1776: Year of Illusions

Only history geeks would go looking for the books recommended in their old textbooks, which is how I found this. And found it was worth the read. The best ways to learn things and make them stick are to repeat and repeat them, which is my reasoning in reading the same topics. Worth it!

Mr. Fleming skillfully disects a significant year in US history, providing a detailed and fascinating tableau of the events that occured. As an American history buff, I was very surprised to realize how much I did not know about 1776. When I finished, I found myself hoping that the author would do the same for the other years of the American Revolution. I ran across this book and took a chance on it, despite not knowing about the writer. I was very surprised at how much I liked it and highly recommend the book.

Mr. Fleeming is one of my favorite historians when it comes to writing about the American Revolution. He brings up so many small details about the war that many other historians simply gloss over, but are important to understanding what really happened during 1776. I first read his WE ARE NOW ENIMIES (Bunker Hill) several years ago, and also highly recommend it.

I could hardly put this book down, a fascinating read from the page one. This book does away with all the myths about the American revolution, and tells the reader how things really happened.Boy, are we lucky...

In "1776 Year of Illusions" the author takes his readers back in time. The personalities of the individuals on both sides of the Revolutionary War come out in suprising and fascinating passages. Myths and misconceptions are swept aside as we see the reality of day to day life in a land where war and suspicion are spreading. We meet an array of interesting characters, some famous and some not, whose actions bring a new nation into being. The author illimunates the motives behind those actions without ever being dry or dull. It is a work of Solid History enhanced by the exciting and unpredictable character of human nature