The American Revolution: A Concise History
In a “concise” history of a seminal episode, there is always the danger of a narrative that is a mile wide and an inch thick. Allison, professor of history at Suffolk University, generally avoids this pitfall by effectively concentrating on the major issues and events of the American Revolution. In describing the political context of the British Empire in the 1760s, he wisely indicates how peripheral the 13 colonies along the Atlantic seaboard were to colonial officials in London; their attention was focused on the sugar islands of the West Indies and on India. As tensions rose, Allison illustrates the legitimate concerns of both sides.The military struggle cannot be covered in detail, but he covers the major campaigns and makes a strong case to show that the underrated strategic brilliance of Washington was vital to American success. This highly readable account is ideal for general readers and can also be utilized for college survey courses in U.S. history. --Jay Freeman