Thomas Fleming is the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, most recently, The Perils of Peace. He has been the president of the Society of American Historians and of PEN American Center. Mr. Fleming is a frequent guest on C-SPAN, PBS, A&E, and the History Channel. He lives in New York City.
"As riveting and suspenseful...it is ultimately inspiring, this is history the way we all wish it could be written." -- Richard N. Smith, author of Patriarch: George Washington and the New American Nation"No one understands the Revolutionary Era better. No one brings it to life with such amazing insight and intimacy." -- John C. McManus, author of The Deadly Brotherhood: The American Combat Soldier in World War II"A remarkable achievement, brilliant in conception and illuminating in the way in which heroes and villains...walk off the page." -- Charles Bracelen Flood"[A]n engaging and lively narrative." -- Tom McGuire, author of Battle of Paoli and The Philadelphia Campaign"[A] meaningful story about America's past that compels readers to rethink their understanding of American identity." -- Michael P. Federici, professor of Political Science, Mercyhurst College"Terrific narrative history." -- Terry Golway, New York Post"Fleming is one of America's most prolific and insightful historians." -- Newark Star Ledger"Riveting and suspenseful...This is history the way we all wish it could be written-and experienced." -- Richard Smith, author of Patriarch"One of the five best books about presidential administrations." -- Wall Street Journal
The battle of Yorktown in October 1781 and the surrender of Cornwallis's army to Washington is popularly thought to have made the success of the American Revolution a done deal. True, the war officially ended two years later-but surely its conclusion was only a formality? Novelist and historian Fleming (Washington's Secret War) persuasively argues that, in fact, final victory was by no means inevitable. Indeed, even before Yorktown, the Continental Army had fallen to just 5,835 men and the country was bankrupt, while 26,000 British troops and armed Loyalists remained in North America. Ironically, the battle itself was "potentially ruinous," writes Fleming: Washington could ill afford to keep his army in the field-as the British well knew. Their post-Yorktown policy was to drag out diplomatic negotiations for as long as possible until Americans tired of war agreed to reunite with the empire. It was left to Washington to avoid these "perils of peace" and make the republic a reality. Fleming is a narrative historian with a wide following, and his latest, while not groundbreaking in terms of scholarly research, tells an important story from an unusual perspective. 16 pages of b&w photos. (Oct.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
"As riveting and suspenseful...it is ultimately inspiring, this is history the way we all wish it could be written." -- Richard N. Smith, author of Patriarch: George Washington and the New American Nation"No one understands the Revolutionary Era better. No one brings it to life with such amazing insight and intimacy." -- John C. McManus, author of The Deadly Brotherhood: The American Combat Soldier in World War II"A remarkable achievement, brilliant in conception and illuminating in the way in which heroes and villains...walk off the page." -- Charles Bracelen Flood"[A]n engaging and lively narrative." -- Tom McGuire, author of Battle of Paoli and The Philadelphia Campaign"[A] meaningful story about America's past that compels readers to rethink their understanding of American identity." -- Michael P. Federici, professor of Political Science, Mercyhurst College"Terrific narrative history." -- Terry Golway, New York Post"Fleming is one of America's most prolific and insightful historians." -- Newark Star Ledger"Riveting and suspenseful...This is history the way we all wish it could be written-and experienced." -- Richard Smith, author of Patriarch"One of the five best books about presidential administrations." -- Wall Street Journal
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
