The Glorious Cause

Volume 2 of his 2 volume series on the American Revolution, The Glorious Cause begins in August of 1776 and continues to the end of the war in 1783. Part history, part historical fiction, Jeff Shaara masterfully writes a story that delves into the minds of the participants like few authors have succeeded in doing before. And he does so with solid historical research. As he states in his introduction: “Through research that includes memoirs, written accounts, diaries, and collections of letters and documents, I have attempted to reach into the minds of each character, to show you their world as they saw it.” (p. vii). The primary characters that he does this through are George Washington, Nathanael Greene, Ben Franklin, Charles Cornwallis, William Howe, as well as the Marquis de Lafayette, Nathan Hale, Benedict Arnold, “Mad Anthony” Wayne, John Paul Jones, “Light-Horse” Harry Lee, and several others, on both sides of the issue. The British employed German mercenaries called Hessians whom the Americans generally hated, both because of their reputation for brutality and for the fact that this wasn’t their war. And Jeff Shaara starts the book off by giving the reader a reason to hate them as well. Jeff Shaara’s ability to delve into the minds of characters is superb, and he has an accurate perception of the historical significance of certain events. For example, in 1781, as Nathaneal Greene’s American forces retreated from British General Cornwallis completely out of the Carolinas into Virginia, Shaara made the following commentary: “It was called a victory for the British and would cause celebration in London, would garner congratulations from Clinton and Germain. For the first time since the start of the war, not one continental soldier stood on Carolina soil. But Cornwallis did not celebrate. For now he truly understood Greene’s plan. Cornwallis’ army was barely two thousand strong, the men brutally punished by the extraordinary march. Their grand parade uniforms were as ragged as the clothes of the rebels, their newly soled shoes worn away again, their horses emaciated and sick. And, worse, the soldiers were starving. Greene has surrendered the Carolinas, and in the process had nearly destroyed Cornwallis’ army.” (pp 539-540.) Insightful. Perceptive. Intriguing. Jeff Shaara.

I never realized how little I knew about the Revolutionary War until I read this novel. The battles, the strategy, the leaders were all a blur to me. The story in this volume begins after the first clashes of the war near Boston and continues on until the end with the surrender of General Corwallis at Yorktown. Shaara makes George Washington into a real person -- and the results are impressive. Washington's patience and perseverance, his management of his army, his steadfast ability to avoid disastrous military defeats and take advantage of small opportunities for victories reconfirm him in my heart as the greatest of Americans. Other characters are the aged Benjamin Franklin practicing diplomacy in France, Generals Greene, Wayne, Lee, Cornwallis, and foreign volunteers such as Lafayette and Baron von Steuben. I particularly enjoyed a brief scene in which von Steuben, a Prussian, confronts the job of turning an unruly mob of American soldiers into an army. This is a miitary history. Short shrift and unkind words are given to the political efforts of the Continental Congress and its members. Shaara writes fiction about as close to fact as it can be. The book includes all-essential maps of major battles and the descriptions of battles can be taken as authentic -- although Shaara gets inside the head of major characters to sketch motivation and character. This is one of few books I have read on the American Revolution -- and certainly is the best I have read. Smallchief

It borders on being a grave injustice to classify this monumental work as historical fiction. It is also a rarity for a sequel to surpass the original, but Shaara accomplishes just that in this sequel to his tremendous Rise To Rebellion. I have to place both of these wonderful books among the best I have read. I call it an injustice to call it historical fiction because Shaara's work is well researched and historically accurate right down to the minute details of battlefield formations. The only 'fictional' part is where the author has brilliantly imparted conversation between the characters, which adds to the drama and gives the reader a true sense of the character of the individuals involved. And who is to say that many similar such conversations did not actually occur? By taking the reader into the very thoughts of Washington, Greene, Cornwallis and many others, the reader is cast into a spell of compelling concern and compassion for the characters. If only such fine work were implemented into public schools, our students would find interest in American history where none currently exists. Shaara presents a solid foundation to the claim that history doesn't have to be boring. Given that, I would encourage all parents to have your children learn from these fine works. These would also be a tremendous asset for the home schooler.As the first volume takes the reader in the years leading up to the Revolutionary War, 1770 - 1775, this volume picks up and continues the journey through the surrender of Cornwallis and farewell of Washington to his devoted staff and eventual return to Mount Vernon. Throughout the book, the reader is taken deep into the details of our war for independence. Such details as the conditions which were endured at places such as Valley Forge. You will feel the anger and anguish felt by General Washington as he witnessed a sentry standing on his hat to shield his bare feet from the frozen ground, while Congress and the Quartermaster Corps drug their feet on lending badly needed supplies and support. You will feel the excitement felt by Daniel Morgan as he meticulously lured Tarleton and the British into his trap at Cowpens. I can go on and on about this fine book, but suffice it to say, if you only read two books this year, make them Rise to Rebellion and The Glorious Cause. You can thank me later.

This is a splendid book. I thought that Jeff Shaara did a great job in Rise to Rebellion, the first book in this series, that began with the Boston Massacre and ended with the Declaration of Independence. In The Glorious Cause, we see the infant United States facing the might of a furious King George and an aroused British people. The Americans are ill-trained and ill-equipped, but they have two things going for them - their determination and their military leader, George Washington. He is the dominant figure in Shaara's picture of the revolution. I think we sometimes forget how great this man was, but he was every bit as great as most Americans regard him. Shaara protrays Washington's courage, his moral standards, his kindness, his sometime doubts in himself, and above all, his brilliance on the battlefield, where he successively outmaneuvered British Generals Howe, Clinton, and Cornwallis. We also see how the Americans used guerilla tactics to kill British soldiers at every opportunity all over the nation in bitter, little fights. Finally, the French make America's independence possible by supplying powerful aid to bring Cornwallis, and really the British Army, to defeat at Yorktown. In 638 pages, Jeff Shaara tells a fascinating and inspiring story.

This is perhaps the finest novel Jeff Shaara has written to date. I am a fan of all of Mr. Shaara's novels but this is the best one in my opinion. He does a great job making the mythical figures of the Revolution come to life. There has been alot written about the major players of the Revolution but Mr. Shaara puts a human character with these individuals that show the fears and concerns they must have felt during these trying times.The novel looks at the Revolution through the eyes of Washington,Greene,Franklin, and Cornwallis and their reactions to the events that transpire. I particularly like the way the author focuses on Hathaniel Greene who is an often overlooked but integral part of this period. He also does an excellent job looking at the war from the British General Cornwallis' perspective. Often times books about the American Revolution focus completely on our point of view and its good to get some insight into a British soldiers life.Shaara's characters jump off the page and make this a hard book to put down. You will not be disappointed with this book and it most likely will energize you to find more information on our Revolutionary period.

The fifth novel by Jeff Shaara is perhaps his best work to date. Many people, including yours truly, waited what seemed like many years for the release of 'The Glorious Cause.' It was well worth the wait.The American Revolution poses an interesting challenge to an author, since the action sequences and attitudes of the day are so different from later times. However, this challenge was masterfully met by Mr. Shaara, who truly surpassed my expectations. Shaara truly explored the personalities of the key players in the Revolution (Washington, Franklin, Cornwallis, et al). A few scenes in this novel actually moved me to tears.The American Revolution has all but disappeared from today's historical landscape. Besides names we were all taught in school who were important to America, like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, most people are still (and woefully) unaware of the struggles these men and others faced to bring into existence the United States of America. Mr. Shaara's unique abilities as a storyteller have served to make this and future generations understand the conflict and those involved in it. While this is still a novel, historical fiction, Shaara transports the reader back in time over 200 years, and helps us grasp the vast complexities and heart-wrending hardships that faced our gallant ancestors as they forged the American Experiment.I would highly recommend 'The Glorious Cause,' along with volume one 'Rise to Rebellion.' Both novels can easily be read time and again, each time opening up more of our hallowed past. I'm sure each reader will gain a greater appreciation for the events that changed the world forever, and brought us to our current place in history.