Dr. Nathaniel Philbrick Jr. Teaches at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Donald Macmartin: Interesting piece of history, well written but you have love detail

Canada on Sep 11, 2023

Stonewall: This is a great narrative of a known tale. As others have stated, the coverage of naval operations was more thorough. Also, the discussion of the role of Francisco Saavedra, a Spanish emissary, to help get the French fleet moving north was missing in other version. As also stated, Philbrick repeatedly criticizes Washington for owning slaves but I think he could have considered the times to truly appraise Washington's behavior as slave owner (worse, better?). The errors in chapter 9 involve geography and are surprising given the detailed coverage of the overall book. Philbrick writes Yorktown is at the end of the peninsula when it is in fact over 15 miles from the end of the peninsula (Hampton and Newport News are at the end). Next, he says the British also occupied the "town" of Gloucester. They in fact occupied Gloucester Point. The "town" of Gloucester is the area around the courthouse many miles to the north. In addition, there is only an indirect reference to the battle of the Hook in Gloucester which penned up Tarleton at the point further denying the British food during the siege. The last point is the maps of the battle omit redoubts 9 and 10. Since these are significant to...

United States on Dec 31, 2021

Richard Parent: It seems that the author used a lot of knowledges and anecdotes that he discovered while working on other books on the American Revolution. Very interesting reading indeed.

Canada on Jun 23, 2019

Rick Klemenc: ok

Canada on Apr 14, 2019

William J. Bahr: Wishing to update my own book “George Washington’s Liberty Key,” I very much enjoyed Philbrick’s outstanding book, where I found lots of “Wow, I didn’t know thats!” While the book is wide-ranging in Revolutionary War coverage, it essentially covers: 1. Washington’s leadership (including deception) in getting his (French included) men to Yorktown before Clinton knew what was up. 2 (hence my headline). the events at sea (hurricanes, sea strategy, a Spanish diplomat, etc) which led to that crucial but lesser known aspect of what resulted in Cornwallis’ surrender and the Americans winning the Revolutionary War.

If the author ever updates his book, here are some recommendations: 1. page 20. “1790 Overmountain Men” are probably just 900-1000 men, about the same size as the British force. 2. page 30 and elsewhere. Portsmouth. Unfortunately, on the inside covers the map includes Norfolk but does not include Portsmouth, just a little south. 3.
page 261. King George III said, “[If] he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” Actually, as reported by Rufus King in 1797 about what George III allegedly told Benjamin West: "that act closing and...

United States on Dec 22, 2018

Richard Scott: “In the Hurricane’s Eye” is another successful history, here pointing out the role and importance of the sea to the Revolutionary War. Many of us who are lovers of water and sometimes sailors have read all of Philbrick’s books with affection, will find this equal if not better than most.
The study of wars and battles usually are associated with depictions of the great men who overcame lesser generals or admirals. Modeled after Julius Caesar. Most
American history textbooks note the importance of the French to the success of the thirteen colonies. We were not exposed to the day to day travails in survey courses and most courses were more devoted to the political and economic issues. Here following “Bunker Hill” where the role of the mob and the hatred of neighbors, loyalists versus patriots we can also smell the gun powder marvel at the ingenuity of generals like Nathaniel Greene and foot soldiers like Olney, who were remarkable in their skills and courage.
And like “ Valiant Ambition” we learn the complexities of character of all the combatants. As a Melville devotee Philbrick realizes that all heroes mix moral strengths with dastardly foibles. As Arnold...

United States on Oct 26, 2018