1776

By: David McCullough

Narrated by: David McCullough

Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

In this stirring audiobook, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence, when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.

Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats, who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known. But it is the American commander-in-chief who stands foremost: Washington, who had never before led an army in battle.

The darkest hours of that tumultuous year were as dark as any Americans have known. Especially in our own tumultuous time, 1776 is powerful testimony to how much is owed to a rare few in that brave founding epoch, and what a miracle it was that things turned out as they did.

Written as a companion work to his celebrated biography of John Adams, David McCullough's 1776 is another landmark in the literature of American history.

©2005 David McCullough (P)2005 Simon and Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon and Schuster Audio Division, Simon and Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

• 2005 Audie Award Nominee, Narration by the Author
• 2005 Publishers Weekly Listen Up Award, Nonfiction

"A first-rate historical account." (Booklist)

"A narrative tour de force, exhibiting all the hallmarks the author is known for: fascinating subject matter, expert research, and detailed, graceful prose.... Simply put, this is history writing at its best from one of its top practitioners." (Publishers Weekly)

"A stirring and timely work, reminding us that it's soldiers rather than 'tavern patriots and windy politicians' who have always paid the price of American idealism and determined its successes. (The New York Times)

A must listen for every American

I always knew George Washington was awesome; I'm convinced now more than ever. It was a miracle of God and the perseverance of Washington and Green that we managed to survive 1776 as a rebel nation. I love McCullough as a storyteller and reader!

David McCullough is a national treasure

Few can write history with erudition and an engaging style. Fewer still can preform what they have written. David McCullough does both in this important contribution to understanding what those in the revolutionary army sacrificed and bequeathed to us today.
More, his own decency and humility shine through on every page.
Should be read, heard, and discussed by all who love liberty.

Impressed so far!

After listening to a few speeches and this book by McCullough, I'm impressed. I look forward to reading or listening to several more of his books in the future.
It seems that he is always mindful of the fact that history unfolded without the gift of hindsight; the characters of history moved through their lives as unsure of what the future will bring as we are.
So, he doesn't just interpret facts into a dramatic performance to entertain you, but presents the images and events in clusters that may explain the truth of what individual characters were thinking as the story unfolds. How did it feel when George Washington arrived at the siege of Boston to learn there was barely enough gunpowder for each of his men to fire 9 shots? What if Henry Knox had been too shy to suggest a daring attempt to grab 60 tons of artillery at Ticonderoga and carry it with wagons and boats over hills and streams and through swamps in the dead of winter?
I especially enjoy the quotes that McCullough has chosen. For example, we all know that our founding fathers risked their fortunes to defy British rule, but when reading that Hopkins signs the Declaration with palsy-stricken hands, and says, "My hand trembles, but my heart does not," it brought tears to my eyes.
They made some shameful, big mistakes, and achieved careful, clever, astonishing victories.
Probably what moved me the most was hearing about men who marched through snow leaving bloody tracks because they had no shoes. In battle, you are fighting to survive. But for these men to even show up at the battle required nerves of steel, incredible compassion for their future generations, and hope that liberty would prevail.
It makes today's troubles, for all our fussing and hollering, seem small, really.
There were some very small editorial choices that I would tweak. For example, each of Washington's defeats brought what must have been "the lowest point" or "worst moment" or "as bad as it had ever been" in his whole life, and I expect that is truly how he felt. But I feel that the reader needs a little more guidance and support to grasp how it felt to hit that side of the scale so often, instead of just being plunked there repeatedly.
But my overall feeling at the end of the book is those fussy little things really don't matter. Most of all, I want to thank McCullough for helping me understand, on a deeper level, the treasure that I was given to be born an American.

Entertaining and well told

lots of good information in the form of a thoughtful narrative. I like the reader as well, good pace and use of inflection. volume is consistent.

A great story of the forming of the United States

I loved hearing the story of the stifles to form our country. It gives a real appreciation for the strength of character the founding fathers had. I also enjoyed hearing from the point of view of the British. It provided a nice counterpoint to the historical reference of the evil British, which I was indoctrinated.

One note regarding how the book was narrated. There were exceptionally long pauses between sections. Long enough that I thought something was wrong with my phone or the audible app. Also the sections end rather abruptly rather than transitioning smoothly, so I really felt cut off when reaching the end of a section.

Excellent review of the 1776 miracle!

I just loved the content and reading of this book. Excellent from beginning to end! I highly recommend that every American read this book and remember the amazing sacrifices of the men and women of the American Revolution!!

Amazing

Fantastic in every way. Should be mandatory in every American history class. The narrator was fantastic.

Great history, great narration

David McCullough is one of the great American history authors of our time, but I had no idea of his skills as a narrator. Sympathetic portrayal of Washington's early days in the Revolutionary war. McCullough does not gloss over the bad decisions but his reading provides a nuanced portrait of Washington's and the Continental Army's weaknesses as well as how they learned from them. Terrific experience that kept me on the edge of my seat, even though I knew all of the outcomes.

The untold story

I frequently felt that I was listening to a suspense novel. The revolutionary war like you never knew it. A must for any history buff. Graphically insightful, stark verbal imagery, factual and well told. A true masterpiece.

Masterful

One of the best audio books I've ever listened to. Highly recommend it to all lovers of American history.