One of the most interesting things about David McCullough's book "1776" is what it's NOT about.
When Americans think of the year 1776 they think of the country's forefathers gathering in Philadelphia to create and sign the Declaration of Independence.
So you would naturally assume that an American history book about 1776 would have a lot about the Declaration of Independence. In fact, McCullough only briefly mentions the Declaration.
Instead, "1776" focuses on something arguably more important: The persistent efforts, despite numerous setbacks and defeats, of a ragtag, ill-quipped rebel army led by George Washington to challenge a much larger British military and keep the promise of American independence alive.
I'm actually rather embarrassed reading this book. As a lifelong American you would think I would know the events of the Revolution much better, but this book was an eye opener. I knew almost nothing about the importance of places like Dorchester Heights or Kips Bay, nor the significance of the battles of Brooklyn, White Plains or Trenton.
McCullough, America's preeminent historian, is an incisive writer who puts a human face on war. While some authors of war books focus solely on the tactics and strategies of the generals, McCullough makes sure to detail the hard life of the soldiers, some of whom even lacked shoes. Rather than simply write that American troops marched through the night to attack Trenton, he describes them toiling through bitter cold, snow and hail. You can feel their suffering.
Still, as good a book as this is, it gets off to a very poor start. Puzzlingly, McCullough chooses to begin with a plodding, wordy chapter focusing on a 1775 debate in London over what to do about the American colonies. It goes on too long and introduces none of the main characters of the book. I fear that some readers might quit here.
My suggestion: Skim chapter one, or even skip it entirely. You'll miss out on very little by starting with chapter two.
From there the story builds slowly and grows into a gripping page turner, fueled by McCullough's eye for lesser-known stories. He tells, for example, of the Herculean efforts of 27-year-old Henry Knox, who led a band of men in moving 59 captured pieces of British artillery over 300 miles, across icy lakes and snowy fields, to Boston. The extra firepower helped drive the British from town.
Later, McCullough describes the furtive escape of Washington's army from near-catastrophe in Brooklyn. Surrounded by the British, outgunned and outmanned, thousands of Americans slipped into boats and across the East River under the cover of darkness. The Redcoats, hoping to strike a fatal blow to the rebels, found only empty camps come morning.
For much of 1776, as McCullough describes, the American army was on its heels and on the run. With more than 200 British warships controlling New York harbor and 32,000 Redcoat troops in place, it seemed impossible that the American army — little-trained in warfare, plagued by illness — could survive, much less prevail.
General George Washington is the central figure of the drama, a tortured tragic hero full of flaws and doubts. Washington pleads with Congress for more support and decries the quality of the officers below him, yet his own indecisiveness contributes to a series of American defeats.
When McCullough does, briefly, mention the Declaration of Independence it is only to note that it is scorned and laughed at by the British, "A more impudent, false, and atrocious proclamation was never fabricated by the hands of man," says a British writer.
By December 1776, after the Americans lose Fort Washington and Fort Lee to the British, things looked bleak. "By all reasonable signs," writes McCullough, "the war was over and the Americans had lost."
Yet if ever there was a man who was in the right place and time of history it was George Washington. He never wavered in his devotion to the cause and his mere presence on the battlefield — he did not fear going right to the front — inspired the troops.
It was Washington's daring and surprise attacks in New Jersey in late 1776 that change the course of the war.
As compelling as the story is, the use of photographs nearly spoils it. The pictures in "1776" are grouped together in two clumps. If you look at the photos as you come to them (and what reader wouldn't?) they include multiple spoilers for events to come. Why is it so hard for publishers to include photos at the appropriate place in the text?
Finally, this is a book that screams for maps, yet has close to none (there are a few historical maps in the pictures section, but those are almost useless). The movements of the two armies are such a critical part of the story that this book could use 20 to 30 maps.
I did try to find maps on the Internet to supplement my reading, but it was hard to find the right one for the job, and besides: Who wants to break away from a gripping page turner like this to surf the Web?
