Product Description

'Mackesy's "War for America" still stands as the classic account of the British conduct of the American Revolutionary War. Based on extensive research in British archives, it embodies the mature judgments of a masterful military historian' - John W. Shy. 'An important book that no serious student of the War of Independence can afford to neglect' - "American Historical Review".The events of the American Revolution signified by Lexington, Bunker Hill, Valley Forge, Saratoga, and Yorktown are familiar to American readers. Far less familiar is the fact that, for the British, the American colonies were only one front in a world war. England was also pitted against France and Spain. Not always in command of the seas and threatened with invasion, England tried grimly for eight years to subdue its rebellious colonies; to hold Canada, the West Indies, India, and Gibraltar; and to divide its European enemies. In this vivid history Piers Mackesy views the American Revolution from the standpoint of the British government and the British military leaders as they attempted to execute an overseas war of great complexity. Their tactical response to the American Revolution is now comprehensible, seen as part of a grand imperial strategy. Piers Mackesy is a noted historian who lives in Scotland. John W. Shy is a professor of history at the University of Michigan.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #415014 in Books
• Published on: 1993-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 569 pages

Customer Reviews

Am. Revolution as viewed by the British Government
This is one of the best non-introductory books available on the American Revolution. In addition to providing an excellent military history , the book clearly describes the issues faced by the British government in trying to deal with the revolution in the context of a world-wide empire. The military and logistic problems facing the British administration were truly formidable. While the book never demeans the American achievement, it clearly lays out the difficulties faced by the British in raising, maintaining, and supplying an army across 3,000+ miles of ocean in an era of sailing ships and limited government powers. It also shows how the European diplomatic environment, particularly the threat of war with France, limited the options available to the British. In addition to all of the above, the book is extremely well written, a pleasure to read.