Valley Forge

A Novel

By: Newt Gingrich, William R. Forstchen

Narrated by: William Dufris, Callista Gingrich

Length: 18 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In To Try Men's Souls, Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen cast a new light on the year 1776 and the man who would become the father of our nation, George Washington.

Valley Forge picks up the narrative a year after Washington’s triumphant surprise attack on Trenton, and much has changed since then. It’s the winter of 1777, and Washington’s battered, demoralized army retreats from Philadelphia. Arriving at Valley Forge, they discover that their repeated requests for a stockpile of food, winter clothing, and building tools have been ignored by Congress.

With no other options available, the men settle down for a season of agony. For weeks, the dwindling army lives under tents in the bitter cold. Food runs out. The men are on the point of collapse, while in Philadelphia the British, joined by Allen van Dorn, the Loyalist brother of the dead patriot, Jonathan van Dorn, live in luxury.

In spite of the suffering and deceit, Washington endures all, joined at last by a volunteer from Germany, Baron von Steuben. Von Steuben begins the hard task of recasting the army as a professional fighting force capable of facing the British head-on - something it has never accomplished before - and in the process he will change the course of history.

Valley Forge is a tour-de-force about endurance, survival, transformation, and rebirth. Washington and his Continental Army, against all odds, will be forged into a fighting force that will win a revolution.

©2010 Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Put Yourself At Forge with General Washington

Would you consider the audio edition of Valley Forge to be better than the print version?

The narration by William Durfis is very good as he makes the character's come to life with their own personalities. This alone makes the audio edition worth the listen.

What other book might you compare Valley Forge to and why?

New Gingrich has several historical/ fiction books available. The book's content is rooted in historical facts and of course the dialouge is fictional, but realistic.

Have you listened to any of William Dufris and Callista Gingrich ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

William Dufris did a fantastic job in voice acting this book. Callista's voice was a welcomed edition, however it was inconsitent as she occasionally spoke for Martha Washington, while Durfis also spoke for the former First Lady.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This is a 19 hour listen and I completed it over several days while traveling.

phenomenal literary work

My only complaint with this book is that it came to an end. I just wanted it to keep going through the whole Revolution.

Real History

Very educational and full of seldom heard of facts, American History and the sacrifices Washington and his men endured that aren't taught in modern history and seemed to have slipped through the cracks OF OUR HISTORY!!! Very well written.

The best history book you have read.

This is one of the best books I have heard on history in a very long time. This book was presented in a very entertaining way.

Well done!

I spent several years as a Revolutionary War reenactor because I could not fathom what that war was like..... listening to this, I could so totally FEEL what it was like to react & perform the drill that transformed the Continentals I continue to feel the pride of a soldier for other soldiers.... even better than their first Rev War novel!

Great book!

This book really helped me to understand what the men and women who founded this country went through. I think this should be required reading for every American weather in or out of school.

I thought that the performance was very good, but I did not like when a different narrator came on for the women's voices. I sort of cringed every time that happened.

Educational But Enjoyable

Loved the book! Learned more about the Revolutionary War and Valley Forge than I did in school those many long years ago. It's "History" with flesh and the authors are very good storytellers. It kept me interested from start to finish. Highly recommended to anyone. Only negative is the reading of the women's parts by Callista Gingrich. I had the feeling she was just reading lines and put no real emotion into the reading. But overall - just loved it!

Eye opener for history of the American Revolution

If you could sum up Valley Forge in three words, what would they be?

Confusion to order

Who was your favorite character and why?

Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben was one of my favorites as he was arguably the best man Washington could get to organize the revolutionary army. Washington is of course a favorite too and quite fascinating to see what hardship he and his army had to face on the way to freedom.

Which character – as performed by William Dufris and Callista Gingrich – was your favorite?

Marquis de Lafayette and Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben as I enjoyed listening to other accents perfect or not.

If you could take any character from Valley Forge out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I see my self eating in very posh stile with British Cornwallis, French Lafayette, German von Steuben and American Washington.

Outstanding book overall.

Great writing, excellent story telling, excellent narration (with the exception of Martha Washington) her reading is bland, it of sync, it just does not seem to fit, almost monotone. She sounds like she's "reading it".
Thankfully, there isn't much of that.
I really enjoyed all the of these in the series.

Great Book

A great story about the real Revolutionary War. It was an amazing read. The history was dead on.