Revolution on the Hudson: New York City and the Hudson River Valley in the American War of Independence

Incredible book that should be read by anyone interested in American history. Very revealing read, interesting and reads like a novel. I purchased this book for myself and then bought two more copies to give as gifts to my history buff friends.

Great book-very informative and well written--about an interesting era in our History. As a History buff, I enjoy reading about the Revolution and how it could have gone very wrong for the future of our country. Especially interesting was the part pl;ayed by Benedict Arnold in this book as well as other books concerning his history and why he chose to betray his country. George Rosner

This book is exciting and insightful and a must-read for anyone who enjoys learning about the American Revolution. It is also great if you have an interest in the history of NYCity and State. It is a compelling read by a top-notch historian.

Not a bad overall history of the Revolution, but not specifically about the Hudson River or Valley. It includes an overview of battles fought in that region and why it was important to both sides, but only as a general overview. I didnt find it overloaded with detail and didnt learn anything goes new but I do recommend it for someone looking to read a good, general book about the war.

A very well-written book, clear with an interesting narrative. The title is somewhat misleading: very little of the action takes place on the Hudson River. This is more or less a naval history of the entire war throughout the colonies, although it stresses how both sides saw control of the Hudson corridor as vital. Dr. Daughan is an expert in naval strategy, but writes for the lay readers enjoyment. He also provides unique insights into the mistakes and failures of both sides. All in all, a wonderful book for anyone interested in our War for Independence.

What a thought provoking book about the American Revolution. I agree that Daughans narrative was insightful and inspiring to being aware of the historical context of our success in bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict. I hope Daughan writes more on the land battles in the state of New York during the War, especially at Saratoga

I listened to the book on audio. I enjoyed it and its well written and read. Like others, I feel the work strays from the title and theme though. It often drifts from the NYC and New York State war action into other places the war was fought. I understand some exposition is required but I really felt at times it became a general survey of the war in total.

Interesting read. While not totally it does cover quite a bit of the Hudson Valley.

A very engrossing book. Learned a lot about my own neighborhood during the American Revolution.A definite good read for all who loves homegrown history.

Many authors have demonstrated the seemingly infinite ways the story of America’s revolution may be told and re-told by concentrating, for instance, on pivotal battles (see, Richard Ketchum’s superb “Saratoga: Turning Point of America’s Revolutionary War”) or locales (see, Richard Berleth’s splendid “Bloody Mohawk: The French and Indian War and American Revolution on New York’s Frontier). From the title of this work, I assumed that Author Daughan’s approach was going to be similar to Berleth’s, that is, a concentration, both geographical and events-oriented, on the Hudson Valley. I was incorrect. But that’s not to say that I was necessarily disappointed. One doesn’t get far into the book to realize that Daughan’s account is going to be more far-ranging and comprehensive than the title suggests. In fact, what the reader is presented is a well-told story that (whether the author intended it or not) amounts to a strategic view of the war, particularly from the British standpoint. In discussing the give’s and take’s on both sides of the struggle, Daughan indulges in a good deal of supposition and inference, coming down hard, for instance, on Washington’s early misjudgments and especially on the British military leadership’s inability to work together (to say nothing of their relations with their London overseers), with eventually cataclysmic results. While the author’s frequent conclusory dispositions largely accord with my understanding of the actors’ strengths and weaknesses, I found Daughan’s unrelenting “rights” and “wrongs” adjudications slightly off-putting. Having said all that, the author does an excellent job of relating the ebb’s and flows of the war in a relatively short work. And the lessons never learned by King George III and his ministers are once again manifest; their hilariously optimistic take on the loyalists’ willingness to rally to the Jack, never mind their fighting dispositions; the tenacity of the “rebels,” and their inconsistent but always-improving ability to fight; and, lastly, the sheer size of America which absolutely precluded the investiture and maintenance of control of any significant part of the country. And if a reader is intrigued by the wrong-headedness of Britain’s ambitions and strategic shortcomings, I highly recommend Andrew O’Shaughnessy’s “The Men Who Lost America,” a simply delightful recounting of the roles of the principal King’s actors in the loss of the continent. So, while I was slightly disappointed by the author’s not sticking to his purported subject, I must say that I was impressed with his digressions, and suggest that this would be a fine introductory work for someone new to the history of the war which would undoubtedly whet the reader’s appetite for more specialized treatments.