War for America: The Fight for Independence 1775-1783
"A German officer, who has served in America of high rank, has assured the King that if the coast of America . . . was burnt, and reduced to desert, a thing entirely practicable, the war would soon be over." This quote, repeated in War for America , is indicative of the mentality that would help foster colonial American anger at an overbearing British government. Such anger allowed early Americans to continue a prolonged, sometimes agonizing fight and drowned out the voices of moderation in England. Black contends--as others have before--that had negotiation been the tactic, America would not have become the United States, at least not in such a violent birth. Black traces the evolution of the disastrous British policy in a straightforward, readable style, but fails to examine personalities in any detail. He has distilled a great deal of information, given much background material, and in general been successful, but there is relatively little consideration of the far-reaching precedents being created. This is a supplementary text, primarily British in orientation.- Katherine Gillen, Mesa P.L., Ariz.Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.