The British Are Coming Audiobook By Rick Atkinson cover art

The British Are Coming

The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 (The Revolution Trilogy, Book 1)

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The British Are Coming

By: Rick Atkinson
Narrated by: George Newbern, Rick Atkinson - introduction
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About this listen

One of AudioFile Magazine's Best Audiobooks of 2019

One of Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of the Year for 2019

One of Amazon.com's Best Books of the Year for 2019

One of the New York Times Book Review Notable Books of the Year for 2019

One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year for 2019

"The winning combination of George Newbern's engaging narration and Rick Atkinson's vivid new work of history - the first in a planned trilogy about the American Revolution - brings to life what could have been a dry account of Revolutionary battles." (AudioFile Magazine)

This program includes a bonus introduction, read by the author, and exclusive to the audiobook.

For the book's maps and illustrations, visit the Revolution Trilogy website at revolutiontrilogy.com

From the best-selling author of the Liberation Trilogy comes the extraordinary first volume of his new trilogy about the American Revolution.

Rick Atkinson, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning An Army at Dawn and two other superb books about World War II, has long been admired for his deeply researched, stunningly vivid narrative histories. Now, he turns his attention to a new war, and in the initial volume of the Revolution Trilogy, he recounts the first 21 months of America’s violent war for independence. From the battles at Lexington and Concord in spring 1775 to those at Trenton and Princeton in winter 1777, American militiamen and then the ragged Continental Army take on the world’s most formidable fighting force.

It is a gripping saga alive with astonishing characters: Henry Knox, the former bookseller with an uncanny understanding of artillery; Nathanael Greene, the blue-eyed bumpkin who becomes a brilliant battle captain; Benjamin Franklin, the self-made man who proves to be the wiliest of diplomats; George Washington, the commander in chief who learns the difficult art of leadership when the war seems all but lost. The story is also told from the British perspective, making the mortal conflict between the redcoats and the rebels all the more compelling.

Full of riveting details and untold stories, The British Are Coming is a tale of heroes and knaves, of sacrifice and blunder, of redemption and profound suffering. Rick Atkinson has given stirring new life to the first act of our country’s creation drama.

©2019 Rick Atkinson (P)2019 Macmillan Audio
Americas Military Revolution & Founding United States British History
Meticulous Historical Research • Balanced Perspective • Pleasant Voice • Engaging Narrative Style • Vivid Storytelling
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This is the first volume of what promises to be an exciting trilogy about the Revolutionary War. Atkinson writes vividly, and despite my having read four or five books on the subject, I found new information on every page. All the usual events are here, but he goes into considerable detail about less familiar episodes like Henry Clinton’s expedition to North Carolina and the fire ships (and submarine!) that attacked the British in New York harbor. It’s all carefully put together like a mosaic.

He describes the failed British naval attack on Charleston in vivid detail. (Many of the place names were echoed 90 years later in the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter.) I knew from grade school days that the governor of Virginia, the Earl of Dunmore, had been chased out of the governor’s mansion in Williamsburg, but did not remember that Virginia militia had tracked him up the York River, where he was wounded by cannon fire and eventually fled to England.

Atkinson, while recognizing Washington’s major role in winning independence, keeps a clear head when describing his numerous tactical failures. For example, even as the British were landing tens of thousands of soldiers on Long Island, in preparation for an attack on Brooklyn Heights, Washington remained convinced until the last minute that it was a feint, and that the real danger lay in an imagined attack on Manhattan. He was forced to abandon Brooklyn, then Manhattan, then Harlem, then White Plains, then New York State altogether, fleeing across New Jersey with William Howe in hot pursuit. Behind him, Manhattan burned.

The story could make a brilliant movie: few historical episodes have such a dramatic shape right off the bat. Retreat; retreat; retreat; retreat; ATTACK. And the Christmas attack on Trenton, and the New Year’s attack on Princeton, show Washington's real strength as a leader: he consistently eluded capture; he never gave up: and no matter how mocked and derided by the British, he remained a dangerous opponent with a deadly sting.

Atkinson has resolutely kept his focus on military action, almost to the exclusion of political developments. Our first inkling of the Declaration of Independence, for example, is when it’s being read to the army camped around Boston. But there is one exception to this, and it's an odd one: while giving little attention to developments in Philadelphia, he includes sometimes lengthy accounts of political developments in London and Paris.

Apart from that, I have only one complaint, and it's one I've been making often in recent months. Any military history will benefit from maps, and the maps in the printed edition of this book are beautiful and remarkably clear — among the best I've seen. I happened to have picked up a copy of the book before the audiobook came out, so I had the maps handy. It would be nice if audiobook publishers made these available as supplementary downloads. Sometimes they do; most of the time, as here, they don't.

Excellent job by the narrator George Newbern.

Exciting

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This is my first book by Rick Atkinson, but not my last. His painstaking and detailed research is then woven into a story rich with little known facts and historical secrets. Several things stood out in his account. The first was the incredible logistical requirements of every sort imaginable to sustain two armies in the field. The second was the abysmal conditions of winter, starvation, and cold that the rebels endured to win their freedom from King George such was their desire to be free. Lastly, this book clearly describes how close George Washington came to losing the war several times with bad tactical choices on the battlefield. It seems that only divine intervention kept us from being English subjects to this day. Two final thoughts... if only today's wanna be revolutionary socialists had even but a grasp of the sacrifice colonial patriots made to create this country, they might be less inclined to cancel the cultural history of it. Secondly, I was disappointed that Atkinson did not complete the entire story through to the inglorious end of the British endeavors at Yorktown.

Exquisite Detail!

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This is an incredible book about the Revolutionary War. Atkinson weaves political intrigue, strategic & tactical battle insight, and many incredible looks into the personas of all parties to the war for independence. His detail is astounding. He uses a broad array of primary sources such as journals, correspondence, and articles of the time. This is the first of what will be a 3-volume series. I am excited to read the next 2!

Thorough and Captivating

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A well written and performed account that was readable, enjoyable, and memorable woven together with skill.

Enjoyed

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I was very distracted by the mispronunciation and odd emphasis of the narrator. It is a most engaging history. A lovely and deep synthesis of many sources that is unrivaled for this period. Hope a more careful narrator will be found for the eventual second and third books in this trilogy.

Enthralling history, less than stellar narration

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One of the strengths of this work lies in Atkinson’s ability to seamlessly blend military strategy, biographical detail, and cultural context into a cohesive narrative. He writes in a manner that keeps his reader entertained and he immerses them into the era, allowing them to understand not just the events that unfolded, but also the characters, ideologies, and sentiments that motivated them. This is not a history book that anyone would recognize from their high school U.S citizenship class, nor is it simply a catalog of battles and leaders, but a story that explores the lives of those who were involved in the American Revolution. The reader is given unprecedented access to the thoughts of those who lived through this tumultuous time with firsthand accounts from their letters in a way that brings the characters to life, both entertaining and informing the reader.

While the book provides a thorough exploration of the military aspects of the conflict, it also explores the politics of the time, along with the personal stories and challenges faced by individuals on both sides of the war. Atkinson presents a balanced view of both the British and American sides, highlighting each sides’ victories and blunders as the war progressed. The everyday struggles and fears of the revolutionaries, as well as the British and Hessian soldiers, are showcased, offering a nuanced perspective that is often left unexplored in other historical accounts.

This book is not just for historians or those who enjoy history. Practitioners of information operations will find a lot to gain from reading "The British Are Coming". Propaganda and information warfare emerge as crucial elements in the shaping of public opinion and morale during the American Revolutionary War. Both the British and American sides understood the power of words and images in mobilizing support, and they employed various methods to disseminate strategic messages to different audiences.

For the American patriots, propaganda was instrumental in fostering unity and encouraging continued resistance against British rule. Figures like Samuel Adams and writers like Thomas Paine utilized the press and pamphlets to circulate ideas of rebellion, liberty, and self-governance. Paine's "Common Sense," for instance, played a vital role in making a persuasive case for independence, reaching a wide audience and igniting revolutionary fervor among the colonies.

In "The British Are Coming," readers will find a comprehensive, accessible, and deeply human portrait of a pivotal time in American history. Atkinson successfully unites the grand and personal scales of history, reminding us that behind every broad stroke of the past are the countless individual stories of those who lived, fought, and died during these transformative years. A masterpiece of historical writing, this book is a must-read for history enthusiasts and casual readers alike.

A Must Read

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This is a fun audiobook. I have listened to this a dozen times. Lots of interesting detail. Rick Atkinson is at the top of his game. Highly recommended.

Best History Audiobook

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It's rare to find books that tell both sides of the story. I love it!

Masterful!

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This is one of the best books I have ever listened to or read. It is pivotal to understand who we were and how we started. This book and the rest of the series should be mandatory reading at the gradeschool level, at least starting at grade 6. Then, the same should be done for war of 1812 (I was raised in Toronto).

All Americans should read or listen to this book and Ken Burns should use it to make a trilogy of films. Ken... you listening? Do it like you did Civil War and get it done and on PBS soon.. our current political situation and everyone involved can learn TONS from this book. Toward the end of the book, listen for undisclosed references to CIA-type operations.

Can't recommend high enough

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Awesome book but I wish I had read it instead of listened to it. It's just a bit too complicated to listen to if you are doing anything. It's hard to keep the Loyalist names straight from the Patriot names and lots of phrases that are somewhat unfamiliar to modern ears. I had not trouble listening to the first two WWII Atkinson books,

Gret book. Usual Atkinson meticulous detail...but.

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