As the title implies, 1776 is about that instrumental year in American history. It follows the American and British armies as they square off in the early stages of the Revolutionary War. We see the Patriots victorious in Boston, fail miserably several times in New York, and conclude the year with surprise victories in Trenton and Princeton. This is narrative history, and McCullough weaves a variety of perspectives (from both sides) in telling the tale. The focus is on not only the conflicts, but the generals as well, with an emphasis on George Washington- his successes and failures.
As the Revolutionary War lasted from 1775-1783, this is not a coverage of even most of the war- just one year. As a result, that left me wanting more (in fact, I pondered if McCullough doesn't have it in mind to write 1777, 1778, and so on some day). I can't claim it's faulty advertising, but it felt incomplete for that reason. I liked his thorough and balanced treatment of the subject matter, though- he doesn't gloss over events or failures that would be embarrassing to Americans (or British). In short, if you want to learn more about the opening stages of our nation's founding, this is for you. If you want a complete Revolutionary War treatment, look elsewhere.
Rating: A-
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