Rise to Rebellion

A Novel of the Revolution

By: Jeff Shaara

Narrated by: Victor Garber

Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Jeff Shaara dazzled readers with his best-selling novels Gods and Generals, The Last Full Measure, and Gone for Soldiers. Now the acclaimed author who illuminated the Civil War and the Mexican-American War brilliantly brings to life the American Revolution, creating a superb saga of the men who helped to forge the destiny of a nation.

In 1770, the fuse of revolution is lit by a fateful command - "Fire!" - as England's peacekeeping mission ignites into the Boston Massacre. The senseless killing of civilians leads to a tumultuous trial in which lawyer John Adams must defend the very enemy who has assaulted and abused the laws he holds sacred. The taut courtroom drama soon broadens into a stunning epic of war as King George III leads a reckless and corrupt government in London toward the escalating abuse of his colonies.

Outraged by the increasing loss of their liberties, an extraordinary gathering of America's most inspiring characters confronts the British presence with the ideals that will change history. John Adams, the idealistic attorney devoted to the law, who rises to greatness by the power of his words... Ben Franklin, one of the most celebrated men of his time, the elderly and audacious inventor and philosopher who endures firsthand the hostile prejudice of the British government... Thomas Gage, the British general given the impossible task of crushing a colonial rebellion without starting an all-out war... George Washington, the dashing Virginian whose battle experience in the French and Indian War brings him the recognition that elevates him to command of a colonial army...and many other immortal names from the Founding Family of the colonial struggle - Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Joseph Warren, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee - captured as never before in their full flesh-and-blood humanity.

More than a powerful portrait of the people and purpose of the revolution, Rise to Rebellion is a vivid account of history's most pivotal events. The Boston Tea Party, the battles of Concord and Bunker Hill: All are re-created with the kind of breathtaking detail only a master like Jeff Shaara can muster. His most impressive achievement, Rise to Rebellion reveals with new immediacy how philosophers became fighters, ideas their ammunition, and how a scattered group of colonies became the United States of America.

©2001 Jeffrey M. Shaara (P)2001 Random House, Inc., Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing Group, a Division of Random House, Inc.

Great book, but abridged

I'm a fan of the book and Shaara's style of writing, but why is only the abridged version available on audible?

Annoying stylistic tic

My only complaint about this book is the author's annoying stylistic tic of omitting the conjunction "and" wherever possible. Thus: "Washington climbed the hill, regarded his men." It sounds like a quibble, and maybe it is, but when it's done constantly, it becomes positively distracting [and] then annoying.
Too bad because the book's otherwise well done. The narrative moves along and the narrator does a fine job on adding life to the characters and dialogues. It's a nice companion to McCullough's "John Adams" (abridged), covering the same period.

pretty good stuff

I bought this because I saw a positive review of it from a guy in my hometown (greenville, S.C.), and it looked like a good book.
I was amazed at what I got for my money. This was a full accounting of how our key leaders formed together quickly and sparked an incredibaly unlikely victory based on intestinal fortitude over the overwhelming strength of our invaders.
The book shows that; like the armies of Vietanm (especially Vietnam), Isreal, and Iraq, The colonials used the homefield advantage (half the battle), an unflinching willingness to fight smart and possibly die eficiently for our homeland despite the fact that the odds were stacked against us by foriegn invaders, and wound up carrying the day.
We had simply took just 1 too many degregations from england and put up our lives and property to secure our independence. This book brings to life the guys who made the impromptu decisions that come about in a time of crisis.
I was really impressed with the amount of new info about the british role and methods of the start of the war.
Not the most indepth detail of all the key players, but just enough to let you get to know them without boring you.
This is one that you'll listen to twice.

excellent!

very well done. made a story I've read a thousand times, seem brand new. this truly makes it seem more immediate.

Fun historical fiction

A different way to tell the story of history, that lends itself to squeezing in more little details than the typical treatment. Enjoyable.

Affect of the Main Americans

Jeff Shaara, as usual, has brought us into the thoughts and emotions
Ions of the main figures of the American Revolution. I particularly liked the progression of John Adams from colonist lawyer to a leading revolutionary.

Relevant in 2023

The research was impeccable. The story real & the storytelling…engaging! The rebellion of 1776 comes to life & was a joy to listen to…

I wasted money on an abridged book

darn

Abridged version - boo

Love Shaara - narrator was great.

Disappointed that I didn't look more closely ... this is the abridged version. Not a fan of book abridgements for any reason.

ABRIDGED

I would never have purchased this if I had know it was abridged. The book needs to be savored in full, I was terribly disappointed when I realized I would be unable to do so.