Those Damned Rebels, by Michael Pearson

Those Damned Rebels by Michael Pearson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To the victors the spoils, to the losers, a rather good book! As well as telling an exciting tale well, the correspondence of the British commanders and establishment has been tapped by the author to provide some fascinating insights into how the British waged the Revolutionary War. This viewpoint pretty much describes how the British snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, after winning battle after battle, but there are key elements within the narrative and particularly from the response back in Britain, that indicate that it was an un-winnable war, as many commented at the time.
Even though the genius of Washington is understandably muted in this book, it nevertheless shines through as the book progresses, as does the gradual but decisive growth of the Continental Army and the crucial support of France. By way of contrast, the glaring errors that the British military chiefs undoubtedly made are clearly illuminated and dissected; even without hindsight some of the mistakes were pretty amateurish.
Well worth a read for anyone who likes history, essential for those keen on the US Revolution.

Read from May 02 to June 13, 2016

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