspects of American history. Professor Ferling's work is an excellent, and at times quite detailed, overview of the political, military, socioeconomic, and cultural aspects of the Revolution. Although I live right in the heart of New Jersey where many of the major and minor actions of the War occurred, I did not realize the full extent and intensity of the conflict here in the Crossroads of the Revolution. I have subsequently become more active in learning more about the military activities of both sides here in NJ during the War. I had noticed while watching the AMC series Turn that so many of the locales referenced were just about in my own backyard. I have gained a deeper appreciation of the bitterness which existed between the Patriots and the Tories. I was also impressed with how seriously the issue of slavery was taken on both sides of the conflict, with the Brits certainly having the more enlightened viewpoint, in my opinion. Of course, a large element of self interest was a great part of the British position on slavery. Also of note are the political ramifications of the War back in England, and how the various factions there advocated for their positions re: the War. The crucial nature of French support is also emphasized in this work. Ferling does an excellent job of describing the Revolution as having its roots in the French and Indian War, 1756-1763. He likewise does a great job with the Colonists' response to such actions as the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, and the Intolerable Acts. The whole narrative is very well constructed. I most strongly recommend this book for anyone looking to either enhance their existing knowledge of the American Revolution, as well as for those like myself who want to gain a more comprehensive knowledge of this most important chapter in American history.

And what a whirlwind it was! I've often thought it miraculous that the Americans were able to achieve victory in this war, and go on to forge a powerful nation. At what heavy a cost did this victory come about! Ferling's book is a comprehensive and unflinching look at how it all played out, a detailed account of the harrowing conflict that brought about the United States of America, from the earliest stirrings of discontent to its eventual end after long, difficult years of fighting, and its culmination in the Treaty of Paris of 1783 (another miracle in itself!). I especially liked learning not only about goings on in America leading up to the fighting and during the war, but about events in Great Britain, in France, on the American frontier, and other locales; how the enslaved and native Americans were affected; and as a Southerner, how especially difficult the war in the South was to win (I'm frankly surprised that Georgia and the Carolinas are not still British). Above all, I can finally understand just how extraordinarily difficult this war was on those living through it in North America during that time -- the horrible conditions soldiers endured; how families were torn apart (patriots vs loyalists); how deeply it changed people in all walks of life as the war went on; how Americans from different classes and walks of life defined "freedom," and the different things they expected from "independence" should the war be won...which was definitely not a foregone conclusion. It was a horrifically deadly war, resulting in a shockingly high death toll yet to be surpassed in our country's wars. Many terrible mistakes were made by those in command on all sides, and yet somehow the American patriots were able to claim their hard-won victory. In the end, although I previously felt I had a decent grasp of the events of the war before I read this book, I learned so very much more, and more than ever can appreciate the miracle which led to the beginning of our country as an independent and unique nation. I highly recommend this book to those looking for an in-depth, gut-wrenching look at the events of the Revolutionary War.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one volume account of the revolutionary war. As I read this book I also was reading Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow. I would read a chapter in Whirlwind and then the corresponding chapter or chapters in Washington for the same event or period. It was a very enjoyable and enlightening experience. In both accounts the greatness of George Washington is front and center. The accounts had different approaches and one emphasizes a battle more or in a different way, but there were also many similarities. One thing that stands out is the difficulty Washington faced in keeping the army together over an eight year period - nothing short of remarkable. And he did it with his personal will power and dedication, despite a Congress that was incapable or unwilling to supply the needs of the Army. Whirlwind also shows how close a thing the American triumph was, something we view from our distance of over 200 years as inevitable. Nothing was inevitable if you were living through the events. There is a reason that we refer to Washington as the father of our country. I have gained a deeper admiration and appreciation for Washington and the endurance of the American people during what turned out to be a very long war, a war much more brutal and disruptive than is represented by the benign paintings we cherish that represent the period. I also appreciated the parts of Whirlwind that focused on what was transpiring in England and how they viewed the war over those eight years. This book is a great addition to a large volume of writings on this important event in our history.

Great book on the politics and battles of the American Revolution. I have read other books on this subject and this is the only one that I remember spending time on the all important battles that took place in the South. This is one of those non-fiction books that reads like fiction. The book covers all the major battles and players in the American Revolution. I wish that Mr. Ferling had added maps to the book to help draw a clearer picture of where the battles took place and why the locations were significant.

John Ferling is such a splendid author. He writes with heart and tells the story that is easy to follow and moves you along in a very direct path. So many books have been written about the American Revolution. How many different ways can you tell the story. As the internet becomes more involved and new sources are revealed for the researcher, the same old story really comes alive and takes on a soul of its own. By the way, in a recent letter I received from Professor Ferling, he informed me that in 2017 he will have published a work on Thomas Payne. I can hardly wait to read his adaptation to this most important patriot. Without common sense back then, we might be trying to make out some sense today if we didn't win our freedom from Great Britain The sunshine patriot will live to tell his story once again..j

Ferling captured the reasons for the Revolutionary War, the struggle itself, and the tenuous outcomes in his book, WHIRLWIND. Until 1760, Americans considered themselves British subjects. England, however, needing more and more money (as all governments do!), and as they imposed more and more taxation and regulations, Americans slowly evolved. John Adams was one of the first to call for freedom and, by the mid-1770s, many Americans agreed that the time for revolution was at hand. There were many opinions of what liberty should look like, but most agreed that England had gone too far. I couldn't put the book down...I wanted to go to war, too! The war was more horrible, more gruesome, more devastating than I had thought. I'd heard of "The Shot Heard Round the World" and Bunker Hill in school, but not much else. The Revolutionary War was every bit as vicious as the Civil War, with 10s of thousands of dead and wounded on both sides, as well as casualties of blacks, Indians, French, and civilians. The war was fought by starving and barefoot soldiers in snow, in swamps, in villages, and in cities. War strategy often relied on the hope that reinforcements would soon arrive, but they rarely did. Communication was terrible; the outcome of a battle might not be known by people 100 miles away for weeks! I felt like I had lived through it. I couldn't wait for the War to end! Finally the War did end. I looked around at the heaps of bodies and body parts and devastated fields and towns and displaced people and said, "Now what?!" Ferling's book was very good.

Quite Good, and that's all that needs to be said. Read if you want to read a good historical journey.

Nice and informative book which gives a clear idea and gist of American history. It is indeed worth of its cost as it knowledgeable and attracts the readers attention..I personally liked the book and found it useful and even was contented...

La storiografia anglosassone non delude mai. Il primo e sincero scopo è sempre quello di ricostruire i fatti, so wie gewesen ist. Ma la ricostruzione comprende anche gli aspetti per così dire soggettivi: il che significa cercare di capire le ragioni delle forze coinvolte, ricostruendo senza pregiudizi quali fossero le contrapposte pulsioni ed idee. Un certo compiacimento per una pagina onorevole della propria storia non manca ed è giusto e legittimo. Quanto vorremmo poter provare lo stesso compiacimento leggendo saggi sulla storia di noi italiani! Ma, come sempre, quello che preme è cercare di capire e questo libro non manca di fornire un reticolo di nozioni, di idee e di spunti di riflessione che ne fanno un saggio non solo informativo, ma formativo.

Goes read I'd your a history buff.

Well researched, concise with causes and effects of the revolution. It also potrays how the revolution unfolded year by year from Sugar Act to Yorktown as well as 1783 Paris Peace Treaty. Worth Every Penny.