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Jeff Shaara’s novel, The Glorious Cause, takes the reader through the American Revolution, starting with the signing of “The Declaration of Independence” and going to Charles Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown. It also goes beyond telling a record of a historical event by putting the reader into the minds and situations of many historical figures at the time including: George Washington, Charles Cornwallis, William Howe, Nathan Hale, Nathaniel Green, Marquis de Lafayette, Benjamin Franklin, and several others. By doing this, Shaara can show perspectives from both sides of the war, and this allows the reader to fully understand the motives and decision behind the battles. This switch between characters and perspective makes The Glorious Cause …show more content…
The evidence he uses in his novel directly relates to the reader’s ability to enjoy and learn from the novel. Shaara does an excellent job in providing the right amount of factual evidence with fictional content to create a novel that flows smoothly. Unlike other historical books, Shaara does not drown The Glorious Cause in plain facts that mean nothing to the reader. Shaara knows that by just stating facts and numbers he will not create an enjoyable book for someone to read. So instead, Shaara adds a storyline that includes the information that captivates the reader from the beginning. This storyline pushes the novel to read itself, as the book flows from one event to another so effortlessly. Facts and evidence throughout the novel then cause the story to be historically accurate and educate the reader. A good example of facts that present themselves in the storyline occurs when General Knyphausen talks to Charles Cornwallis and tells him, “’For every man in my command that was killed, King George must pay the archduke three times the normal price per soldier. George Washington and his rebel marksmen have done a fine job in bringing gold to my country’s treasury’” (267). This quote not only presents the direct fact it states and flows into the dialogue, but it has more information for the reader to analyze. For example, the …show more content…
By presenting the Revolutionary War as a tale of a novel instead of just stating boring facts and military terms, Shaara captivates his reader. Once the book captivates the reader, the information flows through the novel allowing a large understanding behind the Revolutionary War that consist of more than just who won what battle. Then by telling the story through multiple viewpoints, the reader can make his own opinions of each person, rather than relying on an author’s opinion. Shaara does all of this while still maintaining great historical accuracy, which makes the novel superior to any other historical fiction novel about the American Revolution. As a highly entertaining and educational read, Jeff Shaara does an excellent job in insuring that inquisitive readers will enjoy reading, The Glorious Cause, for many years to
The author, David McCullough, effectively describes each of the battles Washington participated in 1776 in great detail. McCullough gives almost a system of day to day accounts and very detailed information such as the days of August 1776 when the British are arriving. "On August 1, a swarm of forty-five ships carrying Generals Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis and some 3,000 troops were sighted off Sandy Hook.... On August 4, Nathaniel Green reported that another twenty-one had been counted on the horizon, the whole Lord Howe 's fleet" (147). McCullough uses a trend of almost a day to day account. This gives a better detailed description of the scene and a better overall picture of the situation. McCullough also portrays another trend that made it more clear to keep up with. He never skipped a transition stage before a major event. So for example, before a major battle, McCullough doesn 't skip the scene before it. For example before the Battle of Trenton, McCullough provides a detailed picture of what was occurring before the battle. "Trenton was often referred to as a pretty village, which was an exaggeration. With perhaps a hundred houses, an Episcopal church, a market place and two and three mills and iron furnaces, it was, in peacetime, a busy but plain little place of no particular consequence, except that it was at the head of navigation on the river and a stop on the King 's Highway from new York to Philadelphia" (278). Another characteristic of McCullough 's writing that proved to be effective is the way he almost makes you feel like you were at the scene. Often he describes scenes so much in detail you almost feel like you 're there. For example, McCullough includes characters personal history in the novel. For example, you know a detailed biography of George Washington. "George Washington was the great-grandson of John Washington, who had emigrated from Northampton, England, in
Howard goes on to share that the story needs to be told from the standpoint of people from the war that’s not told in schoolbooks, “But to tell the story of the American Revolution, not from the standpoint of the schoolbooks, but from the standpoint of war as a complex
“He was the greatest diplomat America has ever had”(198), Wood bluntly wrote when describing Franklin’s achievements in France. Another theme in the text is Franklin changing his mind on things that he once felt very strongly about. Before the American revolution, Franklin was a hardcore loyalist. He praised the English Crown and thought that the King could do no wrong. When he was given the opportunity to become a lobbyist for Pennsylvania, Franklin replied that he was “too old to think of changing countries.” However, after being snubbed by various English officials, Franklin returned to America and became one of the strongest supporters of American independence. Gordon Wood has written countless novels about the American revolution. In 1993, he won the Pulitzer prize for his book The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Wood’s purpose for writing this biography of Franklin was to inform the reader about Franklin’s life and role in the American
As a result of Cry Liberty and the daring rebellion from so many brave slaves this book paints a visual art in the minds of those who pick this book up. Not only does Hoffer bring us back to the year 1739, he brought me back in time and I felt as if I was one of the slaves marching down Pon Pon street in hopes to make it to Spanish Florida to be set free. I enjoyed the historical adventure and the significant events that lead to what we know now as The Great Stono River Slave Rebellion.
As he immerses his audience into combat with the soldiers, Shaara demonstrates the more emotional aspects of war by highlighting the personal lives of the men fighting. For example, when Shaara reveals the pasts of James Longstreet and Lewis Armistead’s, I started to picture them as the men that they were and not as soldiers out for blood. After suffering a devastating loss of three of his children to fever, Longstreet is tossed into battle. In Armistead’s case, he not only suffered the loss of his wife, but also of a friend fighting on the Union side, General Winfield Scott Hancock. Shaara saves his readers a front row seat to the inner turmoil of General Chamberlain regarding his hindering duty as a soldier clashes with his duty to family as he strived to serve the Union as well as protec...
Throughout the book, Gary B. Nash narrates the war in chronological order to recount the war as it happened and emphasize the events that allowed for people of different class, gender, and/or race to stand up and call for American Independence or to turn on their country and join the British forces. In short, Nash emphasizes that the revolution was a “people’s revolution” [Page XV] and as such divided each chapter with
O’Brien, Tim. “How To Tell a True War Story.” The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2003. p. 420-429.
...in which all of the tales and happenings are true. Having visited Mount Vernon for instance, Borneman’s portrayal and detailed information about George Washington brings so much more to the man and the character. Walter Borneman consistently connected the dots in describing what individuals did and what important things they had yet to do. With no real complaints and only a thirst for more, the author has scored big with this book and exampled narrative history at its finest! In the end, what is most important is the knowledge one can gain from such a vivid and living portrayal of the Seven Years War.
John Keegan, the author of “The Face of Battle” is allowing the reader to view different perspective of history, from the eyes of the soldier. Although by his own account, Keegan acknowledges, “I have never been in a battle. And I grow increasingly convinced that I have very little idea of what a battle can be like.” Keegan scorns historians for pointing the finger of failure after an evolution occurs and not examining the soldier’s point of view while the battle is transpiring.
... Bobrick, Benson. Fight for Freedom: The American Revolutionary War. New York: Atheneum, 2004. Print.
When one explains his or her ingenious yet, enterprising interpretation, one views the nature of history from a single standpoint: motivation. In The American Revolution: A History, Gordon Wood, the author, explains the complexities and motivations of the people who partook in the American Revolution, and he shows the significance of numerous themes, that emerge during the American Revolution, such as democracy, discontent, tyranny, and independence. Wood’s interpretation, throughout his literary work, shows that the true nature of the American Revolution leads to the development of United State’s current government: a federal republic. Wood, the author, views the treatment of the American Revolution in the early twentieth century as scholastic yet, innovative and views the American Revolution’s true nature as
...e gun, it seemed, the greater the owner‘s pride in it.” (McCullough 33) The Continental army certainly did not look like an army yet these people were brought together in this fight for freedom and prevailed even winning the support of Americans who had no hope the British would be defeated.” Merchant Erving had sided with the Loyalists primarily because he thought the rebellion would fail. But the success of Washington‘s army at Boston had changed his mind as it had for many” (McCullough 108). The reader must comprehend the power of this accomplishment for the rag-tag army. “Especially for those who had been with Washington and who knew what a close call it was at the beginning-how often circumstance, storms, contrary winds, the oddities or strengths of individual character had made the difference- the outcome seemed little short of a miracle.” (McCullough 294).
Most people think of war as something great which brings freedom, but most people haven’t actually experienced war. They have not seen the brutal killings. They have not seen the destruction and killings of lives and families. In My Brother Sam is Dead, by brothers Collier and Collier, these horrors are clearly shown throughout the story. It tells the other side of the Revolutionary War that is not usually told. The novel teaches how war causes conflicts and division of families, the unnecessary brutal killings, and questions principles versus the reality of war. In My Brother Sam is Dead, although both sides of the war are shown, Collier and Collier ultimately argue that war is futile.
The education of an author on their topic is the biggest contributor to their reliability; having enough prior knowledge and background information on a subject is crucial when providing a historical analysis. An author’s personal background is of great importance as well, because their personal heritage and beliefs may lead to bias and misrepresentation of information, which removes all credibility of them and/or their work as source. Partiality, favoritism, and/or prejudice towards a specific demographic can create a blurred line between what is fact and what is opinion, which in turn can allow for personal assessments to be presented as arguments and facts even though they have been influenced to a great extent by prior thoughts and opinions.
The 1960’s was a time of war and fear for the United States and many people were turning their accusations towards the government. “Masters of War” was written by Bob Dylan in late 1962 and early 1963. The focus of this song is a protest against the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis that was happening during the early 1960’s. The song is protesting on the American government having its citizens live in fear of a constant attack and hiding behind their shroud, unaffected by anything that would happen to the people. It shook the nation with its fierce and angry tone against the “military industrial complex.” Dylan’s lyrics stated that it was not contained by declaring a pointless war and not taking responsibility for the problems it was causing. “Masters of War” is a powerful song against the government and the military. The protest song “Masters of War” by Bob Dylan highlights how the looming aspect of the Cold War affected the people of the United States and demonstrates Dylan’s view on the governments involved.